Brian Nault, Lindsy Iglesias, and Frank Hay from Cornell University organized a workshop at the NOFA-NY Winter Conference in Syracuse, NY on January 17, 2020 titled “Updates on Organic Onion Pest and Disease Management”. The goal of the workshop was to provide updates on research trials funded by an OREI grant project, which focuses on identifying organic management strategies for onion thrips and Stemphylium leaf blight in onion in the Great Lakes Region. The workshop featured presentations from Brian Nault, who talked about the biology, ecology and management of two fly pests of onion, the onion maggot (Delia antiqua) and the allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma). Lindsy Iglesias, a postdoc in Brian’s lab, introduced onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and gave an update on three research trials that evaluated OMRI-Listed insecticides, plastic mulches, and thrips-resistant onion cultivars for onion thrips management. Finally, Frank Hay, Senior Extension Associate in the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology section, talked in detail about Stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium vesicarium), and other foliar pathogens in onion. Frank also provided updates on research trials investigating the potential of OMRI-Listed fungicides to manage SLB and how thrips-resistant onion cultivars perform against SLB. The workshop was attended by approximately 25 people.
Links to the talks:
- Brian Nault: Vegetable: Update on Organic Onion Pest and Disease Management
- Lindsy Iglesias: Can we improve management of onions thrips in organic onions?