Monday, February 20, 2017

Brussels sprouts infested with cabbage aphid, which can render most sprouts unmarketable.

Brussel sprouts
Researchers studied the issue of aphid infestations of Brussels sprouts at the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, a facility of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station.

Severe infestations of cabbage aphids can virtually destroy a crop of Brussels sprouts, making them unmarketable. However, new research from the 鶹app shows that organic pesticides can be effective in managing the pests.

The research was conducted by Becky Sideman, a researcher with theand extension professor of sustainable horticulture production, and her undergraduate student Talia Levy. Levy studied the issue of aphid infestations of Brussels sprouts for her senior thesis. The research was conducted at the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, a facility of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station.

“In recent years, we performedcomparing different varieties of Brusselssprouts as well as different growing practices. In these experiments, we observedsevere infestations of cabbage aphid. Although our research did not focus onthe aphids, they were quite a nuisance and rendered most sprouts unmarketable. Fromconversations with growers in the region, we came to realize that many growers, especiallyorganic growers, were struggling with cabbage aphid management,” Sideman said.

To address this issue, Levy compared two different methods of managing cabbage aphids: intercropping with flowers that provide habitat for naturally-occurring aphid predators, and using organic insecticides, alternating between insecticidal soap, and a combination of azadirachtin and pyrethrins.

“While we observed lots of aphid predators and parasites on the flowering plants, they did not provide sufficient control of cabbage aphids.On the other hand, weekly scouting and application of organic pesticides when economic thresholds were reached did provide good control of cabbage aphid,” Sideman and Levy said.

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 228522. For additional information on this research project, visit.

Founded in 1887, theat theis UNH’s original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission. We steward federal and state funding, including support from the, to provide unbiased and objective research concerning diverse aspects of sustainable agriculture and foods, aquaculture, forest management, and related wildlife, natural resources and rural community topics. We maintain the Woodman and Kingman agronomy and horticultural research farms, the Macfarlane Research Greenhouses, the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, and the Organic Dairy Research Farm. Additional properties also provide forage, forests and woodlands in direct support to research, teaching, and outreach.