1. Chinese Chestnut Trees
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
These Chinese chestnut trees, planted by Donald Jones in 1941, were selected by chestnut grower W.C. Deming of Litchfield and grafted by the Hartford Park Department. The second tree from the gate is a graft of the cultivar ‘Bartlett’ that was developed by the Bartlett Tree Co. in Stamford. All have been used by the Experiment Station and the American Chestnut Foundation in crosses with American chestnut trees to produce blight-resistant forest and orchard trees.

2. Sheet Composting with Oak and Maple Leaves
A. Maynard
Many homeowners have a predominance of oak trees in their backyards. Oak leaves are known to be more resistant to decomposition than maple leaves. This experiment is investigating whether this difference in the rate of decomposition leads to decreased yields in soils amended with oak leaves compared to maple leaves and unamended controls. Undecomposed oak and maple leaves were layered about 6 inches thick in the falls of 1995-1998 and incorporated into the soil by rototilling. In 1998, plots amended with maple leaves had the greatest lettuce yields (2.9 lbs./plant) compared to plots amended with oak leaves (2.6 lbs./plant) and the unamended controls (2.4 lbs./plant). The unamended control plots had the greatest pepper yields (6.7 lbs./plant) compared to the leaf amended plots (5.7 lbs./plant). There were no differences in the yield of tomatoes between the treatments with an average yield of 20 lbs./plant. The experiment will be continued to see whether there are any cumulative effects.

3. Sweet Potato Trials
D. Hill
Sweet potatoes are popular among home gardeners and growers who sell their vegetables at farmer’s markets. In these trials, we are growing Beauregard, the highest yielding cultivar among 10 cultivars tested in the past 10 years (up to 8 lbs./plant). Sweet potato slips were planted through black plastic mulch in hilled and flat rows and yields compared with rows without plastic mulch. At Windsor, we are testing a new cultivar, Carolina Ruby, a red-skinned sweet potato with the high yielding Beauregard parentage.

4. Supersweet Corn Trials
D. Hill
More acres of sweet corn are harvested in Connecticut than any other vegetable. In 1995-1997, we tested six cultivars each of bicolor, yellow, and white supersweet corn that contained up to 32% sugar and maintained sweetness up to 10 days compared to 2-3 days with normal sweet corn. Supersweet corn requires soil temperatures above 60-65° F to germinate and isolation from other corn types to prevent cross-pollination. This year we are testing 16 more cultivars of bicolor supersweet corn to determine their viability in April plantings in soil warmed with clear plastic mulch or Reemay row covers. In this planting, the six cultivars whose germination exceeded 80% at Windsor and Mt. Carmel under both covers are being evaluated for yield and quality.

5. Control of Tipburn on Romaine Lettuce with Leaf Compost Amendments and Leaf Mulch
D. Hill
Tipburn in lettuce is a browning of leaf margins in rapidly growing inner leaves. During times of moisture stress, the supply of calcium, a slowly translocated mineral, cannot keep pace with leaf growth. Calcium impoverished cell tissue collapses and turns brown and renders the head unmarketable. In this experiment, we are lessening moisture stress with pre-plant applications of leaf compost to improve the moisture holding capacity of the soil and/or leaf mulch to lessen evaporation of water from the soil surface. The two cultivars grown, Kalura and Plato, were highly susceptible to tipburn in cultivar trials in 1996. Three plantings are scheduled for harvest in early July to late August when tipburn is most prevalent as crops near maturity. In 1998, tipburn was observed in less than one percent of both cultivars in all three crops regardless of treatment because the plants never became moisture stressed during the trials.

6. Leek Trials
D. Hill
A survey by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture of consumers who purchase native-grown vegetables at the 53 farmer’s markets and the 150 growers who supply these markets identified leeks, okra, and sweet potatoes as the most popular of specialty vegetables. Leeks are popular for use in soups and stews. In this trial, we are testing the yield and quality of 10 cultivars of leeks grown from transplants.

7. Field Incurred Pesticide Residues
W. Krol Assisted by T. Arsenault
Some fruits and vegetables grown at Lockwood Farm intentionally treated with various fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides (collectively known as pesticides) are being harvested at varying intervals and brought into the laboratory for pesticide residue analysis. The effects household food preparation techniques such as washing, cooking, refrigeration, and peeling have on pesticide residues on freshly harvested produce are being evaluated.

8. Suppression of crown rot of asparagus with biological control agents
W. Elmer Assisted by E. O’Dowd and S. Kluk
A soilborne disease called Fusarium crown and root rot destroyed commercial asparagus production in Connecticut during the 1950s. Applications of NaCl will suppress this disease and increase yield. However, the use of NaCl may be reduced if biological control agents can be used instead. These plots are designed to compare beneficial fungi with and without NaCl for their effects on Fusarium crown and root rot. The planting was established in June 1999 and will be monitored for yield and disease resistance for many years.

9. Smaller Japanese Cedar Longhorn Beetle: A New Threat to the Nursery Industry
C. Maier and C. Lemmon Assisted by X. Asbridge, J. Bravo, D. Brown, J. Fengler, V. Jennings, T. LaProvidenza, R. Lavallee, G. Ridge-O’Connor, S. Sandrey, M. Thomas, and P. Trenchard
In the fall of 1998, the smaller Japanese cedar longhorn beetle, Callidiellum rufipenne, was discovered in the branches of live arborvitae in four garden centers in southwestern Connecticut. In eastern Asia, larvae of the beetle normally bore only into the branches of dead and dying trees in the cedar family (Cupressaceae). The attack of live trees may signal an unwelcome change in the behavior of this introduced insect. To determine the distribution of this beetle, we trapped adults on sticky bands on two-foot sections of trunks of cedars. We found the beetle in one or more towns in Fairfield, Middlesex, and New Haven Counties. In Connecticut, the beetle infested arborvitae, eastern red cedar, Sawara false cypress, and yellow cedar. We are investigating the activity period, the host range, and the reproductive behavior of this beetle to evaluate its pest potential.

10. Nutrition of Greenhouse Tomato
M. Gent Assisted by M. Short
Numerous fertilizer combinations have been recommended for greenhouse tomato. It is not clear which, if any, are optimum for current production methods in the Northeast. The recommendations differ in concentrations of nitrogen, particularly in the seedling or vegetative stage, and also in the ratio of nitrogen to potassium. In this experiment, 12 cultivars of greenhouse tomato are being grown using hydroponics in rock-wool root medium. Four different fertilizer solutions that differ in nitrogen and potassium are fed to the plants. How these fertilizer regimes affect growth, nutrient uptake, and the yield and quality of fruit, and whether cultivars differ in their response to fertilizer is being determined.

11. American Chestnut Trees
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
These American chestnut trees are seedlings from Rocky Hill, planted in 1988. They were first used in a study of the effect of shade on growth. Now we have pruned them heavily, and are placing various mushrooms around the roots to find out if any can grow with the tree roots and improve growth of the trees. Many have been inoculated with the blight fungus.

12. Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
M. McClure Assisted by C. Cheah and M. Klepacki
The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is a destructive introduced pest of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis Carriere, in eleven eastern states. The ladybird beetle, Pseudoscymnus tsugae Sasaji and McClure, an important predator of A. tsugae in Japan, is being reared and studied at the Station’s Valley Laboratory in Windsor. During the past four years we have released more than 130,000 adult beetles in hemlock forests in all eight counties in Connecticut, one in New Jersey, and two in Virginia to evaluate P. tsugae as a biological control agent. Although the initial release revealed remarkable short-term impact on adelgid densities by P. tsugae, trees generally have continued to decline in these areas because the recent mild winters has been conducive to the survival and growth of adelgids. This year we developed the experimental design, site criteria, and data monitoring and collection procedures for the first multistate release and long-term study of P. tsugae including eight other states from North Carolina in the south to New York and Massachusetts in the north.

13. Summer disease control in disease resistant apples
R. Kiyomoto Assisted by J. Bravo
Disease resistant apples are resistant to scab, and many are resistant to cedar apple rust and powdery mildew. They are, however, susceptible to the late summer diseases fly speck, black rot, and sooty blotch. In 1997 and 1998 the biocontrol agent T22 was tested. The results showed T22 is only partially effective in reducing diseases (50% reduction).

14. Biological Control of Mexican Bean Beetle
K. Stoner Assisted by T. LaProvidenza and E. Ames
This is the second year of a study of the use of the parasitic wasp Pediobius foveolatus as a biological control of Mexican bean beetle. We are testing this biological control agent this year on nine organic farms and in three community gardens as well as at Lockwood Farm. Last year, the wasp brought the Mexican bean beetle under control by late August at three out of the four farms where it was released. This year, by adjusting the timing and number of wasps released, we hope to get control earlier in the season.

15. Filters for Reducing Leaching of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from CONTAINER Media
G. Bugbee Assisted by N. Chambers
Station research on composted biosolids (sewage sludge) suggests it makes an excellent addition to media used to grow ornamental nursery crops. Biosolids compost is very fertile and therefore contains large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients could leach and reach surface or groundwater. Filters containing combinations of zeolite, paper waste and alum based water treatment residuals have been tested to determine if they can retain nitrogen and phosphorus in pots. If successful, the filters would represent a means for reducing nutrient leaching from media used by growers of containerized nursery crops.

16. Biosolids Compost in Container Media for Nursery Crops
G. Bugbee Assisted by N. Chambers
Biosolids (sewage sludge) is composted at several facilities in Connecticut. The compost is high in fertility and low in contaminants. Connecticut’s large nursery industry could benefit from low cost alternatives to conventional organic potting media amendments such as peat. Producers of biosolids compost are in need of markets. This is the second year of an experiment that compares the growth of eight species of woody ornamentals, nine species of perennial flowers and seven species of annual flowers in media containing 0, 25, 50 and 100 percent biosolids compost from Hartford. Plants are growing well in all media, but superior growth is occurring in media containing 50 and 100 percent compost.

17. Growth Retardant on Rhododendron
M. Gent Assisted by M. Short
Growth retardant is applied to improve the shape and flowering of Rhododendron, but it can inhibit stem elongation for several years after application. In collaboration with Imperial Nurseries of Granby, we are testing the growth retardant chemical BONZI^TM applied to Rhododendron. The chemical was applied in May after rooting but before the first flush of shoot growth. Four cultivars were treated with six concentrations of growth retardant. Stem elongation and branching will be measured after each flush of growth through next year. This study will determine how the concentration of growth retardant affects the persistence of its effect on these cultivars of Rhododendron

18. Management of Fungicide Resistance and Anthracnose Leaf Spot in Euonymus
J. LaMondia Assisted by J. Canepa-Morrison and S. Lamoreaux
Management of anthracnose leaf spot of euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald & Gold’ or ‘Gaity’) caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was examined. Registered fungicides were applied sequentially or in mixtures to foliage each week for 12 weeks at label rates. Percent defoliation was lowest for mixtures of fungicides (two active ingredients per application) and highest for plants which did not receive fungicides or thiophanate-methyl (Domain) alone. Emerald & Gold had more lesions than Gaity. Fungicide-resistant isolates were recovered on media amended with fungicides (1000 ppm) and were in lowest frequency from plants treated with mixed fungicides compared to other treatments.

19. Wine grape variety trial
R. Kiyomoto Assisted by J. Bravo
A selection of wine grape cultivars is being grown at Lockwood Farm and the Valley Laboratory (Windsor) to compare their hardiness, productivity, and juice quality. Overall, the hybrid wine grape cultivars Villard Blanc is highest yielding; however at Hamden, the white wine grape cultivar Seyval is equally productive. The red wine grape cultivars Chambourcin and Villard Noir are promising, but generally lower yielding than the white wine cultivars.

20. Evaluation of asparagus cultivars for Connecticut
W. Elmer Assisted by E. O’Dowd and S. Kluk
Many different asparagus cultivars have been developed for different climates around the world. These plots were established in June to examine the performance of six cultivars that are advertised as being suitable for New England climate. The planting will be monitored for yield and disease resistance for many years.

21. Control of Blight on American Chestnuts
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
These American chestnut trees were planted in 1976 when they were 3 years old. Chestnut blight cankers were treated for 4 years, from 1978 to 1981, with our biological control using hypovirulent strains of the blight fungus. The control is working well to keep the trees alive and fruiting. Some of the trees are growing better than others. We do not know which trees were from seed collected in Wisconsin and which were from Michigan. It is possible that the difference in their ability to thrive in the presence of blight and hypovirulence indicates differences in resistance. The grafted tree in the center of the east row is from an "American" chestnut in Scientist’s Cliffs, MD, and the original tree resisted blight for many years (It may be a European hybrid). It definitely has some resistance, and is the best looking tree in the plot. Two grafted trees at the southeast corner are (Chinese X American) X American (cultivar Clapper) and have intermediate resistance to blight.

22. New Hybrid Chestnut Orchard
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten and K. Edgerly
These small trees were planted as seedlings in 1990 to 1999. All are hybrids of American chestnut trees and blight-resistant Chinese, Japanese, or hybrid trees. They will be grown to evaluate their blight resistance in the presence of the biological control that we assume will move over from the adjoining plot. The trees that look most like American chestnut trees and have good blight resistance will be used in future crosses for timber trees. Others will be developed as orchard trees for Connecticut growers. The paper bags on the trees cover hand-pollinated flowers from this year’s crosses.

23. Reducing Water Use in Container Grown Mums
E. Naughton Assisted by R. Cecarelli and R. Hannan
Overhead irrigation of container-grown mums with impact sprinklers is the most common way of keeping the plants watered. Use of the overhead sprinklers is being compared with micro-irrigation to demonstrate that with a small initial investment of time and money, substantial water savings can be realized.

24. Hop variety trial
R. Kiyomoto Assisted by J. Bravo
This planting, established in spring 1998, includes three of the most productive cultivars (Nugget, Cascade, and Galena) from a pervious trial (1995-1997), which included 10 cultivars. The purpose of these limited trials is to identify cultivars which are disease resistant and productive in Connecticut.

25. Fungicides to control tomato powdery mildew
V. Smith Assisted by K. Edgerly
Tomato cultivars available for the home garden are susceptible to powdery mildew, a disease which can quickly defoliate the plant. In this plot, we are evaluating fungicide treatments for control of this disease. Tomato plants of the cultivar Better Boy have been treated with benomyl, chlorothalonil, horticultural oil, or sulfur, or left untreated; disease control is being evaluated.

26. Effect of pruning on severity of tomato powdery mildew
V. Smith Assisted by K. Edgerly
Tomato plants are often pruned to reduce the severity of foliar diseases and to increase yield. In this plot, we are evaluating the efficacy of pruning to reduce the effects of tomato powdery mildew. Tomato plants of the cultivar Better Boy have been pruned to one stem, two stems, or left unpruned. Severity and incidence of mildew will be evaluated and any effects on tomato yield will be recorded.

27. Plant-Assisted Remediation of Pesticide Contaminated soils and Associated Run-off
J. White
Field experiments are being conducted to investigate the effect of common crop species (alfalfa, pea, bean, rye) on the fate and behavior of three widely used pesticides in Connecticut (atrazine, metolachlor, diazinon).

28. Seasonal Development and Dispersal of the Apple Scab Fungus
D. Aylor Assisted by P. Thiel, S. Kalberer, and R. Giannino
The fungal pathogen that causes apple scab is spread to developing apple tissue in the spring by airborne ascospores released from overwintering leaves in or near the orchard. The purpose of our study is to develop a mathematical model for the development and aerial transport of ascospores. The model will be used to help evaluate strategies for reducing the need for fungicide applications in the integrated management of apple scab.

29. Effect of Ground Cover on Spread of Apple Scab by Airborne Ascospores
D. Aylor Assisted by P. Thiel, S. Kalberer, and R. Giannino
Knowing when the primary apple scab infection season has ended for the year is of considerable importance to apple growers. For several years, the seasonal maturation and release of Venturia inaequalis ascospores has been monitored and compared with the abundance of ascospores in the air above a source. These results suggest that the chance of primary infection late in the season decreases more rapidly than would be expected from the maturation and release of ascospores. Because grass reduces air movement near the ground where ascospores are released, grass growing in an orchard could shorten the primary scab infection season by trapping ascospores.

30. The mobility of a chemical in soil is increased in the presence of a second chemical
J. Pignatello, J. White and G. Xiu Assisted by J. Sanford
When chemicals, such as pesticides, come into contact with moist or wet soil, an equilibrium is eventually reached between molecules dissolved in the soil water and molecules adsorbed to the surfaces of soil particles. The extent of adsorption depends on the structure of the chemical and the physical properties of the soil. We have shown that when two chemicals are present they may have an effect on each other’s adsorption. Experiments were conducted by adding a pair of chemicals to a suspension of soil in water and gently tumbling the flask. After separating the two phases (usually by centrifugation) the concentrations of the two chemicals in the liquid phase were determined. The chemicals included herbicides, chlorinated solvents, and aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants. Our results showed the following: i) similar chemicals may compete for adsorption ‘sites’ on the soil surface; ii) the presence of a second chemical can increase the time rate of adsorption and desorption (the reverse of adsorption) of the first chemical; and iii) the presence of a second chemical may increase the biological availability of the first chemical with respect to bacteria capable of degrading it.

31. Exotic Fruit Pests Newly Established in Connecticut
C. Maier Assisted by V. Jennings, T. LaProvidenza, R. Lavallee, and M. Thomas
Two new exotic apple insects have been discovered in Connecticut. The apple tortrix, Archips fuscocupreanus, is native to Japan, and the green pug, Chloroclystis rectangulata, is native to Europe. In their native lands, the caterpillars of these moth species sometimes significantly injure apple trees when they eat leaves, flowers, or fruit. To determine their distributional range, caterpillars are collected from plants and moths are captured in pheromone traps. To determine host plants, caterpillars are sampled from unsprayed wild plants and reared to adults. The apple tortrix, which has been found in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, develops on over 70 different plants, including most fruit trees that are grown commercially. The green pug occurs throughout New England and in New York. The green pug uses about 20 host plants, reaching its highest abundance on species of apple and pear.

32. Experiment Station Associates
Information is available on this organization formed to help the Experiment Station.

33. Question and Answer Tent
S. Douglas, T. Rathier, K. Welch, M. Inman, G. Ridge-O’Connor, and J. Winiarski
Ask questions about plants, soils, and insects here.

34. Spiders of Connecticut
C. Vossbrinck Assisted by J. Shepard
Connecticut has a wide array of native spider species from hunting spiders like wolf spiders to orb weaving spiders, which build elaborate webs in forests and fields. There are three spiders commonly found in the home: the comb footed spider Archaearanea tepidariorum (the house spider) responsible for "cob webs"; a greenish-yellowish hunting spider Chiracanthium mildei which may, on rare occasion, be responsible for spider bites; and the long legged cellar spider Pholcus phalangoides seen in basements and garages. While we all have a certain amount of "arachnophobia", the spiders of Connecticut are mostly harmless and helpful creatures. Research at the Experiment Station is focusing on the evolutionary relationships of the various groups of spiders.

35. Mosquito Tapping and Testing for Eastern Equine Encephalitis
T. Andreadis and J. Anderson Assisted by J. Shepard, J. Correia, C. Moser, M. Brei, L. Bronson, S. Cantu, R. Ferrucci Jr., L. Nigro, and M. Paladini
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a severe infection of the brain caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus occurs naturally in wild birds but equines, exotic birds and humans are susceptible to infection. Virus activity typically occurs in the late summer to early fall (September-October). In 1997, a mosquito management and testing program for EEE was established for Connecticut. The program focuses on preventive efforts and mosquito monitoring for early detection of EEE. The Experiment Station is responsible for trapping, identifying, and testing mosquitoes for EEE. Trapping is conducted weekly at 37 sites throughout the state from June through mid-October. Since 1997, over 150,000 mosquitoes have been trapped and tested. The virus has been found in mosquitoes collected in Stonington, Voluntown, Chester, Newtown and Ridgefield and animal deaths have occurred in Canterbury (donkey) and Waterford (emu). Although there never has been a case of EEE in humans in Connecticut, testing results indicate that the EEE virus may be more widespread than had been previously thought and that the present strain of EEE in Connecticut is a potentially serious public health and veterinary threat.

36. Composting Leaves Using the Static Pile Method
A. Maynard
Since the 1991 ban on disposing leaves in landfills, large-scale leaf composting has spread throughout Connecticut. Some 84 municipalities are currently composting their leaves. In static pile composting, leaves are piled and the internal temperature of the pile is monitored. As the leaves decompose, the center of the pile reaches a temperature of about 140° F. When the temperature decreases, the pile is turned and fresh material is introduced to the center of the pile. Turning also aerates the pile. Leaf compost is seen here in various stages of decomposition. The finished compost is used in experiments here at Lockwood Farm and at the Valley Laboratory in Windsor.

37. Bell Atlantic Telephone Transmission Silo
A cellular transmission tower in the shape of a silo is proposed for Lockwood Farm. See how it will look if it is built.

38. Effect of NaCl on Rhizoctonia crown rot of table beets
W. Elmer Assisted by E. O’Dowd and S. Kluk
Rhizoctonia crown rot is a major constraint on sugar and table beet production in the United States. The disease is caused by a soilborne fungus called Rhizoctonia. Beets are also salt-tolerant. When the fungus is present, beets grow better when salt is applied. These plots are infested with the pathogenic fungus and are designed to examine the effects of different rates of NaCl and other sodium and chloride salts on the disease. The planting is fenced to prevent deer browsing.

39. Powdery Mildew on Cucurbits
F. Ferrandino
Powdery mildew is a perennial problem on cucumber, muskmelon, summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkin. The fungus grows on the leaves producing a white powdery appearance. This layer of mycelium interferes with photosynthesis and can reduce both the quality and quantity of fruit. This plot has been inoculated with the fungus and the nature of the spread of this disease is being examined. In addition, the beneficial effects of baking soda sprays are being compared to conventional chemical fungicides as a method of control.

40. A Biocontrol of Verticillium Wilt of Eggplant and Tomato
F. Ferrandino
Verticillium wilt is a major problem on eggplant, tomato, peppers, and potato. Affected plants are stunted, leaves wilt in the sun, turn yellow and, eventually, fall from the plant. The disease is caused by a soilborne fungus which can persist in infected fields for many years. Recently, it has been shown that plowing under of leaves of plants in the cabbage family may reduce the damage caused by this wilt disease. This plot is examining the beneficial effects of using canola and leaf mustard as green manure cover crops.

41. Minimum Fertilization for Home Gardens Amended by Leafmold
D. Hill
Annual amendment of soil with leaf compost prevents compacting and crusting of the soil surface and promotes root growth and infiltration of rain. In these plots, addition of 1 inch of leaf compost annually since 1982 has increased organic matter from 5.9 to 12.6%. Increased root growth in the amended soil allows plants to utilize nutrients in a greater volume of soil than plants in untreated soil of greater density. We are measuring the effects of reduced rates of fertilization (2/3, 1/3, 0 of normal rates) on the yields of several vegetables by comparing them with yields achieved with normal rates of leaf compost amended plots and untreated controls. We are also measuring the nutrient status of the soils in each plot throughout the growing season Each year since 1982 yields on leaf compost amended plots under 2/3 and 1/3 fertilization have been consistently greater than on unamended plots with full fertilization.

42. The "Deer" tick Ixodes ScapularisK. Stafford Assisted by M. Burelle, H. Stuber, and M. Harma
The blacklegged tick ("deer" tick) transmits the agents of Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. In 1998, a record 3,434 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Connecticut. Learn to recognize the tick and prevent tick bites. Live ticks will be displayed under the microscope. Information on the diseases, tick bite prevention, and how to control the tick will be available.

43. Biorational tick control
K. Stafford Assisted by M. Burelle, H. Stuber, and M. Harma
Two commercial products containing different strains of the entomogenous fungus Beauveria bassiana and a product containing the pyrethroid bifenthrin were evaluated at home sites for the control of the tick Ixodes scapularis. The fungus is highly effective against the blacklegged tick in the laboratory. Currently used to control a variety of ornamental, vegetable and turf pests, these commercial fungus formulations may eventually offer an alternative to standard ornamental and turf pesticides for tick control.

44. Lyme Disease in Ticks from Connecticut Citizens
J. Anderson Assisted by B. Hamid, M. Vasil, and J. Lofredo
Ticks, which have fed on humans, are tested for the presence of Lyme disease spirochetes at the request of municipal health departments. In 1998, 4,179 Ixodes scapularis ticks were tested. Of these, 26% were infected with the Lyme disease spirochete. Despite the dry spring, large numbers of ticks have been submitted for testing this year. As of June 15, we received 2,483 Ixodes scapularis ticks. During the previous record high year, 1996, only 1,942 had been received by the same date.

45. Ehrlichiosis in Mice and Deer
L. Magnarelli and J. Ijdo (Yale University) Assisted by Tia Blevins
Blood samples from white-footed mice, cotton mice, and white-tailed deer were analyzed for antibodies to or the DNA of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent. Of the 82 mouse and 91 deer sera analyzed from Connecticut, 45 (55%) and 33 (36%) were positive for antibodies, respectively. There also was evidence of ehrlichiosis infections in mice from Maryland, Georgia, and Florida. The DNA of the disease agent was detected in 11 (18%) of 63 blood samples obtained from deer in Colchester, East Haddam, Glastonbury, Hebron, and Marlborough. Mice and deer were exposed to the HGE agent in areas where human cases have been reported and may serve to infect ticks in nature.

46. Insecticides for Controlling White Grubs in Turf
R. Cowles Assisted by R. Hiskes and A. McDermott
A newly registered insect growth regulator, halofenozide (Mach2), was compared in turf plots with imidacloprid (Merit) and trichlorfon (Dylox) for controlling white grubs, a complex of scarab beetles including European chafer, oriental beetle, Japanese beetle, and Asiatic garden beetle. Halofenozide at rates of 1 and 1.5 lb. active ingredient per acre was ineffective against European chafer, but the 2 lb. rate gave good control. All rates were highly effective against Japanese beetle and oriental beetle. Application of halofenozide resulted in a subtle, dosage-dependent improved survival of Asiatic garden beetle. Imidacloprid worked well in reducing the numbers of all scarab species, with the exception of Asiatic garden beetles, which were halved with this material. Trichlorfon appears to be ineffective against oriental beetles but was effective against Asiatic garden beetle.

47. Connecticut weeds and wild plants
T. Mervosh Assisted by D. Laiuppa and T. Abbey
Weeds and wild plants found in Connecticut are displayed. Taxonomy, life cycles, and toxicity/edibility information are presented. Special emphasis is placed on non-native, invasive plant species. Weed control questions will be answered.

48. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Connecticut Nurseries
T. Abbey
Integrated pest management (IPM) uses biological, chemical, cultural, physical, and regulatory tactics to manage disease, insect, weed, and other pest problems in a way that minimizes risks to human health, society and the environment. The IPM approach provides flexibility for adapting to each particular situation. Three projects are currently underway to advance IPM in Connecticut nurseries: twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) control on herbaceous perennial plants; non-chemical weed control in nursery container production; and economic assessment of IPM adoption.

49. Utilization of compost in cut flower production
A. Maynard
Cut flowers are becoming increasingly popular as a crop for many Connecticut growers. For farmers with roadside stands or who attend farmer's markets, cut flowers are a lure which attract people to the stand. Little is known about how flowers respond to annual compost amendments and how the fertilizer requirement is affected. In this experiment, five annual species of cut flowers are being grown under four leaf compost/fertilizer combinations. The flowers include aster, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, and black-eyed Susan. Flowers are being harvested weekly, with data collected on the number of stems and blooms as well as noting the affect of the treatments to diseases and insects. This is the first year of a 3-year study, which is also repeated at the Valley Laboratory in Windsor

50. Incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in Wild Deer Feces
D. Dingman Assisted by R. Alwis
Wild deer have been suggested as a possible source of the bacterial pathogen E. coli O157:H7 as the result of fecal contamination of apples in the orchard prior to use in cider production. Over two years approximately 250 white-tailed deer fecal samples from four different sites surrounding apple orchards and one site near a cattle farm in New Haven County were tested for this pathogen. No E. coli O157:H7 isolates were found.

51. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 in Bruised Apples
D. Dingman
Use of apples of poor quality in the production of apple cider has been suggested as the most likely source for contamination of cider by E. coli O157:H7. Four of five apple cultivars (Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, McIntosh, Macoun, and Melrose) inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 were found to promote good growth of the bacterium in bruised apple tissue independent of the date of harvest. When fresh-picked (<2 days after harvest), McIntosh apples exhibited an inhibitory effect on growth of E. coli O157:H7. Since bacterial growth occurred in apple tissue but not in cider, some property of bruised apple tissue not found in the cider likely aided growth of the bacterium.

52. Septoria leaf blight on tomato
F. Ferrandino
The most important foliar pathogen on tomato in Connecticut is Septoria leaf blight. The fungus causes multiple small lesions about one quarter of an inch in diameter. Infected leaves eventually turn yellow and fall from the plant. When defoliation is severe, fruit is often damaged by sun scald. In this plot, four 200-foot rows of tomatoes have been inoculated at the southern end and the spread of this disease is being monitored.

53. Medicinal Herb Variety Trial
M. Gent Assisted by M. Short
Consumers are interested in herbs for self-medication using traditional remedies. This is a trial of seed sources of commonly used medicinal herbs, to determine their suitability for the soil and climate conditions found in Connecticut. The herbs include pennyroyal, achillea, lovage, sage, and thyme planted in 1998, and horehound, hyssop, and lemonbalm planted in 1996. These plants are harvested at flowering and in early fall each year to determine yield. This trial will distinguish seed sources most suitable for both backyard and large-scale farmers and will also determine how long the plants will produce before yields decrease.

54. Winter Squash Trials
D. Hill
Winter squash varieties such as butternut, buttercup and acorn have long been favorite fall crops for vegetable growers who operate roadside stands. Consumers often purchase by the bushel because these squash store well and can be eaten well into the winter months. New cultivars have been developed that produce fruit on shorter vines, allowing closer spacing. In 1997, five short-vined and bush types were tested for yield and quality compared to the traditional long-vined Waltham type. The short-vined types (Early Butternut, Harris Butternut) and bush types (Butter Bush, Butter Boy) had yields averaging 11.8 tons/A and 12.9 tons/A respectively compared to 18.5 tons/A for long-vined Waltham and Nicklow’s Delight. This year we are testing bush cultivars of Butterbush (butternut), Table King (acorn) and Cream of the Crop (acorn) to determine the best row spacing.

55. Native woody shrubs
J. Ward Assisted by J. Barsky
Native woody shrubs offer an alternative to exotics commonly used in landscaping. This collection of shrubs was assembled in 1962 and in 1976. It was arranged in its present form with a dry site on the gravel mound and moist site in the shallow, plastic-lined depression. Many of these shrubs flower in the spring; their flowers can be seen in the photographs. Others, such as sweet pepperbush, spirea, and buttonbush, flower in summer. Witchhazel flowers in early autumn. Birds are frequent visitors to the garden and quickly eat the mature fruit. These shrubs survive with minimal maintenance. Occasional mowing, annual removal of dead stems, and replenishment of mulch are performed. The shrubs have never been fertilized, watered, or treated for disease.

56. Effect of biological control agents on Rhzoctonia crown rot of impatiens
W. Elmer Assisted by E. O’Dowd and S. Kluk
Crown rot of impatiens is a soilborne disease caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia. This disease can appear when homeowners and landscapers grow impatiens in the same flower bed year after year. The fungus can persist in soil for long periods of time. A commercially available beneficial fungus called Trichoderma is being compared to a chemical fungicide for its ability to suppress this disease.

57. Butterfly and Bird Garden
C. Lemmon Assisted by R. Cecarelli, R. Hannan, L. Starr, J. Keegan, F. Milroyd, and J. Lenart
Created by Landscape Designer A. Bell. Installation by Farm Manager E. Naughton and staff.
This garden is a joint project of The Experiment Station, the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, and the Spring Glen Garden Club. The second stage of a butterfly and bird garden can be viewed as well as the third year growth of a butterfly meadow. Two bluebird houses have been added to the adjoining meadows. Guided butterfly identification walks and literature on butterfly larval and nectar sources will be available.

58. Making Sure the Gypsy Moth Does Not Surprise Us
R. Weseloh Assisted by M. Lowry
Entomophaga maimaiga is an important fungal pathogen of the gypsy moth that became abundant for the first time in 1989, a wet year that greatly favored the fungus. This year, 1999, has been dry during May and June and, consequently, few gypsy moths have died from the fungus. Since the impact of the fungus can vary greatly from year to year it would be helpful if we could determine in advance when and where the fungus is likely to be most active. One source of information is the number of resting spores in the soil. These overwinter and are needed to begin infection the next spring. A method to determine this number has been developed, which should help predict fungus impact.

59. Chestnut Species and Hybrids
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
These trees are part of the large collection of species and hybrids of chestnut maintained by The Experiment Station. Great differences can be seen in chestnut blight resistance, form, and nut production. Hypovirulent strains of the blight fungus help protect them from lethal cankers (see plot #21). Plants of all seven species of chestnut are growing here. In 1994, two seedlings from the Caucasus Mountains of Russia that are true European chestnut were planted. Two trees of the chinquapin native to Florida are planted across the road. The cultivar Lockwood is at the southwest corner.

60. Nursery and Bee Inspections
C. Lemmon Assisted by X. Asbridge, D. Brown, I. Kettle, S. Sandrey, and P. Trenchard
Our personnel uphold laws enacted to protect Connecticut’s vegetation from injurious insects and disease. Each year we inspect 9,805 acres of nursery stock grown in over 400 nurseries for insects and disease. When problems are found, control remedies are suggested. We inspect agricultural products to be shipped to foreign or interstate destinations, and we survey Connecticut’s woodlands to find troublesome pests such as the gypsy moth and the hemlock woolly adelgid. Examples of insect pests and plant diseases are exhibited. Insect survey maps are shown. Connecticut has about 1,200 beekeepers tending 5,000 colonies of honey bees. A task of the Experiment Station is to seek and eliminate contagious bee diseases and parasitic mites. Insects that attack ornamentals, live honey bees, a beehive and various beekeeping equipment, as well as wasps and hornets and their nests are on display.

61. Connecticut Nurserymen’s Garden
E. Naughton
The Connecticut Nurserymen’s Gardens are showcases of plants discovered or hybridized and introduced to the horticultural trade by Connecticut nurserymen. Similar gardens are at the Valley Laboratory in Windsor and the Main Laboratories in New Haven. All plants were donated by members of the Connecticut Nurserymen’s Association and planted in 1986-87. Introductions feature evergreen and deciduous azaleas, mountain laurel, maple, pine, hosta, iris, and other flowering and foliage plants. A brochure containing maps of all three gardens and a brief description of the plants is available.

62. Effect of NaCl on the rust disease of asparagus
W. Elmer Assisted by E. O’Dowd and S. Kluk
Most asparagus varieties grown in New England have excellent tolerance to a foliar disease called asparagus rust. The cultivar planted in these plots, Emerald, has poor tolerance to rust. Since applications of NaCl suppress crown and root rot of asparagus, NaCl may also reduce damage due to rust. This planting was established in May, and treatments will be applied next spring.

63. Susceptibility of tomato cultivars to powdery mildew
V. Smith and J. LaMondia Assisted by J. Canepa-Morrison
Powdery mildew is a disease of tomato that causes blasting of the leaves, drying, and eventual defoliation of the entire plant. Most commercial tomato cultivars are severely affected by powdery mildew. In this plot, we are investigating differences in susceptibility to powdery mildew of 12 cultivars (Better Boy, Brandywine, Celebrity, Fantom, Grace, Heinz, Presto, Rutgers, Ultra Girl, cherry type Baxter’s Early Bush, and plum types Roma and Super San Marzano) plus one tomato breeding line (DRW 5007). Grace and DRW 5007 exhibited tolerance to powdery mildew, and produced marketable fruit.

64. Curiosity Garden
D. Hill
This garden contains a potpourri of vegetables grown to pique the interest of home gardeners and growers of niche crops. Included are trials of globe artichokes grown specifically for annual culture from seed. Early production is triggered by use of artificially induced vernalization (refrigerated cool moist treatment) and use of gibberellic acid, a natural plant hormone. The Green Globe variety requires such treatments for production of buds in early July. The new Imperial Star cultivar has been selected because it requires only natural vernalization by cool spring temperatures in a cold frame to induce budding. In this trial, we are comparing yield and timing of production on Imperial Star grown from artificially vernalized seed and naturally vernalized seed. In 1998, Imperial Star plants from naturally vernalized seed produced 3.9 buds/plant compared to 2.3 buds/plant from artificially vernalized seed. Also included in this garden is Jilo, a tropical eggplant from Nigeria and Brazil. Jilo is a highly popular vegetable among customers of Brazilian heritage. In 1998, yields were 11.0 lbs./plant in rows covered with black plastic mulch compared to 9.6 lbs./plant in uncovered controls. The black plastic mulch also increased early yields in late July. This year two cultivars, Teresopolis Gigante and Compride Verde Claro, are beingtested for yield.

65. Utilization of Compost and Cover Crops in Corn Production
A. Maynard
Among all vegetable crops grown in Connecticut, sweet corn has the greatest acreage. Sweet corn requires large amounts of nitrogen throughout the growing season. For that reason it is difficult for organic growers to obtain optimum yields because nitrogen levels early in the growing season tend to be lower in soils amended with only compost and organic fertilizers. Using compost in combination with a leguminous cover crop could increase early nitrogen concentrations. This experiment is comparing the yields of sweet corn grown in five compost/vetch cover crop/fertilizer combinations. Results will provide growers with the specific combination of leaf compost, leguminous cover crop, and fertilizer for optimum sweet corn production. This experiment is repeated at our Valley Laboratory in Windsor where the ground water is being monitored underneath each of the treatments for nitrate leaching. Last year the greatest yields were from plots amended with compost and vetch and the full rate of inorganic fertilizer. Plots amended with compost and half the rate of fertilizer had yields equivalent to the unamended control plots receiving the full rate of fertilizer. This Experiment is being repeated for 2 more years to determine cumulative effects of compost and vetch.

66. Dwarf Hybrid Chestnut Trees
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
These hybrid trees were planted by Richard Jaynes from 1970 to 1973. One of the parents in the hybrids was the dwarf species Castanea seguinii, and the selected trees that remain produce abundant nut crops and have remained small. These are important parents in our selections of orchard-type trees for Connecticut. The cultivar Little Giant (see sign) was released to the nursery industry this year.

67. Dense Planting of American Chestnuts
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
In 1982, 300 seedling American chestnut trees from Michigan were planted in two dense plots. After treatment with hypovirulence for blight control, they have been examined for growth (see plot #21). In 1993, a purple mushroom was introduced into the center of the northern group to see if it would improve growth and another root-associated mushroom was put in the southern group.

68. NE-183 apple variety trial
R. Kiyomoto Assisted by J. Bravo
In this trial new apple cultivars are being compared for resistance to foliar pathogens. I have found that among 22 new apple cultivars which include Braeburn, Yataka, Arlet, Creston, Carousel, Enterprise, Fuji Red Sport 2, Gala Supreme, Ginger Gold, Golden Supreme, Goldrush, Honeycrisp, Cameo, NY 75414-1, Orin, Pristine, Sansa, Senshu, Shizuka, Suncrisp, Sunrise, and Enterprise, NY 75414-1, and Gala Supreme consistently ranked least susceptible to scab, cedar apple rust, and powdery mildew.

69. Apple variety trial
R. Kiyomoto Assisted by J. Bravo
This orchard contains approximately 84 apple cultivars which are replicated three times in randomized fashion. Included are some of the newest cultivars and older, but not antique, cultivars. The purpose is to compare disease resistance and to compare horticultural characteristics of newer cultivars with local favorites.

70. Rocky Hill American Chestnut Trees
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
Seed collected from selected American chestnut trees in Rocky Hill in 1985 grew into the trees planted here. They are used as female parents in crosses and are being treated with hypovirulence (see plot #21) to keep them alive. The white paper bags cover the hand-pollinated flowers of this year’s crosses.

71. Maize genetics
N. Schultes Assisted by R. Huntley
In 1917 Donald F. Jones, a newly appointed geneticist at the Station, performed corn crosses at Lockwood Farm that laid the basis for developing double hybrid corn. In subsequent years, the once "academic" double hybrid corn was adopted by American farmers resulting in substantial increases in yield. Hybrid corn is one reason why America produces more food than it consumes. Today we combine corn genetics (performed in the field) with modern techniques of molecular biology to study genes. Corn performs a specialized form of photosynthesis, called C4, that uses light energy to produce sugars more efficiently than most other crops. In this plot corn is being screened for mutants that have altered ability to perform photosynthesis. Such mutants can arise when a transposable element (a piece of corn DNA that moves from one place on a chromosome to another) lands inside another gene causing a disruption. The disrupted gene can now be identified and cloned in the laboratory. By identifying and understanding the genes involved in C4 photosynthesis advances in crop productivity can be obtained through recombinant DNA technology.

72. Orchard Chestnuts
S. Anagnostakis Assisted by P. Sletten
This orchard of grafted nut trees was planted by Richard Jaynes in the spring of 1981. There are several named cultivars of chestnut included, and these are being used by volunteers from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation in a project supervised by S. Anagnostakis. Volunteer Peter Devin, with help from several other members, has made controlled crosses of some of the cultivars to find out if some crosses produce more nuts than others. In the fall when the nuts are harvested, they will be weighed to see whether the pollen parent had any effect on size, flavor, or the ease of peeling.

Connecticut State The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Plant Science Day