| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Educate government agencies on unfair trade/cultural practices, which result from
regulatory burdens. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Provide training on dust management when using various tillage techniques
in windy areas. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop web site with photos of all insect pests identified in this
strategic plan via the California Melon Research Board’s team. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Educate growers on the benefit of soil sampling for monitoring with
lab analysis of nematode species so that effective control strategies
can be implemented. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
A literature search is needed for information on neem oil (Neemix)
as a control option for nematodes. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Educate growers on use of thiophanate-methyl (Topsin-M) as a
replacement for benomyl (Benlate). |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Demonstrate post-harvest crop destruction benefits in field
production settings (not just in small, research plots) and educate
growers on the necessity for the immediate destruction of plant
residue (including roots) after crop termination. Many plant
pathogens, including those that infect roots, multiply rapidly on crop
residue. Foliar application of an herbicide or the use of a flail
mower to destroy the crop canopy are, however, counterproductive
and actually enhance pathogen reproduction in infected roots. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Continue training on application techniques for Eptam. |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Educate growers on use of Halosulfuron (Sandea). |
| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
Wildlife |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Provide grower updates on vertebrate pest control options. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Regulators and consumer groups must be educated as to how Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) practices are used in melon production and how this system
optimizes food production while it minimizes risks to workers and the environment.
This is especially important as it relates to risk assessments for crop production. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Provide annual list of current registrations on melons. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Training on the safe and effective use of methyl iodide and other
alternatives to methyl bromide. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Disseminate information on Promote if available. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Help define resistance management strategies for powdery mildew. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Educate growers on crop/variety tolerances to Halosulfuron. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Demonstrate use of cover crops and organic amendments and their
effect on weed populations. |
| Extension/Outreach |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
The general public needs to understand how IPM is used in agriculture and how
changes brought about by the FQPA review impacts on the cost of food. The
economic side of replacing low-cost pesticides with newer, but much more
expensive, materials needs to be considered in the review process. |
| Extension/Outreach |
3 |
Pathogens |
|
|
Educate growers on best management practices since this
impacts post harvest quality more than any other thing. |
| Extension/Outreach |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Resistance management to preserve both new and old pesticide chemistries. |
| Extension/Outreach |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Training and demonstration of alternatives to methyl bromide for soil-borne
diseases. |
| Extension/Outreach |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Technology transfer on how to use new chemistries with economic thresholds. |
| Extension/Outreach |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Outreach efforts need to be expanded to small-scale melon growers. |
| Extension/Outreach |
8 |
Weeds |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Use of degree day and crop models for both pest control and plant growth
analysis. |
| Extension/Outreach |
9 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Finally, the public should be reminded through effective media (e.g., “Buy
California”, “Five a Day” programs) that the consumption of fresh fruits and
vegetables, particularly melons, contributes to a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Harmonization between Cal-EPA and US-EPA should be encouraged to facilitate
and hasten the registration of reduced risk products. It now appears that concurrent
registrations of pesticide labels on a federal and state level have been lost. Budget
cuts at the state level at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)
would force a longer waiting period for state reviews. Any delay in getting the
federal pesticide label approved for use in California puts our growers at a
disadvantage when materials get approved first in other states. The registration
process for new chemicals should be looked upon as a means to add alternatives
for use in rotation with older products that need to be retained for pesticide
resistance management. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Register alternatives to Diazinon for control of soil-borne pest complex. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Register Iodomethane (methyl iodide) for nematode control |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Register Iodomethane (methyl iodide) for nematode control. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
|
Government should provide or conduct post-harvest
residue testing (take this burden off of growers) with special
emphasis on melons imported from Mexico. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Registration of Topsin-M is needed to replace benomyl (Benlate) for use
with drip applications as foliar and in-furrow seed applications are already
in place. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Obtain California registration for indoxacarb (Avaunt) for control of
worms such as cabbage loopers as this material is currently in IR-4. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Register methyl iodide (iodomethane or Midas from Arvesta
Corporation) as an alternative to methyl bromide. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Register Halosulfuron (Sandea) for nutsedge control in the state. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Ease 8-month plant-back restrictions on Halosulfuron (Sandea) and
allow registration for use in melons |
| Regulatory |
1 |
Wildlife |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Obtain consistency of issuance of depredation permits. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
New products to rotate in an insect pest resistance program with Diazinon for
leafhopper control and soil pests that impact on stand establishment and also at
harvest time. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Allow use of chemigation in melons to encourage adoption of drip irrigation. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Maintain California registration for Diazinon for control of flea
beetles, leafhoppers, and soil-borne insect pests. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Request that the 1,3 -dichloropropene (Telone) label include drip
applications. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Retain as many existing alternative materials as possible to
facilitate a pest resistance management program for nematodes. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate the long-term viability of the curly top virus control
program operated in the state without melon producers paying
assessments for a disease that hasn’t been confirmed in recent
years to be a problem for melon producers. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Clarify label language for Treflan TR-10 use in melons. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Register paraquat and glyphosate for selective use in established
melons. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
Wildlife |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Need to determine status of several formerly used lethal
controls. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
New chemistries for powdery mildew control and overall disease resistance
management. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Allow the continued use of Diazinon by melon growers with both aerial and
ground applications. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
The current towns hip cap limits for the use of 1,3 -dichloropropene
(Telone) has been a burden on melon growers, especially in parts
of Area II. A fair resolution is needed. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Expedite the registration of Triflumizole (Procure) fungicide for
control of powdery mildew in California. (Possible registration in
2003). |
| Regulatory |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Language on pesticide labels needs to consistent and easily interpreted for the
various melon types. |
| Regulatory |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Determine the status of IR-4 projects in regard to melons. |
| Regulatory |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Identify any Codex International issues regarding products used on melons that go
into the export market. |
| Research |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Of significant importance is the need to find effective alternatives to rotate with
Diazinon, a highly efficacious organophosphate insecticide used for leafhopper and
soil-borne pest control. This material, along with other chemicals in this class of
chemistry, has received intense scrutiny and is under threat to be removed or have
the label modified as a crop protection tool. |
| Research |
1 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate alternatives to Diazinon for control of leafhoppers and soil-borne
pest complex. |
| Research |
1 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate alternative to Diazinon for control of leafhoppers. |
| Research |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Identify efficacy of methyl iodide as compared to standard
nematicides. |
| Research |
1 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate avermectin (Agri-Mek) as a drench application as an
alternative for nematode control. |
| Research |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
|
Need to develop safe and effective post-harvest chemicals and
techniques with cost analysis. |
| Research |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate Blockade, a plant activator fungicide. |
| Research |
1 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Continue study of whitefly transmitted gemini-viruses. |
| Research |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Biology and control options for nightshade, nutsedge, pigweed, and
velvetleaf. |
| Research |
1 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop control measures for black and hairy nightshade. |
| Research |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Pre-emergence and also post emergence control techniques and products are
needed for the following broadleaf weed species: black nightshade, field bindweed,
yellow nutsedge, common purslane, and pigweed. |
| Research |
2 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate carbamate alternatives for use in baits (e.g., neonicotinoids) and
evaluate using young melon rinds as a substrate for Carbaryl (Sevin bait). |
| Research |
2 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate control strategies for so-called pinworm damage prior to
harvest from a complex of insects such as cutworms, earwigs, and
arthropods such as centipedes and millipedes. |
| Research |
2 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate Brassica species and also the use of Marigolds for
incorporation and solarization impact on nematode populations. |
| Research |
2 |
Nematodes |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate oxamyl (Vydate) for nematode control after planting. |
| Research |
2 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate seed treatments with fludioxonil and thiophanate -methyl
(Topsin M). |
| Research |
2 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate resistance of Pythium to metalaxyl (Ridomil) and
mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold). |
| Research |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate Rimsulfuron with efficacy and phytotoxicity studies. |
| Research |
2 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop control measures for field bindweed. |
| Research |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Soil-borne disease research is needed that includes pathogen biology and control
strategies for Macrophomina, Phytophthora, Pythium, and races of Verticillium and
Fusarium that are found in California and for Monosporascus cannonballus and any
other pathogen associated with vine decline. |
| Research |
3 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate efficacy of Thiamethoxam (Platinum) for control of cutworms and
wireworms. |
| Research |
3 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate melon varieties (Durango, Hymark, and others) for
resistance to aphids. |
| Research |
3 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation |
Preplant fungicides for use at planting time are needed. |
| Research |
3 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate effectiveness of fosetyl-al (Alliette /nutriphyte) on
Phytophthora with a comparison to Messenger. |
| Research |
3 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate Dual Magnum with efficacy and phytotoxicity studies. |
| Research |
3 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop control measures for nutsedge. |
| Research |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Development of resistant varieties for the mosaic virus complex needs to be
encouraged, advanced, and incorporated into existing seed development research.
Plant breeding research should find and develop new melon varieties that are
resistant to the many plant diseases and insect pests that are problems for the
grower. |
| Research |
4 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate effects of reduced tillage on early season pest problems. |
| Research |
4 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate alternatives to bifenthrin (Capture) for worm and aphid
control and alternatives such as Acramite for mite control. |
| Research |
4 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop melon varieties resistant to races of Verticillium and
Fusarium found in California as there has been suggested |
| Research |
4 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate Dimethamide with efficacy and phytotoxicity studies. |
| Research |
4 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop smart sprayer equipment for use with melons. |
| Research |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Development of resistant varieties for the races of Verticillium and Fusarium that are
found in California and that impact on melon production is encouraged. |
| Research |
5 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation |
Develop efficacy data for Pyganic, a botanical pyrethroid and identify pest
species controlled. Identify other materials that organic growers can use for
insect pest control. |
| Research |
5 |
Insects |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Plant breeders need to develop melon varieties resistant to
whiteflies. |
| Research |
5 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Identify proper post-harvest crop destruction strategies to control
root rot and vine decline diseases. |
| Research |
5 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate impact of different cropping systems on weeds. |
| Research |
5 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Identify depth of tillage equipment needed to impact on different
weed species. |
| Research |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Virus biology research is needed for all viruses that can inflict losses in melon
production such as Poly viruses and gemini viruses. The understanding of the basic
biology of disease/vector relationships is critical to the industry, especially for
learning how to avoid and reduce losses from viruses. |
| Research |
6 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Identify Fusarium fruit rot control methods. |
| Research |
6 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation |
Evaluate new chemical and biological herbicides. |
| Research |
6 |
Weeds |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Develop post-emergent materials for control of broadleaf weeds. |
| Research |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Melon growers are concerned about effective control of soil pests that damage
melons at harvest time, such as earwigs, pinworms, and cutworms. Alternatives
with very low pre-harvest intervals need to be developed to rotate with
organophosphates and carbamates. |
| Research |
7 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate AQ10 biofungicide Ampelomyces quisqualis for control of
powdery mildew. |
| Research |
8 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Evaluate the use of manure in terms of potential food safety issues. |
| Research |
8 |
Pathogens |
|
Seed Maturation (Post-Bloom) |
Evaluate chloropicrin in the San Joaquin Valley for possible control
of soil-borne pathogens. |