County Extension Agent Training on Management of Viruses in Caneberries
July 29-30, 2013
Co-Sponsored by SRSFC and SCRI Grant “Management of Viruses in Rubus”
Asheville, NC
Christine Bradish, PhD Student, Horticultural Department, NC State
University
A training event updating agents within the SRSFC on viruses
in caneberries was held in western North Carolina from July 29-30, 2013. The event was graciously organized by Elena
Garcia and Ioannis Tzanetakis of the University of Arkansas and Tom Monaco, SRSFC
coordinator. A total of 23 agents from
the six member states along with a number of industry representatives, growers,
and researchers attended the 2 day event.
The training consisted of several units of classroom instruction, farm
tours, and hands-on instruction, providing participants with the most
up-to-date information about how to prevent, diagnose and manage virus issues
in blackberries and raspberries.
Day one of the training was held at the Mountain
Horticultural Crops Research Station in Mills River, where participants were
welcomed by center director Jeff Chandler and SRSFC coordinator Tom Monaco. The
program began with a general overview of virus vectors and symptoms by virologist
Ioannis Tzanetakis, followed by details on insect vectors discussed by
entomologists Hannah Burrack,NC State University and Donn Johnson, University
of Arkansas. Terry Kirkpatrick,
nematologist from University of Arkansas, described nematode vectors for
caneberry viruses, and then agents were brought out to Gina Fernandez’s
blackberry research plots to learn proper nematode soil sampling techniques
through a hands-on team activity.
The second day of training commenced with a blackberry farm
tour hosted by Marvin Owings of Henderson County Extension Office and Gina
Fernandez, NC State University. The
first stop was the family-run operation of Steve Dalton on Sugar Loaf
Mountain. Mr. Dalton and his family grow
11 acres of ‘Ouachita’, ‘Natchez’, ‘Prime-Ark 45’ and ‘Navaho’ for U-pick and
Driscoll’s. Mr. Dalton recently received a grant that allowed them to plant
raspberries on a trial basis and install a juicing operation. Dalton stressed the importance of buying
plants from a reputable source as his main way of keeping his plantings
virus-free and healthy over many growing seasons. The second farm site was Justus Farm in
Edneyville, owned by Don Justus, a fourth generation apple farmer. Mr. Justus has five acres of blackberries for
U-pick and markets to Driscoll’s, and has first-hand experience with virus
issues. He spoke of his experience in
prior years with buying infected nursery stock, and the losses he incurred with
having to replant his fields. The final
stop on the farm tour was at a Driscoll’s commercial farm in Edneyville. Farm manager Andy Brownlee explained that at
that particular location, approximately 30 acres of raspberries and
blackberries were being grown under high tunnels with additional acreage at
other sites. All of the growers spoke of
labor being an issue, but Brownlee especially stressed the importance of
maintaining employee efficiency and accountability. It was evident from speaking with all the
growers that viruses are an issue that they consider very important in their
caneberries, and want to be the best informed that they can be to prevent and
avoid them in their fields for as long as possible.
After being treated to a genuine North Carolina barbeque
lunch, the training wrapped up with a final classroom session held at the
Henderson County Cooperative Extension Office.
Ioannis Tzanetakis informed participants about how to recognize viral
symptoms, and updated them on the latest assays and resources available for
testing viruses in caneberries. Erich
Rudyj from USDA-APHIS, and coordinator of the National Clean Plant Program,
discussed how federal policies and monies work to ensure that virus-free plant
stock is being propagated and readily available for growers. Elena Garcia talked about virus-host
interactions, and how the plant responds, symptomatically or otherwise, to an
attack by a virus. The afternoon ended
with another team talk by Hannah Burrack and Donn Johnson focusing on
integrated pest management practices that can be taken to prevent the spread of
viruses through insect vectors.
Powerpoint presentations from the training will be posted on
the SRSFC website at http//www.smallfruits.org/CoAgentTraining/index.htm
