INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF FLORIOA FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE VEGETARIAN A Ve8etable Crops Extension Publication \t:8Clab le Crops Deparlmcnt • 1 '255 HSPP• Gainesville. FL 32611 • Telephone 39'2 -2L34 Vegetarian 84- 7 Contents 1. NOTES OF INTEREST A. 1984 Tomato Institute 8. Vegetable Crops Calendar C. To Your Health 2. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION July 12, 1984 A. Herbicide Famili es and Symptoms of Injuries B. Productivity Growth in the Florida Fresh Winter Vegetable Indust ry 3. HOME GARDENING A. Yellow-margined Leaf Beetle Pest on Crucifers Th e lnsu tute o f Food and Agricultura l Sciences is an Equal Employment Opportunity - Affirmat ive Act ion Emp loyer auth o rized to provide research, ed uc ational in format io n and other services on ly to indi viduals and ins titutio ns that function w ithout regard to race, color , sex, or nationa l origin . COOPERAT IVE EXTENS ION WORK IN AGRICU LTURE AND HOM E ECONO MICS, ST AT E OF FLOR IDA, IFAS, UNIVERSIT Y OF FLO RIDA , U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ANO BOARDS OF COU NTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING
A. 1984 Tomato Institute 8. Vegetable Crops Calendar C. To Your Health
2. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
July 12, 1984
A. Herbicide Famili es and Symptoms of Injuries B. Productivity Growth i n the Florida Fresh Winter
Vegetable Indust ry
3. HOME GARDENING
A. Yel low-mar gine d Leaf Beetle Pest on Crucifers
The lnsu tute o f Food and Agricultura l Sciences is an Equal Employment Opportunity - Affirmat ive Act ion Emp loyer auth o rized to provide research, educ ational in format io n and other services on ly to indi viduals and ins t itutio ns that function w ithout regard to race, color , sex, or nationa l origin .
COOPERAT IVE EXTENS ION WORK IN AGRICU LTURE AND HOM E ECONO MICS, ST AT E OF FLOR IDA, IFAS, UNIVERSIT Y OF FLO RIDA , U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ANO BOARDS OF COU NTY COMMISSIONERS COOPERATING
I. NOTES OF INTEREST
A. 1984 Tomato Institute
The 1984 Florida Tomato Institute will be held September 6, 1984 at the Marriott's Marco Beach Resort, Marco Island, Florida.
The Tomato Institute will again preceed the Joint Tomato Exchange/Committee meetings September 7 & 8. Those wishing to reserve rooms at the Marriot should contact the Tomato Committee by August 1.
The preliminary program for the Institute follows:
1984 Florida Tomato Institute
Registration and coffee
Welcome - D. N. Maynard, Chairman, Vegetable Crops Department, Gainesvil l e, FL
The 1983-84 Tomato Season - Wayne Hawkins, Florida Tomato Exchange/Committee, Orlando, FL
Frost Protection of Tomatoes - J. D. Martsolf, Fruit Crops Department, Gainesville, FL
Foliar Applied Nutrient Sprays on Tomatoes - A. A. Csizinsky, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
Biostimulants -- Timing and Response on Tomatoes - H. H. Bryan, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL
Advances in IFAS Tomato Breeding Program - J. W. Scott, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
Financial Considerations for Tomato Growers in the 80 1 s - J . W. Prevatt, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
Spectrum of Activity of Trigard and Avid Against Tomato Insect Pests - D. J . Schuster, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
Survival of Bacterial Spot in Florida - J . B. Jones, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
Spread of Bacteria l Spot in Tomatoes in Florida - K. Pohronezny, Tropica l Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL
Special Review of Certain Pesticides - R. P. Clark, Chief, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Branch, EPA, Atl anta, GA
Update of Fumigants and Alternatives for Nematode Control - A. J . Overman, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton, FL
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Potential for Expansion of the Florida Tomato Processing Industry - R. F. Matthews. Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Gainesville, FL
A Years Experience with the 40 x 30 cm MUM containers for Florida Tomatoes - M. Sherman, Vegetable Crops Department, Gainesville, FL
Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Tomatoes - D. D. Gull, Vegetable Crops Department, Gainesville, FL
B. VEGETABLE CROPS CALENDAR
1. July 24 - State 4-H Horticultural Judging and Demonstration Contest. 4-H Congress, Gainesville, FL
2. August 29-30 - Master Gardener Advanced Training. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
3. September 6 - Florida Tomato Institute - Marriott's Marco Beach Resort, Marco Island, FL.
4. October 2-4 - National Agricultural Plastics Association -Grove Park Inn - Ashville, North Carolina.
5. November 4-7 - FSHS Meeting - Doral Hotel - Miami Beach, FL.
C. TO YOUR HEALTH
Two areas of increasing concern of the consuming public are general health/weight-control and cancer prevention. Fresh produce can be a vital lin k in alleviating many of these problems.
The National Cancer Institute is preparing to issue detailed dietary recommendations for cancer prevention. The main thrust of these recommendations wi 11 be to persuade the pub 1 i c to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and smaller amounts of almost everything else. The dietary recommendations to the U.S. public for prevention of cancer will be:
- Dietary fiber: Increase the current average intake of 10 - 15 grams a day to 25 -30 grams a day. To do this, the public is advised to eat four servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day. The top fiber foods (produce) are bananas, oranges, apples, cantaloupe, corn, potatoes , spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, celery and squash.
- Vitamin A (carotene): Diets low in foods containing vitamin A or carotene are associated with cancers of the lung, bladder and laryn x. All dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange fruits and vegetab les contain carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.
- Vitamin C: This vitamin may help protect the body from stomach and esophagal cancer. The diet experts recommend that consumers get vitamin C from fresh fruits and vegetables instead of a pill. A large number of fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C. including
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cit rus, mel ons and berries, tomatoes, green vegetables and cauliflower . Resear ch shows that cruciferous vegetab les , f rom the cabbage fami ly, streng t hen the body' s natu ral defenses against cancer- causing chemi ca 1 s .
- Fat: Fat l evels of the U.S. diet are indi cated in both cancer and hea r t disease incidence . The diet experts suggest choosing low- fat versions of favorite foods , such as lea n beef , skim milk and i ce cream. To cut down on fat further the di et experts recommend eating fresh fruits and vegetabl es as snacks .
In The Packer's 1983 11Fresh Att itudes" survey, 92% sa id nutrition value was important to their decision to buy a given produce item, and 71% conside red calorie content an important consideration . Most fruits and vegetables have a l ow calorie content . Some of the vegetables may not top the li st in vitamin content but provide a delicious , low- calorie, high- f i ber diet. Listed is the actual calorie content (per 100 g. ed i ble portio n) for a number of fruits and vegetab les:
Item Calor ies Item Calories Avacado 167 Bracco 1 i 32 Lima Bean 123 Ca u 1 if 1 owe r 27 Corn 96 Spina ch 26 Banana 85 Cabbage 24 Potato 76 Tomato 22 Grape 69 Celery 17 Apple 58 Radish 17 Orange 45 Cucumber 15 Carrot 42 Lettuce 13 Green Bean 32
Nutrit i onal content of a given vegetab le must be considered in relation to the quantity consumed. Broccol i, spinach , Brussel sprouts and lima beans al l have high relative nutrit i onal values but are not the most important 11contr ibutors 11 because of the low amounts consumed. The potato is low i n vit amin C but we eat a lot of them so they are major "contr i but ors". Listed below are three rankings of fresh produce based on their contribut ion to health :
From a nut ritiona l standpo i nt the tomato is one of the most important vegetables having a high vitamin content. f i ber, but low in
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calories. We are all consumers and many are involved in the production and marketing of fruits and vegetables. A heightened awareness of the nutrition benefits of fresh produce consumption, combined with enhanced knowledge of the nutrient composition of different produce varieties, paves the way for increased sales of fresh fruits and vegetables AND better health to all.
(Gull - Vegetaria n 84-7)
II. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
A. Herbicide Families and Symptoms of Injuries
Last month three herbic ide fami 1 i es (Ami de, Acetani 1 ides and Arsenicals) were listed as to symptoms of injury and common herbicides in that family. This month we continue with the classifications. The last group (Phenoxys through Ureas) will be published in August.
Family: Benzoi cs
Mo de of Action and Symptoms: These herbi ci des a re one of sever a 1 groups of herbicides described as growth hormone herbicides . These herbicides have auxin-like properties which result in excessive cellu-1 ar growth. Symptoms generally appear similar to the phenoxy herbi -cides but often exhibit more epinasty ( leaf- cupping). Benzoics move from leaves to terminal meristems and also move in the transpiration stream . They may be soil applied.
Herbicides:
Common Name chloramben di camba 2,3 ,6 - TBA
Famil y : Benzothiadiazoles
Trade Name Amiben, Vegiben Banvel Several products
Mode of Action and Symptoms: This herbic ide kills broadleaf weeds and nutsedge by photosynthesis inhibition. It diffe rs from other photosynthesis inhibitors (triazines and ureas) in that very limited translocation takes place.
Herbicides:
Common Name bentazon
Family: Bipyridyliums
Trade Name Basagran
Mode of Action and Symptoms: These are primari ly contact herbicides when applied to green plant tissue . The herbicides are nonselective.
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Chloroplasts, oxygen and light are required for maximum symptom development . The herbicides disrupt cell membranes resulting in rapid dessication of the treated areas followed by necrosis. Plants treated in the dark will not express full sypmtoms development until placed in the li ght. Very li tt le translocation takes place within treated plants . The herbicide molecu l es carry strong posit i ve charges and absorb very tightly to so i l colloids, resulting in virtually no soil activity.
Herbicides:
Common Name diquat paraquat
Family: Carbanilates
Trade Name Ortho Oiquat, Aquacide Gramoxone, Ortho paraquat
Mode of Action and Sm toms : The carbanilates (often referred to as carbamates are sim ilar to acetanilides in that they are meri stematic inh i bitors that translocate. Members of th eir grou p are applied both preemergence and to emerged weeds . When soil applied, they are absor bed through shoots and r oots .
Herbicides:
Common Name asulam phe nmidi pham bar ban propham chlopropham
Fami ly : Oinitroanilines
Trade Name Asulox Betanal Carbyne Chem-Hoe Furloe
Mode of Actio n and Symptoms: these herbicides are prima ril y root gro wt h inhibitor s . Shoot growth may be inhibited if the he rb icide is absorbed by the shoot or may be indirect ly affected by reduced r oot growth. Symptoms are generally associated with inhibition of lateral root growth resulting in sho rt, stubby, and/or swollen roots.
Herbi ci des:
Common Name ben efi n but ra 1 im di nitrami ne fluchloralin iso propalin oryzalin pendimethalin profluralin tr ifluralin
Trade Name Bal an Amex 820 Cob ex Basal in Paarl an Surflan Prowl Tolban Trefl an
Family: Nitriles
Mode of Action and Symptoms: Di chlobeni 1 acts primarily on the growing points of shoots and roots and usually results in swelling or collapse of stems, roots and leaf pet iol es . In certain cases martinal l eaf chlorosis may also be observed . Bromoxynil acts as a photosynthetic and respiratory inhibitor and results in rapid dessication and necrosis of treated plants.
Herbicides:
Common Name bromoxyni 1 di chlobeni 1
Famil y: Phenols
Trade Name Buctril; Brominal Casoron
Mode of Action and Symptoms: These herbicides are often considered as respiratory inhibitors; however, on hot sunny days they act primarily on contact and result in destruction of cell membranes. The symptoms on the treated parts of the plant appear dessicated and then necrotic.
Herbicides:
Common Name denoseb (DNBP)
Trade Name Premerge 3, Dow General Dow Selective, Basanite
{Stall - Vegetarian 84-7 )
B. Productivity Growth in the Florida Fresh Winter Vegetable Industry
One measure of the economic health of an industry is its rate of productivity growth. In simple terms, productivity growth measures the change over time in real cost per unit of output. For example, although the cost per acre of growing a crop may increase over time, technological improvements may lead to increases in yie ld to the extent that cost per unit actually declines. The rate at which this occurs over time is directly related to the rate of productivity growth.
Over the 1969-1970 to 1981-82 period, Florida fresh winter vegetable producers have exhibited substantial productivity growth (Table 1). Average annual rates of productivity growth range from about 1.7% per year for squash production in Dade County to 8.3% for pepper production in Palm Beach County. Productivity growth in tomato production over the 1969-70 to 1981-82 period varied from 3.3% in Dade County to 5. 6% in the Manatee-Ruskin area.
The sources of this productivity growth are broad-based. Improved plant varieties with resistance to extreme weather conditions and/or pests, improved culti vation practices and increased efficiency in performing current production practices have contributed to the productivity gains realized.
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Whether or not these substantial rates of productivity growth will continue through the current decade and beyond is difficu lt to determine. The broad- ranging determi nants to productiv i ty growth make such projections little more than mere guesses. What can be said, however, is that such continued growth in productivity will require conti nued and close cooperation between sc i entific researchers, extension person nel and producers to ensure that the broad base of innovations necessary to obtai n such productivity gains continues to be available and uti l ized .
Table 1. Estimated average annual rates of productivity growth for se lected Flor ida vegetables, 1969-70 to 1981-82
Most of the damage done to vegetab les by insects in the Florida garden is due to common well- known pests . Occasional ly we run across an insect that is se ldom considered to be a pest or is rarely encountered . One such insect pest recent ly brought to my attent ion was found feeding on cabbage and other crucifers in a garden in Lake County by
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Extension agent Russ Swanson this spring. Entomologists at the Division of Plant Industry, FDACS, identified the insect as Microtheca ochroloma stal., a South American beetle pest of crucifers.
Since the beetle may become a pest of more widespread distribution, the following article by Robert E. Woodruff of Florida DPI is summarized to make everyone aware of this pest .
According to Woodruff, the beetle was first recorded in the U.S. in Mobile, Alabama in 1947 where it was found on turnip, cabbage, col la rd, mustard and radish. Later, in 1962, its distribution was listed as 22 counties in 4 states. Its first sighting recorded in Florida was April, 1972, at Tampa. There it appeared on watercress . I have no record of how many t imes it has been found in Florida since those early findings.
Description: This is a typical leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae), about 5mm long, bronzy blac k to dark brown, with yellowish to white margins a round the e lytras ( chitenous f orewi ngs). There are 4 prominent rows of punctures on each elytron. The larva is yellow- brown, pubescent, with a dark head. The mature larva spins a peculiar blackish network around itself prior to pupation.
Damage: Both the adults and the larvae feed on the leaves, often defoliating the plants . Larvae work in groups to strip the ste ms .
Commercial production of watercress in the Lake County area may want to be on guard since these beetles have been reported to be associated with this crop. Unle ss it becomes a pest of more widespread concern, gardeners around the state should not be concerned at this time .
NOTE:
(J.M. Stephens - Vegetarian 7/84)
Prepared by Extension Vegetable Specialists
D. N. Maynard Chairman
G. A. Marlowe Professor
M. Sherman Assistant Professor
J .M. Stephens Associate Professor
S. M. Olson Assistant Professor
1 i"\,.J(]n~~~ w. M. Stall \1'Jlll~ Associate Professor
K. M. Delate Visiting Extension Agent I
Anyone is free to use the information in this news 1 etter. Whenever possible, please give credit to the authors.
The use of trade names in this publication is sole ly for the purpose of providing i nformation and does not necessarily constitute a recommendation of the product.
