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PLANT HEALTH
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Bark Beetle, Pine Dieback, and Invasive Bugs
Peter Warren, Pima County Cooperative Extension
Bio: Peter Warren is the Urban Horticulture Agent for Pima County Cooperative Extension at the
University of Arizona. He works with homeowners, landscape professionals, and urban farmers to
promote integrated pest management and other best management practices for horticulture in the
Sonoran Desert. His expertise is in entomology and environmental horticulture. He began his Extension
career with Virginia Tech in 1998 as an Area IPM Agent, later switching to Horticulture and Natural
Resources based in Charlottesville, VA. In 2011, he moved to Tucson, AZ to assume the role of Urban
Horticulture Agent for Pima County.
Abstract: This presentation will be a discussion on invasive organisms. We will talk about how they
occur and strategies to manage them. Using pesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and best
management practices for plant health will be discussed as potential solutions to these problems.
9:10 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.
Tree Health after Four Years of Irrigation Treatments
Ursula Schuch, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona
Bio: Ursula Schuch, Ph.D. Extension Specialist and Professor in the School of Plant Sciences, has
statewide responsibility in environmental horticulture. She regularly presents seminars and workshops
for professionals in the green industry and conducts research to address relevant issues in horticulture
production practices and landscape management. Current research projects include irrigation
management of landscape trees, cultivar trials of pomegranates, identifying the causal agent of palo
verde broom, and production of specialty crops in hoop houses. She teaches a class in nursery
production and management and advises graduate students.
Abstract: This presentation will discuss the results of a multi-year irrigation experiment that was
conducted in Maricopa to determine the response of nine species of landscape trees to different levels
of irrigation. Tree growth, health, and visual appearance of commonly planted landscape trees under
three irrigation treatments will be presented. Trees had received four years of irrigation based on
reference evapotranspiration and were either well irrigated or received mild or severe deficit irrigation.
This was followed with one year of permanent drought when no more irrigation was supplied and trees
depended only on natural rainfall. Species response to the treatments varied and opportunities to
conserve water when irrigating landscape trees and maintaining their health will be discussed. Some
species are not suited for mild or severe deficit irrigation and symptoms of early stress and decline will
be shown.
10:25 - 11:25 a.m.
Our Native Pollinators - Bugs, Bats, and Birds
Peter Warren, Pima County Cooperative Extension
Bio: See above
Abstract: This presentation will feature the diverse organisms that pollinate our flowers. The discussion
will include how they help us, and raise awareness on how to protect them through the responsible use
of pesticides in the environment where they live.
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
What's New with Nematicides?
J. Ole Becker, Cooperative Extension Specialist & Nematologist
PLANT HEALTH
Bio: Dr. Ole Becker received his PhD in Plant Pathology at the University of Göttingen, Germany and
spent several years as Research Scientist with Biotech and Agrichemical Companies. For the past 22
years, Dr. Becker has worked with Cooperative Extension as Specialist and Nematologist in the
Department of Nematology at the University of California, Riverside.
Abstract: Plant diseases and damage caused by plant parasitic nematodes are often difficult to diagnose
and consequently overlooked or attributed to other biotic or abiotic agents. In addition to their own
parasitic activities, many nematode species predispose plants to bacterial and fungal diseases; a few are
able to transmit plant viruses. Nematicides have historically played an important role in providing
evidence for the disease-causing role of plant parasitic nematodes. In contrast to other plant protection
products such as fungicides, insecticides or herbicides, development of new nematicides has been
stalled for several decades. More recently, a range of new microbial, botanical, and chemical products
as well as novel application methods have been under development. This presentation will introduce
and evaluate some of those novel products and technologies.
1:25 - 2:25 p.m.
Sustainable Landscape Management or IPM - Protecting the Interface
Between Landscapes and Structures
Shaku Nair, UA Maricopa Agricultural Center
Bio: Shaku Nair, Ph.D. Assistant in Extension, Community Integrated Pest Management (IPM), University
of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center. Dr. Nair works with and coordinates the Community IPM Team,
which is an interdisciplinary team of extension and research faculty in the U of A. They develop and
implement priority extension programs for Community IPM statewide. The Team is currently focused
on School IPM, and their work involves implementation of IPM programs for indoor and outdoor
environments in and around schools. Specific extension activities include planning and coordinating
training events, developing Extension publications and other outputs and outreach to clientele and
other stakeholder groups such as school personnel, pest management professionals, turf and landscape
managers, public housing management teams, homeowners, Master Gardeners, and others.
Abstract: Landscape pests include plant/ outdoor pests including insects, diseases, weeds and wildlife,
as well as structural pests that can be found within or around buildings, such as rodents and insects.
There is a significant amount of overlap between indoor and outdoor environments, depending on the
preferences and activities of people that occupy an environment. Managing pests both indoors and
outdoors can be successfully accomplished using IPM strategies. This presentation will elucidate the
IPM process as a continuing series of actions and practices to help achieve and maintain a balanced
system where pest levels can be tolerated with minimal intervention.
2:35 - 3:35 p.m.
Buffelgrass, other Invasive Grasses, and Their Control
William McCloskey, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona
Bio: Dr. Bill McCloskey is a University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Specialist affiliated with the
School of Plant Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dr. McCloskey obtained M.S. and
Ph.D. degrees in Plant Physiology (Weed Science) from the University of California, Davis. In addition to
his role as an educator and researcher at the UofA, he presents numerous lectures and workshops on
weed management to audiences involved in Arizona crop production and weed management in urban,
range and wild landscapes in support of Cooperative Extension educational programs.
PLANT HEALTH
Abstract: The biology and impacts of buffelgrass in wild land and urban settings will be discussed. The
presentation will address the challenges associated with the treatment and control of buffelgrass and
related warm season perennial bunchgrasses in terms of spraying postemergence herbicides on
physiologically active plants. Methods of control will include mechanical and chemical control. This will
be followed by a more general discussion of application methods and the use of preemergence
herbicides as well as postemergence herbicides in urban landscapes.