RE: [tomato] More virus opinions

Pete (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Fri, 17 Dec 1999 16:33:42 -0500 

Thanks Thomas, I got your package today with the Bio-Vam and Bio-sol.  It
seems that tomato plants can be infected before you buy them, so maybe it's
best if I grow my own again.  I just received info on Green-Tek
Hortifabrics.  They have a Virus-Vector Insect Screen.  Maybe I'll buy some
and try to keep the white flies out. The fabric seems heavier than misquito
netting, and so I will probably have to build a frame.  What do you think I
should use? I sent some emails to the cooperative extensions asking for info
about the tomato varieties that are TYLCV tolerant.  I also sent some emails
to research universities in Israel where they've had this problem for some
time.  It will be interesting if I hear from them.  I'm going to try some
hanging basket tomatoes and keep them in my screened in pool area, but I'm
going to seal the holes in the screen, and make sure the doors are sealed
when closed.

I decided that I'm going to find out who makes Linda Tripp's panty hose, and
use that to cover my outside container plants.  :>)

Some sites recommend yellow mulch, probably to attract the whiteflies away
from the plants and onto the ground, but wouldn't silver mulch be better?  I
think Byron once gave a good source of plastic mulch.  Do lady bugs bugs eat
whiteflies?  If I put them in the screening, they won't be able to escape,
of course I would have to spray lady bug food/attractant to keep them going
as hopefully the screen will keep the buggies out.  Does all this sound like
I'm desperate to grow a tomato?  Take care,

Pete

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-tomato@GlobalGarden.com
[mailto:owner-tomato@GlobalGarden.com]On Behalf Of Thomas Giannou
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 4:50 PM
To: Tomato@GlobalGarden.com
Subject: Re: [tomato] More virus opinions


Pete,

I am very familiar with that flu/cold.  I've been fighting it off going into
the second week now.  It isn't leting up.  One of my customers says:  Take
astragalus and echinacea!   She grows medicinal herbs.

Here's a couple of URLs for you if you haven't found them yet that get into
good details on the TYLC virus.  The info is too much for me to understand
right now with this flu/cold.
http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/new/pg08400.htm
http://probe.nalusda.gov:8000/otherdocs/tgc/vol41/v41p19b.html

Best Regards,
Thomas Giannou
Spokane, Wa


----- Original Message -----
From: Pete <Orchid@ispchannel.com>
To: <Tomato@GlobalGarden.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 12:14 PM
Subject: RE: [tomato] More virus opinions


> Thanks for your reply Thomas. I just came down with either the flu or a
> severe cold...my head is spinning.  Please give me some time to recuperate
> before I answer or act on your questions.  Some websites suggest that they
> came out with a TYLCV "Tolerant" variety, and I'm just trying to find out
if
> it is available, or if someone could spare some seeds for me to "trial".
>
> Thanks again for taking a personal interest.
>
> Peter White
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-tomato@GlobalGarden.com
> [mailto:owner-tomato@GlobalGarden.com]On Behalf Of Thomas Giannou
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 10:40 AM
> To: Tomato@GlobalGarden.com
> Subject: Re: [tomato] More virus opinions
>
>
> Pete,
>
> In your queries to extension offices and the like about your tomato
plants,
> did they mention anything like what would happen to a plant that was
> infected by those virus diseases at a time just before flowers appeared?
> Have you seen any info about how quickly the virus will act once the white
> flies bring those diseases to your plants?
>
> Also, is there any sort of life cycle or hatching cycle with the white
flies
> in your area?  or are they an insect that seems to always be around.  Are
> there months where they are not present in Florida?  How long does a White
> Fly have to be on a tomato plant before the virus transfers?  Do those
> insects have to eat into the plant in order to transfer the viruses?
>
> I am also wondering if mosquito netting or some fine mesh that will let
> light and water through could be used to keep those insects off your
tomato
> plants.  I've been in the Orlando Florida area a few times and as I
recall,
> the afternoons are generally subjected to thunderstorms and a fair amount
of
> rain.  The netting and the frame holding the netting might be subject to
> high winds from time to time during the hurricane season.  The design of
> such covering might have to accommodate rolling up the netting and storing
> it during times of high wind storms.
>
> Do you have access to any tomato farmers to ask them how they are
> controlling the White Flies?  I know the extension offices could probably
> tell you about those details, but if there are any growers coops you could
> go to and quiz, you might learn more about what sort of controls are most
> effective.   You might want to seek out some organic farmers and see what
> they are doing to control that sort of insect.  Every time I visit with
> organic farmers, I always come away with some remedy they are using that
the
> extension agents don't know about.
>
> Best Regards,
> Thomas Giannou
> Spokane, Washington
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pete <Orchid@ispchannel.com>
> To: Tomato Discussion Group <Tomato@GlobalGarden.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 7:09 AM
> Subject: [tomato] More virus opinions
>
>
> >
> > I have examined your digital images for possible diagnosis of your plant
> > problems.  Images 011-015 (all tomato) seem to exhibit symptoms of virus
> > disease--very likely one or both of the geminiviruses vectored by
> > whiteflies.  Both these viruses are very damaging to commercial
production
> > and urban gardening in Florida.  There is no curative measure that you
can
> > apply once a virus disease has occurred--except roguing the plants and
> > destroying them.  The whiteflies carry the virus for their lifespan
(25-30
> > days).  The last image (eggplant) provided insufficient information to
me
> > to even make a guess.  I could not discern any clear symptoms.  Please
> > understand that digital diagnosis is in it's infancy.  Plants can
exhibit
> > only a finite number of symptoms to an almost infinite number of plant
> > pathogens, environmental, and cultural factors.  My diagnosis is an
> > educated guess.  If you desire accuracy, the core laboratory of the
> Florida
> > Extension Plant Disease Clinic identifies the geminiviruses at the DNA
> > level at a fee of $40.00.
> > Gary W. Simone
> >
>
>