Donald Danforth

Plant Science CenterIntegrated Plant Growth Facility

2015

Integrated Pest Management Program

Pest Management Program

Common Pests…………………………………………………….. 2Damage on Plants…………………………………………...3

Mites………………………………………………………...3

Thrips………………………………………………………..5

Whitefly……………………………………………………..7

Aphids...……………………………………………………..7Fungus Gnat/Shore Fly…………………………………….. 8

Powdery Mildew……………………………………………9Integrated Pest Management……………………………………..10

Scouting……………………………………………………..10Cultural/Mechanical Methods of Pest Control…………….. 10

Beneficials…………………………………………………..11 Type of Pesticides…………………………………………..11Spray Notices……………………………………………….12

Rotation and Additives…………………………………….. 13

Pesticides for Cassava Rotations……………………………13Signage……………………………………………………...14

Measuring and Tank Mixing……………………………... 14Personal Protective Equipment……………………………..16Emergencies………………………………………………...17Sprays………………………………………………………17

Spotting……………………………………………………..18

Restricted Entry Intervals………………………………….. 18Cleaning the Tank…………………………………………..19

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Disposal……………………………………………………. 19

Record Keeping……………………………………………. 20

Preventative Systemic Treatments………………………….21Licensing and Inspections…………………………………………23Pesticide Room Etiquette………………………………………… 23Phytotoxicity……………………………………………………… 25

Phytotoxicity Log………………………………………….. 27Pesticide Record Application Page Example…………………… 30Definitions of Pesticide Spreadsheet Terms……………………...31Chemicals for Specific Pests………………………………………32

Common Pests

Aphid Whitefly

Spider Mite Thrips

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Shore Fly Fungus Gnat

Damage on Plants

Even a small quantity of pests can cause damage to a plant. Often this damage is the first indication of their presence and is seen before the pests. Look for pest presence/damage vs. looking for actual pests.

Mite Damage

Mite damage on cassava- Mites are often found on the bottom of leaves and at the highest point of the plant. Leaves are marked with yellow spots (“stippling”), lose their normal green color, and develop a mottled appearance. Leaves may become deformed or drop. Plant growth may be stunted with high populations.

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Mite damage on soy- Usually the first symptom of leaf damage is on the top surface where yellow or white spotting occurs. Mites are then found on the underside of the leaf. As populations increase, the spotting spreads over the entire leaf and causes leaf-drop, webbing, and yield loss.

Mites on strawberries Mites on peanuts

Mites on sweet potato Mites on Brachypodium

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Thrips Damage

Tiny, linear yellow-to-white lines appear on the top of the leaves. Thrips are usually found on the underside of the leaf or on leaf veins. When populations increase, the lines form a mottled appearance between the veins. The leaf may become crinkled.

Thrips also will be in the flowers on a plant, especially if the flowers are yellow. High populations will cause flowers to become distorted. Often the damage done to both flowers and leaves is when they are still in the bud stage and the injury doesn’t show until they start to open. Their ability to hide in buds makes them difficult to treat. Thrips may also cause the buds to abort, cause pollen loss, and transmit viruses.

Thrips on Camelina

Damage to Camelina flower

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Thrips damage to peanut Thrips damage on sweet potato

Thrips on lettuce Thrips on potatoes

Thrips on soy Thrips damage starting on soy

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Whitefly Damage

Whiteflies will cause chlorotic lines on the leaves. New growth may appear wilted or distorted and new leaves may look curled or yellow. Fruit may then ripen unevenly. Whiteflies can transmit viruses.

Whitefly on tomatoes

Aphid Damage

Large populations can cause yellowing, curling, or distortion of leaves. They excrete honeydew, which causes plants to become sticky and potentially grow sooty mold. Aphids will also transmit viruses.

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Aphid on corn leaves Aphids on corn tassels

Fungus Gnat/Shore Fly Damage

Both of these pests’ larvae live in the soil and eat the roots, which may cause plants to be stunted. This impacts young plants, seedlings, and cuttings the most. They leave black droppings called frass and may produce holes or yellowing of leaves.

Shore flies do not cause as much damage and are more of a nuisance. Cutting back on watering or throwing out pots without plants will help decrease their populations.

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Fungus gnat damage to Arabidopsis Shore fly with frass on Arabidopsis

Powdery Mildew

This fungus is the most common one seen in our greenhouses. It can infect many different plants, but is most common for us on Arabidopsis, Camelina, and soybean. Whitish-gray patches or spots will appear on the topside of leaves. As the fungus spreads, it will cover the leaf and will also move to the underside of the leaf and stem. Infected leaves will turn yellow and fall off. If it is on the buds, they may not open. Spores will germinate with higher humidity, so air circulation is important in prevention. Powdery mildew is host specific. For example, powdery mildew on cucumber will not spread to Camelina, even when it is next to each other.

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Powdery mildew on Camelina Powdery mildew on Arabidopsis

Powdery mildew on cucumber

Integrated Pest Management

This type of pest management uses a combination of techniques to control pests. It may involve using alternative control measures in addition to or instead of spraying. The focus is on producing plants with vigor that are healthy and can help combat pests, taking inventory and scouting for pests before spraying, and using biological and environmentally sound methods. Beneficials are used when possible and chemicals are rotated to prevent resistance. Mix only the amount of chemical needed to prevent waste.

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You should be very familiar with any chemical you use. Always read the labels of chemicals you are going to be spraying so you will understand how it works, what you are targeting, what its requires to properly work, and to make sure that it is the best option for what needs to be done. “The label is the law.”

Scouting

Crop monitoring involves regular, systematic inspection of an area. It involves looking for crop uniformity, symptoms of plant stress, abnormal growth, discoloration, and presence of pests. This is done for the purpose of making a decision: to spray, to wait, or to use a preventative measure. To manage pests, it requires information that you gather, hear about, or infer. Good information leads to good decision-making.

The focus is on the plants vs. the insects. Some amount of pests will always be present, but their presence should not be high enough to cause damage to the plants and interfere with the research. Because of the high value of the crops grown here, a presence/absence method is used for scouting instead of looking solely at insect counts. A 1-5 scale may also be used for pest density if you want to track populations. Usually, if a pest population is low, they are easier to control. Often the preventative pesticides used will help keep their numbers more manageable and for a longer period of time than without their use.

Weekly scouting and monitoring is done for early detection of pests. High value plants and the potential uniqueness of each plant call for this constant monitoring. Start at one end of each house and work around to each bench to look for severity and density of any pests present. Different ways of scouting may help find different pests. In addition to just looking for the pests or damage visually, you can use yellow sticky cards, microscopes, or white paper that you tap a plant onto to find the pests. This will determine which houses need to be sprayed and when.

Often, spotting pest damage on a plant is one of the first indicators that a pest is present. Different pests are found on different areas of the plant. Mites are often on the underside of the leaves or at the highest point of the plant. Thrips will be on the leaves, but will also be in the flowers. Aphids usually are on the stems and bottom of the leaves. Shore flies and fungus gnats are on the leaves, flying around the plants, or crawling on the soil. Whiteflies may be seen flying when the plant is brushed against or on the bottom of the leaves. Therefore, it is important to inspect all parts of the plant for pest presence when scouting.

Cultural and Mechanical Methods of Pest Control

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1. Culturally, good sanitation is one of the best ways to help keep pests under control. Benches should be kept free of leaf debris. Floors should be regularly swept and sanitized. Trash cans lids should be kept in place and trash bags emptied regularly.

2. Plants that are heavily infested should be discarded if possible.

3. If pruning a plant or part of a plant is an option, then this should be done prior to spraying the plant.

4. All plants coming into our greenhouses from other facilities should first be inspected by Danforth Greenhouse staff and placed in the quarantine chamber for observation. Once they are free of pests, they may be moved to their designated greenhouse.

5. Whenever a house is empty, all benches, walls, and floors should be cleaned and sanitized. The house can then be heated for several days to help kill any lingering pests.

6. Plants that are ready to be harvested should be done so in a timely matter so that plants cycle through the greenhouses in as short a time as possible.

Beneficials

Currently, we are using beneficials in the chambers with sweet potatoes and Arabidopsis. We apply Amblyseius cucumeris for thrips, Hypoaspis miles for thrips and fungus gnats, and Phytoseiulus persimilis for spider mites. Sprinkle over plants monthly. We also are applying the beneficial nematode Steinernema feltiae to chambers once every 2-3 weeks. This helps with controlling the fungus gnats by eating their larvae.

In the greenhouses, beneficials are used on cassava that cannot be sprayed and on Camelina for the first 1-2 months.

Types of Pesticides

Any chemical used to kill a living pest is considered a pesticide. This includes fungicides, insecticides, miticides, herbicides, and bactericides including household cleaners. Plant growth regulators are also classified as pesticides and are subject to similar regulations.

What type of pesticide you are spraying and the method by which it works will determine how you spray. If a contact-only spray is used, the chemical must come into

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contact with the pest for it to be effective. If it is systemic, a soil drench will be taken up by the roots and transported through the plant, or taken in through its leaves when a foliar spray is applied. A translaminar pesticide will move from the tops of leaves to the undersides.

Pesticide Spray Notices

Spray notices should be sent out at least 24 hours before the start-time to allow researchers ample notice. Additional verbal reminders will need to be given if they are still working in the greenhouses as the spray time approaches.

At minimum, the following information needs to be included in all spray notices:- Date and time of application- Locations to be sprayed- REI / time reentry will be allowed- Warning to not access sprayed locations until after REI has passed- Information on emergency facilities- Previous spray information for the past month

Below is an example of a spray notice:

The following pesticide sprays have been scheduled for this week:

Tuesday March 3: A-range and 7C

Wednesday March 4: 9A, 3C, 4C, 6C, and all B-range houses

These greenhouses will close at 2:30 pm and will re-open the following mornings. Please be aware that pesticide application equipment will be present and in use in the greenhouse corridors at this time. This will limit access to other ranges until the sprays have been completed. Once the signs have been removed from corridor entrances, you may pass through the corridor again.

Following the completion of the spray, doors will be locked on the greenhouses listed above. Entry will remain restricted until the following morning when the re-entry interval of 12 hours has expired. Do not attempt to enter the treated greenhouses until that time.

Information concerning upcoming pesticide sprays and locations, chemicals previously sprayed over the past month, and an emergency medical facility location are located on the pesticide-room door.

Let us know if you have any questions.

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Rotation and Additives

Chemicals need to be rotated to avoid insect resistance. Each pesticide is grouped into a class depending on its mode of action (MOA). Do not to use a chemical in the same MOA class repeatedly. Check labels for how frequently a particular chemical may be used. Pesticides that are oil-based and contact-only can be used more often since no resistance is built up. Generally one chemical for mites is used every week. If other pests are present, an additional chemical will be added for that pest. Always verify compatibility if multiple pesticides are mixed together.

An adjuvant such as Capsil may also be added to help improve the performance of the pesticides, especially when spraying on plants with waxy leaves (corn, cassava, etc.). This will help the chemical stick to the leaf more and prevent it from rolling off. Most of the chemicals are compatible with adjuvants and can be used most of the time.

Another additive that may need to be used is one that will regulate pH. Some chemicals are effective only within certain pH ranges. The chemicals that have specific requirements will be listed on the pesticide information spreadsheets. The pH of the water to be used should be checked at the time of the spray to determine if it needs adjustment.

Pesticides for Cassava Rotations

Because of the sensitivity of cassava leaves, and because pesticide damage may mimic virus damage, a limited number of chemicals are available to use for these plants.

Avid Pylon SiroccoFloramite Shuttle SultanJudo Tetrasan TriactOvation Kontos

Signage

EPA-designated “Do Not Enter” signs are placed at each entrance to the area (and door locked if possible) of the greenhouse range being sprayed. These signs contain the name of the chemicals being used, the date and start time, and the date and time that re-entry is allowed. Each individual greenhouse will also have a sign placed on it and its door locked once the spray in that house has been completed. Once all the houses in that range have been sprayed, the corridor entrances may be unlocked and those signs removed. Signs on greenhouse compartment doors must be left until the REI has expired.

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All signs need to be removed and doors unlocked for the researchers as soon as REI has expired.

Measuring

Wear gloves and eye protection while measuring and mixing. There are disposable long sleeves in a cabinet above the counter. Only mix the amount of chemical needed. Base your decision on how many gallons to mix on what you and others have done in the past. When measuring out chemicals, only pour one chemical in each cylinder so that if you over-pour, you will not end up having to discard chemicals. Pour chemicals below eye level.

To mix a tank for spraying, determine how much will be needed by using the rates listed on each chemical’s label. A rate higher than what is listed will not work better than the recommended rate and could cause damage to plants. Always follow the label’s rates. EPA law states you cannot use more than recommended.

If using a chemical that is a powder or a granular, it is often easier to mix that separately first with some water in a large plastic cylinder. Cut open the bag and mix with RO water. (Wear a mask when measuring out powders.) If you use the scale, use a weigh boat and discard after using. Only use a weigh boat one time.

Any powders or granules that remain on the counter after measuring need to be cleaned up. The sink should be rinsed out as needed.

Tank Mixing

Fill the tank with half of the amount of water needed. Most of the time, RO water is used. However, if using the cold-fogger sprayer, use tempered water due to RO water damaging the spray tip. You will need to know the pH of the RO water to determine if you need to add Request to lower the pH.

Add the chemicals in the following order:

1. pH adjusters- Request2. Defoamers3. Wettable powders (WP, WSP)- Benefit, Measurol, Overture, ProMite, Sanmite4. Dry flowables (DF)- Hexygon5. Water dispersable granules (WG, WDG, SG)- Endeavor, Gnatrol, Safari,

Tristar, Xxpire6. Oils-Azatin, Triact, Ultra-fine

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7. Flowables (F, SC)- Conserve, Floramite, Forbid, Judo, Kontos, Magus, Mainspring, Ovation, Pedestal, Pylon, Shuttle, Sirocco, Sultan, Talstar

8. Liquids (L, AS)- Distance, Enstar9. Solutions (S, SL)- Botanigard10. Soluble powders (SP)- Acephate, Orthene11. Surfactants12. Emulsifiable concentrates (E, EC)- Avid , Molt-X

Using the hose to provide agitation, add the remainder of the water. Some chemicals require more agitation than others to keep them suspended. The label will specify if this is needed, but it is better to have the tank running and agitating the chemicals than to let it sit idle.

Below are descriptions of the common formulations:

Code Term Description WP Wettable Powder A powder formulation to be applied after

mixing with water. Wettable powders do not dissolve in water, instead they forma suspension and require constant agitation to prevent settling.

WG or WDG Water Dispersible Granules A formulation to be applied after mixing with water. Water Dispersible Granules do not dissolve in water, instead they form a suspension and require constant agitation to prevent settling.

F, AS or L Flowable, AqueousSuspension, or Liquid A formulation to be applied after mixing

with water. These formulations are commonly very thick (not easily poured) and do not dissolve in water. Instead they form a suspension and require constant agitation to prevent settling. May cause more nose/throat irritation than others when mixing.

E or EC Emulsifiable Concentrate A liquid formulation to be applied after mixing in water. Emulsifiable Concentrates form emulsions in water and require mild agitation to keep the pesticide uniformly mixed. Have a high risk of phytotoxicity.

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SP or WSP Water-soluble Powder A powder formulation which dissolves in water to form a solution. Once mixed, a solution of water and water-soluble powder does not require agitation.

S or SL Water-soluble Liquids A liquid formulation to be applied after mixing in water. Once mixed, a solution of water and water-soluble liquid does not require agitation.

G Granular Applied as a dry material

Personal Protective Equipment

The label will always say what PPE is required to apply that chemical. This is not a suggestion. Always follow what the label requires to minimize risks to yourself and others. Know what your risks are by reading the label. All PPE needed is available in the pesticide room including suits, jackets, gloves, masks, glasses, respirators, and filters.

The toxicity of a chemical is given a “signal word” label: caution, warning, danger, or danger-poison. These will help determine what PPE is required.

Exposure to pesticides can either be acute (where one incident causes immediate injury) or chronic (where repeated exposure over time causes damage). We overprotect ourselves by wearing respirators and suits even when the pesticides used do not call for them. This will help minimize our chronic exposure since we are often spraying overhead, brushing against plants, and squeezing down small aisles of large plants. Exposure can be from oral, dermal, or inhalation. Contact on the skin accounts for 97% of exposure issues.

Respirators should be worn at each spray. They are fit-tested each year to check for any leaks or issues. Filters should be changed approximately every 2-3 months depending on how often you spray. If the pre-filters are no longer white, if you can smell or taste chemical, or if you are having trouble taking deep breaths, the filter needs to be changed immediately.

Emergencies

If for any reason you begin to feel ill or dizzy during a spray, leave the greenhouse first. Once in the corridor and in fresh air, you may remove your mask. Drink water and sit down for a while to cool down. If you feel your PPE was compromised, seek emergency attention as needed.

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Know where the safety showers and eye wash stations are located in the pesticide room and greenhouse corridors in case of emergency. Possible injuries related to pesticides:

-Eye- rubbing eyes with gloves on, splashing pesticides -Skin- not wearing protective gloves, splashing pesticides onto skin, not washing hands after application is finished, being exposed to drift-Inhalation- handling dusts or powders, wearing poor-fitting respirators-Heat-related-becoming over-heated due to environmental conditions

Remember the 3C’s when there is a spill: (Always wear appropriate PPE)-Control- stop the spill by isolating container, plugging hole, etc.-Contain- keep spill from spreading by using items like spill tubes and absorbent

pads or sand. There should be these items available in each corridor.-Clean-up- sweep or mop up residue. A 30% bleach solution can be used to

neutralize equipment. The safety office should be notified.

Sprays

Sprays are usually done once a week, but if pest quantity is high, additional sprays may be needed. If pest quantities are low, a house may be skipped for a week. Generally, one miticide is always used each week. An additional chemical may be added depending on what other pests are present that week. Fungicides are usually applied to only the area affected and are often done at the end of a spray or as a separate spray.

When spraying each house, turn off the exhaust fans, fan dampers, the HAF fans, and the lights in that house, and close the shade curtain. (The items are marked in yellow in the Argus boxes.) Begin by turning on the nozzle and aiming away from any plants to purge the line of any water/chemicals that have remained in it since the last spray.

Start at the opposite end of the house from the door and work your way across toward the door. Most plants are sprayed from multiple sides so that they are covered with the chemical to the point of run-off. It is crucial that the undersides of corn and cassava leaves are well-covered. Extra care should be taken with small, stressed, or fragile plants. Do not spray into the tips or whorls of corn plants.

Chemicals work either by contact, translaminar, systemic, or a combination. When the chemical used is only a contact, both the tops and bottom of the leaves will need to be sprayed so that contact is made with the pest. The application will continue until all houses needing spray have been completed, and the chemicals in the tank have been exhausted.

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When that house is completed, turn the fans and dampers back to “auto.” Door should be locked and sign put into place. The lights can stay off and the shade curtains closed until the following morning.

Spotting

Sprays are done in teams of two for safety and efficiency. The spotter will help measure chemicals, make signs, mix the tank, and prep the areas for the spray. They will make sure the appropriate doors to the area being sprayed are locked and that no one remains in any of the greenhouses in that range. During the spray, they are in charge of turning off and on the appropriate fans, etc. and opening/locking greenhouse doors. They will help with the hose and with moving the tank.

It is very important that the spotter keep an eye on the sprayer. The conditions while spraying are unfavorable (in a hot suit, in a greenhouse with no air movement) so it could be possible at any time for them to have issues with over-heating. The spotter should not be doing anything on their phone or other activities that will take their attention away from what the sprayer is doing. If an emergency occurs, the spotter may need to go in quickly to help the sprayer get out of the greenhouse.

After the spray has been completed, the spotter will make sure the corridor signs are down and doors unlocked so that researchers can have access to the other ranges again.

REI’s

Restricted-entry intervals are determined according to the applied chemical that has the longest REI listed on its label. The signs on the individual doors should be removed as soon as possible after the REI expiration. Complete this task and unlock doors first thing in the morning.

Chemicals with 24-hr REIs are treated differently:

-Whenever possible, spray these chemicals only on Fridays (unless you have arranged with your researchers who use that house.)

-Additional signs will be hung on greenhouse doors stating there is a 24 REI and no entry will be allowed for harvesting, staking, etc.

-Doors will remain locked and signage remain on doors until the 24 hours have past.

-Short-term tasks like watering can still take place. Wear glasses, gloves, and a disposable spray jacket when watering these houses.

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-Any facility-related emergency that warrants access if needed.

-If you are going to spray a chemical with a 24-hr REI, we need to include that in the spray notice email that goes out for the week.

Cleaning the Tank

The spotter is also in charge of cleaning the tank if needed after the spray has been completed. All chemicals will have been sprayed out. Add water back into the tank while making sure to aim the nozzle up inside the tank to get the top of the tank and up along the sides. When using the Skibbe, there are two ‘shelves’ that hold chemicals that need to get sprayed down. Continue spraying until the tank has emptied again.

If there is foam still at the bottom of the tank that will not get sprayed, move the tank to sit over a drain. Open the valve on the bottom of the tank to drain, and use a hose to rinse out the remaining bubbles. Close the valve when finished rinsing.

Disposal

Always try to mix only the amount of chemical you will be using. If for some reason (such as the sprayer stopped working or you mixed too much) you are not able to empty the tank, check with others to see if they might be able to use it for that same week. If no one is able to use it, the chemicals need to be drained and collected in the designated container in the pesticide room. DO NOT pour pesticides down the drains. Jim Cox, Danforth Safety Manager, will collect and dispose of these chemicals as needed. If you “top off” the collection container, please let Jim know by email. Any concentrated chemicals that need to be discarded also need to go in this container. There is a “Hazardous Waste Log” to specify what chemicals are being collected that needs to be completed. Jim will also provide additional and/or larger collection containers if needed.

Record Keeping

Recording sprays is very important for tracking what chemicals have been used. This is required by law and must be done each time. Test sprays and beneficial insects used should also be recorded to help keep track of what works and what doesn’t. The records need to contain:

Date and time of application Crops sprayed

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Pests targeted Location and size of the area sprayed Chemical sprayed and its ID# from the pesticide spread sheet (which

contains the active ingredient and EPA registration number) Rate used Total amount of Product Sprayed Applicator and their license number REI length (based on the longest one of chemicals sprayed) REI expiration date and time

We also need to keep the above information readily available for at least one month after each spray for researchers to see. There is a clipboard on the pesticide room door for this purpose. There is another board containing the current week’s pesticide spray information, and a poster for which medical facility to go to in case of emergency.

An inventory sheet of all pesticides will also be posted on the door in case emergency personnel need to get inside the pesticide room.

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Preventative Systemic Treatments

New plantings and seedlings known to be susceptible to certain pests often require preventative treatments in addition to the weekly sprays. Some of the pesticides we use work better preventatively than as a treatment.

The following list of treatments is general guideline. Plants may need additional treatments if pests are persistent or have high populations, or you may be able to skip a month if pests are under control.

Each greenhouse should be checked weekly to see if there are new plants that need treatment. Treat plants as they are ready according to correct size or age as opposed to doing a large group treatment. Size and ages listed are estimates. Plants should be established and watered regularly, but treated before pests are already on them.

Keep records of what plants have been treated in the log book and by marking the trays or pots.

Azatin/Gnatrol -Fungus Gnat, Shore FlyUsed monthly to kill larvae along with yellow sticky cards to catch adults. Use where nematodes may not be as effective, such as in gallon pots.

ArabidopsisBrachypodiumCamelinaSetaria

Distance- Fungus Gnat, Shore FlyUsed monthly to kill larvae along with yellow sticky cards to catch adults.

ArabidopsisBrachypodiumCamelinaSetaria

Granular Clearys- Powdery MildewPlants should be at least 4 weeks old or 2-3 weeks after transplant, and must be watered in within 1-2 days or it will dry up and clump and not dissolve. Use when powdery mildew is already present in house as a preventative for the plants you are treating. Plants must be actively growing to take up. It does not help get rid of mildew already existing on plants.

BrassicaCamelinaSoy

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Kontos Drench- MitesApply 1-2 weeks after transplanting and can be repeated monthly. The works better as a preventative and will not work on high mite populations. Sprays may be able to be delayed when used.

CassavaCorn

Marathon- Thrips and AphidsApply when several sets of true leaves are present. Use only for crops that don’t get mites.

ArabidopsisBrassicaCamelinaTobacco

Safari Drench- Thrips and AphidsApply when several sets of true leaves are present. Can be repeated monthly. Combine with Kontos.

CottonCloverCornPeanutsMedicagoSetariaSweet Potatoes

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Licensing

It is strongly recommended that all Danforth Greenhouse employees obtain a MO State Pesticide License. This license is a requirement for some positions. Test dates are held monthly throughout most of the year. A class is available prior to testing to help with preparation. There are two sections of the test—one as an overview of pesticides for non-commercial applicators from the Missouri Core Manual, and one specific to our work (Category 3 - Ornamental and Turf Pest Control.) There are also some questions that pertain to Missouri state laws. See the Missouri Pesticide Use Act booklet.

Renewal fees are due yearly, and every three years a re-certification class must be taken. These are usually only held at the beginning of a year. If the class is not taken, then you must re-take the test.

Even if you are not licensed, you may still spray. However, a registered, licensed applicator must be on the premises and available for supervision during the spray.

Inspections

Periodically, inspections may be done to make sure we are in compliance with worker protection standards. This is for everyone’s benefit. They will help maintain industry standards across various disciplines. They will also provide guidance and assistance as needed, and they will make sure we are applying pesticides safely.

Regulatory agencies are particularly interested in our restricted-use chemicals, but we use the same standards for all our chemicals in regards to record-keeping.

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Pesticide Room Etiquette

With many staff and researchers using this room, it is important to keep it organized and clean.

Wipe down sink and counters after mixing chemicals. Place items back in their designated locations (cabinets and drawers are labeled.) Put all chemicals back into the cabinets and keep both cabinets locked at all

times. If any supplies or chemicals are getting low in stock, add it to the ‘supply request’

form on the L: drive. Respirators should be left out to dry, with their filters kept inside the sealed

containers, overnight. Please store back in the cabinet the following morning. If the trash can is full, empty and replace the bag. If using the last of a bottle of chemical, rinse three times. (This residue can be

added to your spray tank.) Write “triple rinsed” on the bottle, poke holes in the bottom, and throw in trash. Do not leave empty containers in the sink.

When leaving a chemical in a small spray bottle, immediately label with the date, chemical, and your initials.

Excess chemicals should be dumped in the pesticide waste collection container. When adding to the chemical waste container, write your name, date, chemical, and amount on the form in the hood.

When the paper towel holder is empty, replace the roll. Any spray nozzle heads that need cleaned should be soaked in CLR and replaced

the next morning. Place in one of the bags marked “clean.” (Do not leave the rings in CLR overnight.)

Wipe up any spills on the carts when finished with your spray. Keep area around safety shower free of containers or trash cans. Make sure pesticide log book is filled out correctly. Please rinse out all cylinders and containers until clean when finished measuring,

and hang them on the peg board to dry.

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Phytotoxicity

Phytotoxicity is the degree to which a chemical or other compound is toxic to plants. Phytotoxic effects can range from slight burning or browning of leaves to death of the plant. Sometimes the damage appears as distorted leaves, fruit, flowers, or stems. Damage symptoms vary with the pesticide and the type of plant that has been affected.

Phytotoxicity is not necessarily caused by the active ingredient. Plant damage can also be caused by the solvents in a formulation, impurities in spray water, using more pesticide than listed on the label, using an adjuvant when not necessary, or poorly mixing the spray solutions.

Condition of the plant at the time of treatment can affect phytotoxicity; stressed plants may be more susceptible. Environmental conditions such the temperature, humidity, and light can influence phytotoxicity. High temperatures can speed up pesticide degradation and volatilization (making them less effective), but may also result in increased phytotoxicity. UV light rapidly breaks down many pesticides. Soil properties such as texture, temperature, moisture, microbial activity, and pH also influence phytotoxicity.

To reduce wide-spread phytotoxicity effects, always use the recommended rates of the pesticide or fungicide used. Also, test any new chemical on a few sample plants first. Test results should be recorded in the phytotoxicity log.

Examples of phytotoxicity

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Testing New Chemicals for Phytotoxicity

-Test spray on our most common types of plants: Cassava, Corn, Camelina, Soy, Arabidopsis, Grasses, and Tobacco.

-Use the highest recommended spray rate, and spray to run-off.

-Add adjuvants (pH regulators or surfactants) when doing the test spray if you would regularly be using them with that chemical .

-Isolate test plants when spraying. Turn off HAF fans or fans in chambers to avoid spray drift.

-Wear PPE according to label. If a respirator is required, then the room needs to be closed off for appropriate REI.

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-Mark plants which have been tested and watch for phytotoxicity symptoms over the next week.

- If you will be spraying a plant other than our commonly tested ones, you should do a test spray on that species.

Phytotoxicity Log

CassavaArab/

Camelina

Soy Corn Tobacco

Nematodes

Grasses

Abamectin no ok ok ok ok ok ok

Akari no ok ok ok ok ok

Aviduse low

rate; may burn in winter

ok, except with

Strike

ok ok ok Do not use ok

Azatin no ok ok ok ok ok ok

Botanigard no ok ok ok ok ok ok

Capsillow rate only

ok ok ok ok ok ok

Clearys 3336

stunted/

burnedok ok ok ok ok

Conserve ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Distance ok ok ok ok ok ok

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Endeavor ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Enstar no ok ok ok ok ok ok

Floramite ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Forbid Ok Ok Ok Do not use Ok Ok Do not

use

Gnatrol ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

CassavaArab/

Camelina

Soy Corn Tobacco

Nematodes

Grasses

Hexygon ok ok ok ok ok ok

Judo

use only

when under

85 deg.

Do not use

puckering

Do not use ok puckering ok

Kontos

may burn TC transfer

s

ok ok ok ok Do not use

Magus ok

Mainspring

Marathon ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Mesurol white wash ok ok ok ok ok

Ortheneyoung

leaf burn

ok okpossible pollen

lossok Do not

use

Ovation ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

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Overture ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Pedestal

may burn at higher rates

may burn at higher rates

ok

may burn at higher rates

Pro-Mite

Pylon

white wash low

leaves

okoccasion

al spotting

okyellow spots burn

ok ok

CassavaArab/

Camelina

Soy Corn Tobacco

Nematodes

Grasses

Safari ok ok ok ok ok

Sanmite ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Shuttle ok ok ok

may burn on sunny days

ok ok ok

Sirocco ok ok ok ok ok Do not use ok

Strike spotting at high rates

ok ok ok ok

Sultan ok ok okholes in emerging leaves

ok ok ok

Talstar ok ok ok ok ok ok

Tame ok ok ok ok ok ok

Tetrasan ok ok ok ok ok ok ok

Triact spot ok ok may ok ok ok

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spray only

cause leaf

spotsUltra-fine

oil ok ok ok ok ok ok

Xxpire

Pesticide Application Record Page

Date/Time Crop Pest

Location and Size

Chemical and ID# Rate

Total Amount of

ProductApplicator/ License #

REI length

REI Expiration

3/12/15

3:00 pm

SoyArab.Tomat

oCameli

na

MitesThrips

A-3,6,7,12,13,1

4,7C

(5283 sq. feet)

Sultan #P35

Conserve #P8

4 ml/gal

3 ml/gal

100 ml/25 gal

75 ml/25 gal

KHN5034 12

3/13/153:00 am

                   

                   

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Definitions of Pesticide Spreadsheet Terms

ID#: the greenhouse department’s own numbering system for each chemical in our inventory. It is merely a time-saving device when filling out the log book.

Pesticide: the commercial name of the chemical, the EPA registration number and the active ingredient are listed in this column.

Pest: which pests are targeted by the corresponding chemical.

100 Gal.: the label-recommended rate to be mixed with 100 gallons of water. It is further broken down into the 25-gallon rate and the 1-gallon rate.

REI: specifies how much time must pass between application of the pesticide and the re-entry of unprotected workers into the treated area. This time designation is determined by the EPA.

Adjuvant: a chemical that doesn’t possess pesticidal activity. The term “adjuvant” is an umbrella term for many additives such as surfactants, pH modifiers, defoaming agents and wetting agents/spreaders.

Resp: states if this chemical requires the use of a respirator.

Interval: recommended usage rates of the corresponding chemical. This includes number of acceptable applications for crop cycle or year, or how many days between applications.

Class: the “mode of action;” how the chemical kills pests.

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Those mode-of-actions include: C: Contact – these chemicals are not absorbed by the plant. They must directly touch the pests or eggs to be effective.

S: Systemic – absorbed by the leaves or roots and then transported within the treated plant. Chemicals move upward in a plant.

T: Translaminar – moves short distances within a plant, such as from the top of the leaf to the underside, leaving a reservoir of active ingredient that provides longer control.

Beneficials: states if the corresponding pesticide is compatible with beneficial insects. In general, broad-spectrum pesticides are not compatible. The pesticide label will state its compatibility.

pH: the range of pH in which the chemical is most effective. It is important to know the pH of the RO water before mixing. Our RO water generally reads between 8.0 and 9.0. You can access our readings on the L:drive in the Analyses folder, under Fertilizer Lines. Chemicals for Specific Pests

Mites

AvidFloramiteForbidJudoKontosMagusMesurolPro-MitePylonSanmiteShuttleSiroccoSultanTalstarTameTetrasanTriactXxpire

OvacidesHexygon

OvationTetrasan

Thrips

Avid BotanigardConserveEnstarMainspringMarathon

MesurolM-PedeOrtheneOverturePedestalPylonSafariSiroccoOvertureTalstarTriactUltra-fine OilXxpire

Fungus Gnat/Shore Fly

AzatinDistanceGnatrolMarathonSafari

Whiteflies

AvidAzatinBotanigardDistanceEndeavorEnstarForbidJudoKontosMainspringMarathonM-PedeOrtheneSafariSanmiteSirocco

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TriactUltra-fine OilXxpire

Fungicides

ActinovateBanrotCaptanClearysHeritageProtectSpectroSubdue

Aphids

AvidAzatinDistanceEndeavorEnstarKontosMainspringMarathonMesurolM-PedeOrtheneSafariSiroccoTriactUltra-fine OilXxpire

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