Video on the topic of sap sugars
4 Likes
One interesting observation. You want to move from aphids to grasshoppers…
Historical observation, in the 1800s as the country expanded westward the biggest crop problems were locust swarms. As we depleted the soil life and had less healthy plants we have selected against grasshoppers and no longer have the locust plagues of those times.
2 Likes
[For those not ready to click through:
00:00:00 - 01:00:00](summarize.tech summary for: How Brix Levels Impact Insect Pressure on Plants | Dr. Thomas Dykstra)
In this section of the webinar, Dr. Thomas Dykstra introduces the concept of leaf Brix readings and their impact on insect feeding on plants. He emphasizes that insects are not competing with humans for food and gives examples of insects that feed on nutritionally poor or decaying materials. Dr. Dykstra discusses the need for a more scientific approach to determine the healthiness of a plant and introduces the concept of using refractometers to measure Brix levels. He explains that Brix levels can impact insect pressure on plants and discusses the digestive systems of aphids and other insects. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of protein folding in insect digestion and the significance of sugar production in plants. Dr. Dykstra also discusses the impact of pesticides and high salt fertilizers on plant health and the microbial ecosystem in the soil. Finally, he explains how different factors like no-till practices, UV deficiencies in greenhouses, and glyphosate herbicide can affect insect pressure on plants. The section concludes with a preview of the next presentation, which will focus on the specific insects affecting citrus crops in the Florida orange industry.
01:00:00 - 01:25:00
Dr. Thomas Dykstra discusses the impact of Brix levels on insect pressure on plants. He explains that different groups of insects can indicate the health of a plant and suggests that assessing Brix levels can help manage and prevent insect pressure. He also addresses specific scenarios such as the use of toxic sprays, the impact on fruit health, resistance to grasshoppers, and terminating cover crops. Additionally, he discusses the importance of mitigating UV radiation and monitoring the plant’s conductivity levels during the transition from vegetative to reproductive stages. Dr. Dykstra provides valuable insight into understanding and utilizing Brix levels to protect plants from insect attacks.
2 Likes
I have been spraying attacked seedlings with molasses water (about a teaspoon to a quart of water) and it truly helps!
1 Like