Re: [tomato] More virus opinions
Thomas Giannou (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Fri, 17 Dec 1999 16:28:23 -0800
Dear Pete,
Since it is only the adult Whiteflies that are vectoring that virus around,
your chore seems to be one of building an enclosed growing area. You have
plenty of time between now and when the next huricane hovers over Florida.
If you can manage to round up some resistant varieties of tomato's, you
should be able to grow those without some sort of covering. But that kind
of limits what you can grow outside.
As for a frame, if you don't mind working with metal, I'd consider using
chain link fence railing. You could construct it so it can easily be taken
down and it would be sturdy enough to give good support. It's not expensive
and is easy to assemble. You might want to ask the retailer of the fabric
if water will easily flow through that fabric. If it doesn't, you may want
to build a slope into the top of your frame so water will run off. The
skies can dump a fair amount of water in a short time there in Florida, so
if it pools up on top of a flat surface and then collapses, you could lose
your plants from that too. You may also want to ask the retailer of that
fabric about frame construction.
Linda Trip's pantyhose? What kind of medication are you taking for that
flu/cold you have? Ease back on it a little.
It does sound like you are desparate for a tomato. The question is, how
expensive do you want to make that next tomato?
Best Regards,
Thomas Giannou
Spokane, WA
----- Original Message -----
From: Pete <Orchid@ispchannel.com>
To: <Tomato@GlobalGarden.com>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 1:33 PM
Subject: RE: [tomato] More virus opinions
> 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
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>