Cover Crop Workshop/Field day

Dr. Ajay Nair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa – The sustainable vegetable production lab in collaboration with researchers at Iowa State University, USDA-National Laboratory for Agriculture and Environment and USDA-SARE are teaming up to offer three cover crop workshops this Fall at following locations:

September 27 (Friday) – Armstrong Research Station, Lewis, IA

October 4 (Friday) – Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA

October 11 (Friday) – Muscatine Island Research Station, Fruitland, IA

Funding for these workshops is provided by USDA-SARE Professional Development Grant Program. Workshops are geared towards commercial horticulture field extension specialists, county extension horticulturists, regional food systems working group members, local food organizations, IFVGA & PFI board members, and IDALS & NRCS personnel. Fruit and vegetable growers interested in learning about cover crops are also welcome. This workshop is co-sponsored by The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Participants attending the workshop will learn about cover crop types, planting, management, benefits, and issues associated with cover cropping in fruit and vegetable cropping systems.  Depending on weather, there will be an opportunity to assess cover crops under field conditions. Live cover crop plants will also be on display inside.  

Registration is free but required for arranging food. Please contact Dr. Ajay Nair (nairajay@iastate.edu; 515-294-7080).

The tentative agenda for the workshop is given below:

9:30am – 9:45	Registration and refreshments
9:45am – 10:00	Welcome, Dr. Ajay Nair, Department of Horticulture, ISU
10am - 10:45	Benefits of cover crops in crop production systems Dr. Tom Kaspar, USDA-NLAE
10:45 - 11:30	Envisioning a cropping systems approach   Dr. Andy Lenssen, Agronomy, ISU
11:30 - 1:30	Lunch and field visit
1:30 - 2:15	Integrating cover crops in fruit production systems – Dr. Gail Nonnecke, ISU
2:15 - 3:00	Cover crop options for vegetable growers – Dr. Ajay Nair, ISU
3:00- 3:15 pm	Discussion, Evaluation, Adjourn

Potato Blackleg

Ajay Nair
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University

Recently a number of growers had called in and also sent samples of their potato plants. The main symptom mentioned was the development of a mushy, black, soft lesion on the stem at the ground level (see pictures below). These symptoms are caused by bacterium called Erwinia carotovora and can take many forms (blackleg, aerial stem rot, or tuber soft rot). Bacteria either enter the seed potatoes and lower stems through wounds and injuries, or move directly from contaminated seed pieces to lower stems.  

Blackleg infection

Stem collapse

Affected foliage

Abundant moisture at the surface of the wounded tissue is needed for infection and continued high humidity after infection favors spread of the disease in the plant. This year's wet spring weather is conducive for the spread of this disease. The decay of seed pieces in the soil by fungi and other organisms may also provide conditions for blackleg disease to develop.

The blackleg bacterium survives poorly in soil. All evidence suggests that the blackleg bacterium does not survive very well outside of association with host plant tissue. Hence, the seed tuber is the most important source of inoculum in the blackleg disease cycle. Removal of blackleg affected plants including below-ground portions is the best option. Take steps to prevent contact of diseased tissue with other plants in the field. It is unfortunate that there is no effective chemical control to manage this disease. The first and the most effective line of defense is the use pathogen-free tubers for seed. Warming of seed tubers to about 55°F before planting also helps. Seed treatment with fungicides do not directly affect these bacterial pathogens, but fungicides can reduce invasion by other fungi and therefore reduce opportunistic infection by Erwinia spp.