VOLUME VIII
OREGON STATE COLLEGE. SEPTEMBER 1959
NUMBER 4
Yield Behavior of Blue Lakes-19S9
Sweet Corn Grown
Without Cultivation
\}
A study to determine feasibility of grow­
ing sweet corn without cultivation was begun
(~ at Corvallis in 1958. Herbi­
cide plots were split so half
of each treatment was culti­
':\\1 vated and hoed as needed for
'Hweed control and the other
half was left untouched for the
season. Normal practices of
fertilization and irrigation
were followed. Yields of the plots for the
past two seasons are shown in Table 1.
In this analysis of these results, it was
found in 1958 that there was a significant
interaction (at the 1% probability level) of
1,
(Continued page 5)
In This Issue . ..
1.1
~
Yield Behavior of Blue Lakes . • • .
Sweet Corn Grown Without Cultivation.
Insecticides Fail to Control Nitidulids.
How Many Bean Pods in a Pound? • . •
1
1
6
9
Maturation of pods in many Blue Lake
yards in 1959 presented difficult problems
for growers. In one particular period con­
centration of maturity was so poor that
yields were low, and efficiency of pickers
was greatly reduced. Final yields, in many
cases, were lower than normal, while in
others yields were satisfactory.
What factors were operating to cause
these difficulties? Discussion of a number
of possible contributing causes follows
with final emphasis on differential behavior
of varieties or breeding lines.
1. !&Yi temperatures during and follow­
!!!g germination. Cool, wet weather in May
and June delayed growth of bean plants.
Poor development of above-ground parts of
plants can generally be expected to :fesult
in poor root systems, which are directly
dependent on food constituents manufactured
in the leaves. Severe damage from Fusar­
ium root rot is often found under such con­
ditions. It is especially common to find
severe root rot associated with symphylid
infestations. In such cases it is obviously
impossible to assess, with any appreciable
accuracy, the relative damage due to each
of these two organisms. The point we wish
to make here, however, is that even in fields
(Continued next page)
2
Blue La kes • • • (Continued from page 1)
where no damage from either of the organisms could be detected, the early season growth
was slow due to low temperature.
2. High temperatures during critical blossoming period. Plants in many yards reached
..
a peak of blossoming at the time of abnormally high temperatures in July 1959 (Figure 1).
During this period (JUly 18-23), a heavy population of nitidulid beetles was present in some
yards. Blossom drop was universally heavy. Many misshapen pods, due to poor pollination
and/or to low nutrition within the plant, were also noted. This period of blossom drop was
clearly reflected later in harvest records of al112 varieties and breeding lines planted in the
replicated field trial on the aBC- vegetable research farm. These data will be made available
in the Vegetable Digest in the next issue.
3. Varieties or breeding lines reacted differently ,depending W!!.. earliness, concen­
tration of set and relative stages Cl.f growth, and blossoming.~ the time ~ high temperatures.
Figure 2 shows harvest behavior of FM1 , OSC 284, and aBC 637 beans in the 1958 and 1959
seasons. In 1958~ a normal harvest beliavior is noted in which varieties such as FM1 showed
a peak of maturation after three or four harvests, then tapered off as the season progresses.
In 1959 two distinct drops in yield were noted in the July 21 harvest and later in the August
14 harvest, which, incidentally, were 10 to 14 days after the two peaks in maximum temper­
ature.
1\
It is especially interesting to compare aBC 637 behavior J in the two years, with FM1
and OSC 284. The 637 line is distinctly early and concentrated in maturity. In 1958 it­
yielded almost as well as FM1 ; yet in 1959 the yield was very low. The 637 behaVior may
explain some of the low 1959 yields of FM 1 P, a relatively early, somewhat concentrated
type. FMIP was not placed in our yield te"Bt t however, and this must remain a matter of
speculation. It is our belief that low temperatures in early stages of growth followed by
high temperatures ata critical blossoming period were the major cause of relatively low
yields from 637. A more vigorous variety with strong indeterminate growth habit and less
concentrated yield probably would perform better under such conditions.
The interplay of heredity and environment in varietal behavior brings up the question,
in the case of these Blue Lakes t of the desirability of "hedging" by planting more than one
variety as long as its pod characters fit the exacting requirements of the processing plant.
Factors which have been discussed do not cover all of the possible causes for erratic
yields. Other insects and diseases, low soil moisture, solI nutrients--any one of which
may be limiting soil physical condition--or any other factors contributing to- physiological
weakness will be reflected in pod set and yield.
--We A. Frazier
H. J. Mack
J. R. Baggett
Horticulture Department
! ••
Oregon's Vegetable Digest is published four times a year by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon
State College, COl'vallis. F. E. Price, Director. Address correspondence to the author concerned or to the
Department of Horticulture.
1
Material may be reprinted providing no endorsement of a commercial product is stated or implied. Please credit
Oregon State College. To simplify technical terminology, trade names of products or equipment sometimes will be
used. No endorsement of products named is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
3
/
Blue La kes • • •(Continued from page 2)
Maximum
Table I.
Temperatures ..... Cor\Jollis
o
"
100
I '
"
•
,0,
90
~o
'0
I
; \ /x\° \
I
'
o
'
,'
x
,
:-
x
I
0
:
I
70h'
"
I
x
\
I
I
~
x
\
x
l
/,
I
/
I
",
\
~
~
~
x
I
/..
X
'x
0"
t­ x~\j/x I~.O,'
I
I
i
lX,
. ",/P\,\ i\.\
0,I
,
'
100
I
.I
I
'0
If~~ /\~°r:· x,X\,
80 I-
o
I
x,
I
I
' \x
x.
I
0
I
~
0
II
I
..,.0,
,0"
·\i
't,
0
•
'0
,0 ' x
.
. , 90
'0
•
0
x .
80
\ /x
x
x,~
70
0
x
60
60
t
1959
1958
J
3012 3 4 '
6
7 8 91011 1213141'16171819202122232425262728293031 12 3 4 5 678 91011 121314151617181920
JUNE I ~E- - - - - - JULY
I
.I·~---- AUGUST
_I
4:
,;'
Blue Lakes ••• (Continued from page 3)
~
Yields of Pole Beans - 1958. 1959
Table 2.
CI)
Cb
Tons per Harvest
~
'-­
TOTAL YIELD
,~ 3.0
1958 - 9.9
1959 ... 10.4
~ ~ 2.5
U-~
CI)
2.0
~
1.5
t:
a
1.0
0.5
o
x
--'
/~~~
x
__ ... x
,-­
,-­
•
1-1- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - " " " " " - - - - ­
3.5
TOTAL YIELD
~ 3.0
v~
(X)
l
~
N=t:
2.5
20
.... I ,
x----x G . . . . ,
/X / l
. ,
-.
Cb
x
"
u
vi ~ 1.5 / '
0«1)
o ~ 1.0
"
/
1958 - II. I
1959 - 11.6
/
""
'x ,
,"
,
x....
"
x
,
...1
x-==
~x--------x
x
0.5
Ot-I- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ­
.....
3.0
CI)
Cb
I'- ~ 2.5
rt>b
w =t: 2.0
.'-.
TOTAL YIELD
r:.---- x
~~ 1.5
Wei)
o ~c:::
0.5
x
I
I
,
,
,
,
,
&
-1959
'l23
---1958 7~19
--x~............... ......x...
/x-
1.0
0' , , ,
1958 - 9.5
1959-8.S
.. -I, ... --~
_x- ....
...... x...
~27
7
~23
,
,
,
,
10
131
7
~28
,
,
,
1&
8/3
8
~
Dates of
,
,
,
8~0
8
116
,
,
.
.........
X
c-
__
.......x
X
~x-
,
,
20
,
.,
2&
'14
8
III
Harvests
,
,
~19
8
115
,
,
,
30
,
,
,
,
35
8/26
8
122
5
Sweet Corn • • .(Continued from page 1)
I
~
Yields of Sweet Corn in Herbicide Tests
(Ave. lbe. of graded. husked ears per plot)
Cultivated
Not cultivated
Simazine
(1 lb. aotive/acre)
DlnItro amine
(3 lbe/acre)
plus Vegedex
(4 lbs/acre)
No herbicide
38.6
39.0
38.8
37.1
18.5
39.5
1959 (60 ft. of row
Atrazine
Simazine
(2 lbs. active/acre) (2 lbs. active/acre)
Cultivated
Not cultivated
f
54.3
35.1
4~~. 8
47.6
No herbicide
47.9
20.7
cultivation x herbioides in the comparison of no herbicides VB. other treatments, but
there was no difference in this interaction in comparing the two herbicide treatments.
Yield of marketable ears seemed to be closely related to effectiveness of weed control
treatments. Weed population in this test consisted primarily of redroot pigweed
(Amaranthus retroflexu! which is relatively easy to control with herbicides used in this
test. Excellent weed control was obtained with both chemical treatments. There was no
evidence of crop injury from the herbicides.
In 1959, Simazine was much less effective in weed control even though the application
rate was double the 1958 rate. This difference may be due to factors such as different soil
types, weather conditions, and weed populations in the two experiments. In the 1959 trial,
Atrazine gave very good weed control. One pre-emergence application resulted in essentially
weed free plots through the season. Analysis of plot yield values in 1959 showed significant
interactions (at the 1% probability level) of cultivation x herbicides in both the comparison of
the no herbicides vs. other treatments and the comparison of Simazine vs. Atrazine. This
would indicate the weed population in noncultivated Simazine plots was sufficient to reduce
yields, while weed control in the noncultivated Atrazine plots was adequate to realize the
full yield potential under conditions of this test. Again there appeared to be no evidence of
crop injury from the herbicides.
,
From results of these trials it appears sweet corn can be grown satisfactorily without
post-planting tillage if the weed population and other conditions are suitable for effective
chemical weed control. Since normal chemical weed control with cultivation wolid be a
band application of herbicide covering approximately one third the total area, economic
justification of a noncultivation program would require aO comparison of cost of additioIW 1
spray material for an overall application with the cost of the usual cultivations. At present
prices, cost of additional spray material would be $8 to $1i} per acre.
--Garvin Crabtree
Fred Rauch
Horticulture Department
~AA
6
New Insecticides Fail to Control Nitidulids
"
Nitidulids. those little, black, pollen beetles which plague red clover seed production
and green bean set during midsummer. were again a serious pest in 1959. It had been about
four years since these insects had shown up in such great numbers. Declining vetch acreage
has been credited for the lower population of beetles over the past several years. Moist
weather during May and June of 1959 may have created favorable breeding conditions for these
insects whose larvae live in the florets of vetch and certain clovers.
Studies on green beans in the past have indicated strongly that failure to set (blossom drop)
is brought about by nitidulid beetles when these insects are present in numbers greater than an
average of about six beetles per blossom. Hot weather can also cause blossom drop. Un­
fortunately. both high temperatures and beetles struck at the same time this year, with the
result that bean production dropped seriously for a period of two or three weeks. Which
agent--temperature or beetles--was more to blame for the blossom drop is not known.
Several experiments were conducted in 1959 in an effort to find a more effective control
for nitidulids. Insecticides now registered for use on beans (such
as malathion, methoxychlor, and DDT) will kill beetles and reduce
the population below the economic level, if the nitidulids are not
still migrating into the yard in great numbers. For example, the
~ ---":d /J~~:';, .
Millsap bean yard just north of Corvallis was sprayed with mala­
..... "'" C~.'.
~~ft"z.;'
---g_;:';"I~'
' , '
thion by air for aphids at the peak of the nitidulid season. Two
~ff!6!-/'{"~l~
'"
,'.,:.,
days later, a blossom survey showed an average of only 3-1/2
J
. ,(.t.'
beetles per blossom, and dead nitidulids were on the leaves and
'~~ /{r
,_:::;1,;1.
:'~)'
,.. .
1;~
ground. During the July period when beetles are still flying
(, :'/,' ~i .;:.... /,"
into bean yards from clover and vetch fields, there is no known
';;:1C. ,-'
way of reducing their numbers to a safe level for mare than two
or three days at a time by using insecticides.
,
f
.~. . '~"''''''.
, ".
1-
:
•
' ,. . . . . "
.;...,
••
;'
'
.. >
•
Population of nitidulids in a bean yard is greatly influenced by amount of bloom present.
Beetles are apparently attracted by presence of newly-opened blossoms. A yard or field in
heavy bloom will not only support a higher total population, but average number of beetles
per blossom will run higher than in plantings with less bloom. This is particularly notice­
able with bush beans. which tend to put on a heavy bloom during a relatively short period of
time.
Several small scale tests were made on bush bean plantings at the Vegetable Crops
Experimental Farm at Corvallis during 1959. Insecticides were applied in different ways
and their effects on the nitidulid populations determined by blossom counts. In one trial, a
new insecticide, Thiodan, was applied to a 1/8 acre plot at the rate of 36 pounds of 3% dust
per acre. An adjacent 1/8 acre area was left as a check. Results are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Test with Thiodan 3% Dust for Nitidulid Control on Bush Beans
Corvallis. 1959
I
Date
<
July
"
"
"
"
22
23
24
25
27
Interval after
application
Mean no. nitidulids per blossom
Treated
Check
Pre-app1.
13.9
20.9
(dust app1. with rotary hand duster)
2.8
10.5
24 hrs.
48 hrs.
12.3
14.8
17.6
20.0
4 days
(Continued on page 7)
Remarks
Irrigation started
'1
Nitidulid Sprays ••• (Continued from page 6)
Although this area was sprinkler irrigated just 24 hours after treatment, it served to
illustrate three things: (1) Thiodan dust was apparently effective in reducing sharply the
nitidulid population within 24 hours; (2) populations from adjacent untreated areas are quick­
ly affected; and (3) removal of insecticide (by irrigation) allows for rapid repopulation by
the beetles during the early part of their active season.
J'
A series df three trials were made on experimental plantings of bush beans to determine
the value of adding a bait material to the insecticide as a possible attractant for the beetles.
A protein hydrolyzate spray was applied to the foliage in conjunction with malathion dust and
emulsion applications, and with a dust of the newly registered insecticide, Sevin.
Results were disappointing. The 2% Sevin (at the rate of 37 pounds per acre) failed to
reduce the beetle population appreciably ,andeven the malathion spray did not bring the
nitidulid numbers below the economio level. These trials were conducted during a period
of heavy bloom while beetles were still migrating into the bean fields.
It had been hoped that protein bait would simulate the attractiveness of pollen, which is
thought to draw beetles to newly-opened blossoms. There were no beneficial effects from
use of the bait spray, judging from blossom beetle counts. To determine whether any
beetle kill was being accomplished in ODe of the malathion trials, two cloth trays (3' x 3')
were placed on the ground between bean rows in each plot. Counts of dead or dying nitiduli~
falling into these trays gave some indication of what was happening in the plots, as shown in
Table 2.
c
Table 2. Test for Actual Knock-down of Nitidulids in Malathion-treated Bush
Beans
Corv'allis, 1959
Time
Total no. beetles in trays (18 sq. ft. area)
Date
period
Malathion
Malathion
Untreated
~ait ~I!~ay
dWJt
Qheck
10 hours
174
. 59
62
July 31
August 2
2 days
112
32
69
It would appear from this data that malathion-bait spray was more effective than dust,
but this could be a feature of the liquid formulation' rather than attractiveness of bait.
Presence of dead beetles_ in the check was interpreted as an indication of the continuous
movement of the, insects from plant to plant an'd plot to plot. Movement into the experimental
area from nearby bean plantings more than compensated for the kill effected by the treatments.
,
One field scale trial for nitidulid control was conducted during the 'season, using a spray
of Dibrom applied by airplane to a commercial pole bean yard. Dibrom is an experimental
phosphate material with low mammalian toxicity and short residual life. A two-acre area
was sprayed on August 6 and another section of the yard, about 500 feet away, was used as
the check plot. A light bloom of bean blossom and lateness of the season accounted for the
low nitidulid populations in the preapplication counts and in the check. Results t Table 3.
again demonstrated most insecticides would reduce the population below the economic level
if applied after the numbers of beetles had reac'hed their peak.
(Continued page 8)
8
Nitidulid Sprays • • • (Continued from page 7)
Table 3. Trial with Dibrom Aerial Spray for Nitidulid Control on Pole Beans,
Wilt Bean Yard.
Corvallis. 1959
i
Interval
after
application
Aug. 5
Pre-apple
6 ..2
6.8
10 hra.
27 brs.
3.0
4.9
50 hrs.
2.7
:). 0
4.7
3 days
3.3
6.1
"
"
"
"
t
Mean no. beetles per blossom
Tr,eated
. Untreated
area
check
Date
6
7
8
9
5.7
In summation, results of the 1959 trials leave us little closer to a good solution to the
n itidulid problem on green beans. The new material, Thiodan J looks promising if it ean
be registered for use on beans after pods begin to form. Use of a protein hydrolyzate
attractant gave little indication of promise as an additive to insecticides for control of this
pest. Sevin, as used for nitidulids, was disappointing. Dibrom, a new nonregistered
material, was not outstanding but offers some promise since it is also efteetive against
aphids.
--H. H. Crowell
Entomology Department
A£A
lIetJeta&e 1t6te
Big-Vein Disease of lettuce has long been considered caused by a soil borne virus,
consequently little effort has been made to control the disease by use of soil fumigants or
soil fungicides. Recent work in California (1) indicates that rootlets of plants having
symptoms of big-vein invariably are infected by the fungus O~1PidiY!Jl brassicae. This fungus
does not invade erowns or leaves of plants but produces some sUbstance which induces big­
vein symptoms.
I
Olpidium brassieae invaded roots of many weeds and of garden vegetables such as
celery, onion, radish, and broccoli, but apparently does not induce any symptoms in the
above ground portion of these crops.
Symptoms of big-vein did not develop in lettuce grown in previously infested soil treated
wIth DDt Chloropicrin, CBP-55, or carbon bisulfide. (This information was reported bv
B. G. Grogan, et aI, Phytopathology 48:292-297.)
,
£A£
9
How Many Bean Pods in a Pound?
:
}
Did you ever wonder how many bean pods there were in one pound of beans of various
size grades? Samples' of F.M-l pole beans at two harvest dates in irrigation-fertility plots
at Corvallis indicate the following distribution of number of pods in various sieve sizes
(Table 1).
Some interesting speculative calculations could be !lade in regard to picking intervals,
potential tonnage, pay scales for pickers, and so forth from this and more complete infor­
mation.
Table 1. Number of Bean Pods Per Pound
Various Sieve Sizes
1 lb. Sample (FM-1)
Number of Pods per Sample
(6th pick-Aug. 17)
Ave. length
Sieve size
f
1 & 2 & smaller
3
4
5
6
Sample 1
Sample 2
3-1/2 - 3-3/4
4 - 4-1/2
4-1/4 - 5
5-6
5-1/4 - 6
156
170
120
81
105
82
62
59
53
48
(inohes}
(7th pick-Aug. 24)
Sieve size
Sample 2
Sam}!.le 1
3
4
184
115
80
182
116
5
60
60
6
46
43
1 & 2 & smaller
77
--H. J. Mack
Horticulture Department
•••
/e