Persistence of the Exotic Mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) in South Texas

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the U.S and is located in the southernmost part of Texas. In October 2013, we detected an exotic plant bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) occurring in the region. Nesidiocoris tenuis has zoophytophagous habits; however, in the absence of insect prey, it feeds on its plant hosts. After its morphological and genetic identification, this study monitored the population of N. tenuis in its introduction phase in commercial fields and corroborated its establishment in research fields for three years. Populations of N. tenuis were high during the fall and low during winter. This study found that N. tenuis populations were higher in tomato fields as compared to adjacent pepper, okra, and squash fields, indicating its host preferences during the introduction phase. Recurrent population growth patterns suggest that N. tenuis was established in Rio Grande Valley with permanent populations in tomato fields. In addition, N. tenuis populations were affected by tomato cultivar selection and by plastic mulch color. The presence of N. tenuis could establish a new trophic insect relationship for vegetable production. However, it is unknown if the presence of N. tenuis may help to control pests of economic importance, such as whiteflies in cotton, or become a pest on sesame, an emerging crop.

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1989-90 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN MEXICO FOR U.S. EXPORT

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.588g ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 588g-589

Author(s):

Jose F. Gomez

Keyword(s):

Free Trade ◽

Free Trade Agreement ◽

Rio Grande Valley ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Trade Agreement ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

International Trading ◽

Economic Relationship ◽

Increased Activity ◽

The U.S

The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between U.S. and Mexico may open opportunities for a new economic relationship with our nearest international trading partner. Understanding Mexico's vegetable exports will become important for estimating the economic impact of the FTA on the U.S. vegetable business. In the 1989-90 season, Mexico farmed approximately 20 million ha of which 3.5% or 700,000 ha were dedicated to vegetables including 246,000 ha for export. National vegetable production was 8 million tons with 1.5 million tons or 17.6% exported. Of the 100 different vegetables produced in Mexico many are major crops in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. About 72% of the vegetables exported to the U.S. were produced in three states: Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California. Nearly 83% of the vegetable imports into the U.S. occurred during the winter and spring months. Based on importation figures at seven main points of entry, Reynosa was the second, most important entry point after Nogales. If the FTA is signed, all ports of entry will most likely experience increased activity.

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Evaluation of Preemergence Herbicides for Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Control in Tomato

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-14-00133.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 480-487 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Nathan S. Boyd

Keyword(s):

Gulf Coast ◽

Cyperus Rotundus ◽

Crop Damage ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Tomato Cultivar ◽

Purple Nutsedge ◽

Effect On Yield ◽

Research And Education ◽

Preemergence Herbicides

Purple nutsedge is a problematic weed in plasticulture vegetable production due to its ability to penetrate the plastic mulch. Experiments were conducted in the fall 2013 and spring 2014 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, FL, to evaluate a range of PRE herbicides for ‘Charger' and ‘Florida 47’ tomato cultivars tolerance and herbicide efficacy on nutsedge. Fall-applied herbicides did not stunt nor damage either tomato cultivar. Tank mixes applied in the spring that contained EPTC as well as the fomesafen +S-metolachlor + napropamide tended to stunt Charger. The EPTC + fomesafen, the EPTC + fomesafen +S-metolachlor, and the fomesafen +S-metolachlor + napropamide stunted Florida 47. Crop damage in the spring was consistently higher where tank mixes were applied that contained EPTC. In the fall of 2013,S-metolachlor and fomesafen +S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 84 to 90% compared to the nontreated control; in the fall of 2014, napropamide +S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 88% compared to the nontreated control. In the spring of 2013 halosulfuron and a tank mix of EPTC +S-metolachlor reduced nutsedge density by 25% compared to the nontreated control. None of the herbicide treatments had a consistent effect on yield, although Florida 47 yields tended to be lower where tank mixes containing EPTC were applied.

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Land Application of Sewage Sludge: Physiological and Biochemical Response of the Rio Grande Tomato

Journal of Bioresource Management ◽

10.35691/jbm.0202.0126 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 01-09

Author(s):

Nabil Charchar ◽

Ali Elafri ◽

Redwane Rais ◽

Halassi Ismahen

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Land Application ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Treated Wastewater ◽

Tomato Cultivar ◽

Chlorophyll Contents ◽

Eastern Algeria

Treated wastewater produces sewage sludge as a by-product that may have beneficial implications on agricultural practices. The effects of sludge amendments on growth, morphological and biochemical characteristics of the agro-industrial Tomato cultivar Rio Grande were observed. A pot culture experiment was carried out during 4 months (16 February 2019 to 18 June 2019), at an experimental green house in the locality of Salah Soufi, Guelma, north-eastern Algeria. There were significant differences between soil and sewage sludge samples. Total nitrogen (20.58 mg/kg) was more available in sewage sludge than in soil (N = 2.09 ± 0.3 mg/kg). In contrast, sludge contained less phosphorus and organic matter than soil. The observation of the morphological characteristics of the plants showed significant variations between the treatments. The germination rates for treated soils decreased significantly to reach 50%, compared to the control. Growth patterns (dry and fresh weight of leaves and roots) changed significantly (P <0.05) between the treatments. Chlorophyll contents of plants in treated soils were more than twice as high as those of the control, but started decreasing at 75% amendment rates.

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