• Citrus mealybug

  poses a problem in greenhouse horticulture, and in the tropics and sub-tropics on outdoor crops. The insect causes damage especially in fruit trees and [...] reduced level of photosynthesis in the leaves also reduces flower and fruit production. In ornamental crops, the mere presence of mealybugs is sufficient to [...] so that the light yellow to pink body is visible through its waxy covering. There is often a darker longitudinal stripe running over the body. The adult

• Breeding Beauty: How United Selections Protects Innovation with 100% IPM

  February 9, 2026

  Rose breeding is one of the most demanding disciplines in horticulture, where success depends on patience, precision, and an uncompromising attention to [...] IPM is an investment” Fred admits honestly. “But the real question is — does it work? And does it reduce other costs?” For United Selections, the answer [...] thing is clear: IPM is not a constraint here but an enabler of innovation. United Selections is a good example proving that biological pest control is not

• Capsanem

  ) Mode of action The nematodes enter the pest and release symbiotic bacteria into the pest's body cavity. These bacteria convert the host tissue into a [...] carrier. Preparation Remove the sachets from the box and keep them at room temperature for 30 minutes Empty the contents of the sachets into a bucket containing [...] litres of water per sachet (water temperature: 15-20°C/59-68°F) Stir well and leave the contents to soak for five minutes Stir again and pour the contents

• Pea blight, leaf and pod spot

  pisi causes spots on leaves, stems and pods of peas. The spots on leaves and pods are round, on the stems they are more elongated. The lesions are light [...] surrounded by a dark brown to red-brown border. The first infection is often on the primary leaves. The fungus is seed borne and thus also causes post- and [...] transmitted on the outside of the seed coat and cause primary infection. The conidia germinate and infect through the stomata or directly through the cuticle

• Fusarium spp.

  inside the vascular system of the host plant and spreads upwards inside the plants. The other species are dispersed upwards on the outside of the plant [...] wilting which is the main symptom of this Fusarium species. Higher up in the plant, the microconidia germinate and infect the surrounding tissue. On infected [...] produce ascospores. In general, the life cycle of different Fusarium species is similar. Fusarium overwinters for many years in the soil, and on crop residues

• Two-spotted spider mite

  feeding on plant sap. They mainly occur on the underside of leaves where they pierce the cells and suck out the contents. The empty dead cells become yellow, [...] and in many plants the damage can also be seen on the upper surface of leaves as small yellow dots. The destruction of cells results in reduced photosynthesis [...] and spotting on the leaves affects the appearance of the crop. This is of particular concern in ornamental crops. Life cycle and appearance of Spider mite

• Cottony soft rot

  only mycelium is produced by the germinating sclerotia. The fungus grows quite rapidly inside the plant and kills the host cells. On the infected plant [...] containing ascospores. The mycelium infects the stem base and the roots, whereas the ascospores infect the above-ground plant parts. In greenhouses, usually [...] ) infection are water-soaked lesions at the stem base. The plant above it wilts and rots. White, fluffy fungal mycelium grows on the lesions, giving this

• Beneficial nematodes

  due to the bacterial infection. Feeding and reproduction: The nematodes feed on the multiplying bacteria and absorb the nutrients released by the bacterial [...] Determine the required nematode quantity based on the infestation severity and treatment area and as indicated on the product labels Store nematodes in a re [...] several inches in length. Nematodes play various roles in ecosystems. Some are free-living, feeding on organic matter in soil or water, and are essential

• Spider mites and other mites

  magnifying glass is needed to detect them. Plant mites are often found in colonies on the undersides of leaves, where they feed on the plant's sap. The damage caused [...] n of the leaves, with the affected areas curling and twisting. This damage is caused by the mites feeding on the plant tissue, which disrupts the growth [...] and the availability of food. Here's an overview of the life cycle of plant mites: Egg: The life cycle begins with the female mite laying eggs. The eggs

• Diamond back moth

  crops in other regions. Damage symptoms The caterpillar is a surface feeder. They feed from the lower leaf surface, leaving the wax layer on the upper [...] and active. Except for the first instar, which mines in the leaf tissue, the larvae are voracious surface feeders. The pupae of the diamond back moth (Plutella [...] may occur in the florets. Initially, the pupa is pinkish-white to pinkish-yellow and changes to brown before adult emergence. The adult of the diamond back