About: Aphids have soft pear-shaped bodies measuring 1.5-4mm in length with long legs and antennae, their color ranges from green, yellow, brown, red, to black depending on the species. They occur in clusters around the young terminal shoots or under the leaves.

Damage: Aphid nymphs and adults suck plant sap leading to stunted growth, deformed leaves and sometimes yellow spots appear. In addition to damage from direct feeding on plant sap, they excrete excess sugars in the form of honeydew which serves as a growth medium for black sooty mold. This soils the crop, reducing photosynthesis and consequently growth and production. Aphids are also vectors of plant pathogenic substances, particularly, viruses.

Solutions: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii)

About: Cutworms is the name used for the larvae of a number of species of adult moths. Adults are grayish hairless caterpillars of waxy appearance that attacks vegetables during nights and hides in the soil during the day. The larvae stage attacks the first part it encounters, the stem and often the seedling. The adult moth has brown wings with 1-1/2 inch wingspan.

Damage: Wilting in young plants with stems attacked near the ground level.

Solution: EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Cyclamen mites are tiny arachnids that are oval, translucent white to yellow-green in color and are 0.25mm in size with six legs for the first nymph and eight legs for the remaining stages. They are very difficult to identify until severe damages occur. Cyclamen mites are mostly found on the base of the plant or near the buds. They prefer darkened humid areas of immature leaves and buds in growing tips.

Damage: Cyclamen mites feed through sucking the cell contents resulting in detrimental damage. Plant symptoms include distortion of the growing tip, resulting in thickening of the meristematic (growing point) tissue. Damages results in the curling up of leaves and blotching with some foliage turning purple in color. Damaged buds do not develop and plants may not produce flowers or fruits.

Solution: EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Vegetable Leafminers are small black flies with a bright yellow spot on their thorax; the maggot makes long, slender, white mines (tunnels) in leaves. Mining or puncturing activities on the plant causes cosmetic damage and makes it an important pest.  The larvae are often visible within the mine where they remove mesophyll between the surfaces of the leaf.

Damage: The act of laying eggs and feeding on leaves can kill seedlings. It is also an agent for fungal diseases.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9), Basila Fly+ (CFU 9*10(9) Strain BT10)

About: Nematodes are tiny, round-bodied, unsegmented, worms. Plant parasitic nematodes cause economic losses to horticultural and field crop worldwide. They also pause serious concerns in terms of food safety and environmental quality issues.

Damage: Stunting and yellowing with a tendency to wilt. Visibly, there will be distortions, swellings and knots of various sizes on the plant roots. Mid- day wilting of the crop, Patches of poor crop growth on the field, galls on the roots, stubby roots and lesions and dark spots on the root.

Solution: NEMARID3X® (Purpureocillium lilacinus)

About: Spider mites are tiny arachnids (not insects) measuring about 0.5mm long with an oval shaped body which varies in color from greenish-yellow, to virtually transparent, brown, and red-orange with two dark spots visible on either side of the abdomen. The life cycle involves five developmental stages: egg, larva, two nymphal stages, and adult. Immatures resemble adults (except they are much smaller and lighter in colour), and the newly hatched larvae have only six legs.

Damage: Adults and juveniles feed on the underside of leaves by inserting their stylets into the plant cells and sucking out the cell contents resulting in typical ‘stippling’ damage i.e. white or chlorotic spots easily recognizable on the upper leaf surface. Defoliation, leaf burning, and even plant death can occur due to direct feeding damage. Indirect effects of feeding may include decrease in photosynthesis and transpiration. This combination of direct and indirect effects often reduces the aesthetic value and/or amount of harvestable material.

Solution: EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Adult Sciarid flies are slender, approximately 2.5 mm in length, and have long legs and antennae. They are weak fliers but can run quite rapidly across the soil surface. Their wings are clear or smokey-colored with no pattern and few distinct veins. However, the females of several species are wingless. They have shiny black head capsules.

Damage: Larvae, however, when present in large numbers, can damage roots and stunt plant growth, particularly in seedlings and young plants. Significant root damage and even plant death have been observed in interior plants capes and in houseplants when high populations were associated with moist, organically-rich soil.

Solution: ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), Basila Fly+ (CFU 9*10(9) Strain BT10)

About: Adult thrips are tiny (1-2mm long) slender insects with fringed wings. Immatures are similarly shaped with a long, narrow abdomen but lack wings. Most thrips range in colour from translucent white or yellowish to dark brown or blackish, depending on the species and life stage.

Damage: Thrips feed in rapidly growing tissue by sucking sap from individual cells. The sucked out empty cells are filled with air, causing a silvery appearance. Petals may exhibit ‘’colour brake,” which is pale or dark discoloration of petal tissue affected. Infested terminals may discolor, deform, and drop leaves prematurely. When thrips populations are high on ornamentals, flower buds may become deformed and fail to open. Petals may be covered with brown streaks and spots. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) can also vector certain spoviruses including Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and several strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Whiteflies derive their name from the powdery white wax covering the adult’s wings and body. Adults are tiny (less than 2mm long) insects with yellowish bodies and whitish wings. They usually occur in groups on the undersides of leaves. The most common species in horticultural farming is the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum.

Damage: Whiteflies suck phloem sap. Large populations can cause leaves to deform, turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants. They also excrete honeydew, so leaves may be sticky or covered with black sooty mold. The honeydew may also attract ants, which interfere with the activities of natural enemies that may control whiteflies and other pests.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Mealy bugs occur in two different forms depending on their sex: female adults are wingless soft, oval, flat-bodied insects covered with a white, powdery wax (hence the name ‘mealy bug’), while males are winged wasp-like flying insects as adults.

Biology: The females go through the stages of egg, three nymphal stages and adult insect; the males go through egg, two nymphal stages, false pupa and adult insect. A female can lay up to 500 eggs in a cotton-like pouch made of wax threads after which it dies. The eggs hatch into young bugs called crawlers which disperse to find suitable feeding sites and then begin to feed on plant sap. This is the most susceptible stage to chemical pesticides as they do not have the waxy covering. The length of the lifecycle depends on temperature and takes 90 days at 18°C and 30 days at 30°C.

Damage: Mealy bugs, like aphids and whiteflies, suck sap from the plant’s phloem tissues causing stunting, leaf deformation and sometimes yellowing. They also excrete honeydew that serves as a substrate for black sooty mold development, affecting photosynthesis and aesthetic value of the plant.

Solution: (Beauveria Bassiana), (Lecanicillium lecanii) EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: A fungal disease which attacks cankered stems and flowers. The fungus grows into a gray brown fuzz mycelium that causes the flower petals to turn brown and shrivel. The predisposing factors are cooler and moist weather conditions. This can be accelerated by weakened plant tissues. Stressed plants are highly susceptible to the disease pathogens.

Damage: Infection usually begins spotted flower petals. A grayish brown fuzz grows on infected plant parts. Flowers shrivel and decay.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis).

Crown Gall

The disease is caused by a soil inhabiting bacteria that enters the plant through wounds (cuts, abrasions). The bacterium forms cream, brownish black, irregular masses of tissue (galls) that start as small tissue swellings and eventually develop into lumpy and rough textured masses. This bacterium attacks the roots and the bud union and usually concentrates on the lower base of a plant. Infected plants can survive with this gall for several years or decline and eventually die. These galls can negatively impact on rose’s production.

Damage

• Galls start as small swellings and gradually grow into rough and bulbous masses of tissue.
• Heavy infestations severely retard growth and new shoot formation.

Solution: NEMARID3X® (Purpureocillium lilacinus)

About: A major disease of foliar of roses and other flowers which is actually hot environments. The initial symptoms are found on the top surface of leaves and consist of small pale green to greasy looking angular or rectangular spots that are delimited by leaf vein. During moist weather the corresponding lower leaf surface is covered with downy, pale gray to purple fungal mycelium and spores.

Damage: Purple angular spots with yellow edges forms on the veins on the upper leaf surface. Fluffy gray spores grow on the underside of infected leaves. Blackish to dark red spots may appear on infected plant stem in severe infestation. Leaves become brittle and drop off.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of roses. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: This disease is caused by a fungus that attacks the plant and forms a white powdery spore on new tender growth then spreads out into other plant parts. The pathogen is usually favoured by warm, dry days and cooler, damp nights. The new leaves may become curled or twisted and the shoots may look badly deformed. In some varieties, the upper surface of the leaf may appear normal but the underside has extensive fungus growth.

Damage: Starts as small white or gray powdery spots on leaves or new growth. Leaves covered with white powdery mold, occurs in hot dry conditions.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of roses. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off.” Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis),

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of flowers. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of roses. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

Mealy bugs occur in two different forms depending on their sex: female adults are wingless soft, oval, flat-bodied insects covered with a white, powdery wax (hence the name ‘mealy bug’), while males are winged wasp-like flying insects as adults. The most common species in the greenhouse is the citrus mealy bug, Planococcus citri.

About: The females go through the stages of egg, three nymphal stages and adult insect; the males go through egg, two nymphal stages, false pupa and adult insect. A female can lay up to 500 eggs in a cotton-like pouch made of wax threads after which it dies. The eggs hatch into young bugs called crawlers which disperse to find suitable feeding sites and then begin to feed on plant sap. This is the most susceptible stage to chemical pesticides as they do not have the waxy covering. The length of the lifecycle depends on temperature and takes 90 days at 18°C and 30 days at 30°C.

Damage: Mealybugs, like aphids and whiteflies, suck sap from the plant’s phloem tissues causing stunting, leaf deformation and sometimes yellowing. They also excrete honeydew that serves as a substrate for black sooty mold development, affecting photosynthesis and aesthetic value of the plant.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana),  FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii)

About: Aphids have soft pear-shaped bodies measuring 1.5-4mm in length with long legs and antennae, their colour ranges from green, yellow, brown, red, to black depending on the species. They occur in clusters around the young terminal shoots or under the leaves.

Damage: Aphid nymphs and adults suck plant sap leading to stunted growth, deformed leaves and sometimes yellow spots appear. In addition to damage from direct feeding on plant sap, they excrete excess sugars in the form of honeydew which serves as a growth medium for black sooty mold. This soils the crop, reducing photosynthesis and consequently growth and production. Aphids are also vectors of plant pathogenic substances, particularly, viruses.

Solutions: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii)

About: Cyclamen mites are tiny arachnids that are oval, translucent white to yellow-green in colour and are 0.25mm in size with six legs for the first nymph and eight legs for the remaining stages. They are very difficult to identify until severe damages occur. Cyclamen mites are mostly found on the base of the plant or near the buds. They prefer darkened humid areas of immature leaves and buds in growing tips.

Damage: Cyclamen mites feed through sucking the cell contents resulting in detrimental damage. Plant symptoms include distortion of the growing tip, resulting in thickening of the meristematic (growing point) tissue. Damages results in the curling up of leaves and blotching with some foliage turning purple in colour. Damaged buds do not develop and plants may not produce flowers or fruits.

Solution: EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Nematodes are tiny, round-bodied, un-segmented, worms. Plant parasitic nematodes cause economic losses to horticultural and field crop worldwide. There are serious concerns in terms of food safety and environmental quality issues.

Damage: Stunting and yellowing with a tendency to wilt. There will be visible distortion, swellings and knots of various sizes on roots. Mid- day wilting of the crop, Patched of poor crop growth on the field, galls on the roots, stubby roots and lesions and dark spots on the root.

Solution: NEMARID3X® (Purpureocillium lilacinus)

About: Spider mites are tiny arachnids (not insects) measuring about 0.5mm long with an oval shaped body which varies in colour from greenish-yellow, to virtually transparent, brown, and red-orange with two dark spots visible on either side of the abdomen. The life cycle involves five developmental stages: egg, larva, two nymphal stages, and adult. Young ones resemble adults (except they are much smaller and lighter in colour), and the newly hatched larvae have only six legs.

Damage: Adults and juveniles feed on the underside of leaves by inserting their stylets into the plant cells and sucking out the cell contents resulting in typical ‘stippling’ damage i.e. white or chlorotic spots easily recognizable on the upper leaf surface. Defoliation, leaf burning, and even plant death can occur due to direct feeding damage. Indirect effects of feeding may include decrease in photosynthesis and transpiration. This combination of direct and indirect effects often reduces the aesthetic value and/or amount of harvestable material.

Solution: Entophage Super® (Metarhizium anisopliae)

About: Adult Sciarid flies are slender, approximately 2.5 mm in length, and have long legs and antennae. They are weak fliers but can run quite rapidly across the soil surface. Their wings are clear or smokey-colored with no pattern and few distinct veins. However, the females of several species are wingless. They have shiny black head capsules.

Damage: Larvae, however, when present in large numbers, can damage roots and stunt plant growth, particularly in seedlings and young plants. Significant root damage and even plant death have been observed in interior and houseplants when high populations were associated with moist, organically-rich soil.

Solution: ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Adult thrips are tiny (1-2mm long) slender insects with fringed wings. Immatures are similarly shaped with a long, narrow abdomen but lack wings. Most thrips range in colour from translucent white or yellowish to dark brown or blackish, depending on the species and life stage.

Damage: Thrips feed in rapidly growing tissue by sucking sap from individual cells. The sucked out empty cells are filled with air, causing a silvery appearance. Petals may exhibit ‘’colour brake,” which is pale or dark discoloration of petal tissue affected. Infested terminals may discolor, deform, and drop leaves prematurely. When thrips populations are high on ornamentals, flower buds may become deformed and fail to open. Petals may be covered with brown streaks and spots. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) can also vector certain spoviruses including Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and several strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii).

About: Whiteflies derive their name from the powdery white wax covering the adult’s wings and body. Adults are tiny (less than 2mm long) insects with yellowish bodies and whitish wings. They usually occur in groups on the undersides of leaves. The most common species in horticultural farming is the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum.

Damage: Whiteflies suck phloem sap. Large populations can cause leaves to deform, turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants. They also excrete honeydew, so leaves may be sticky or covered with black sooty mold. The honeydew may also attract ants, which interfere with the activities of natural enemies that may control whiteflies and other pests.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii).

About: A fungal disease which attacks cankered stems and flowers. The fungus grows into a gray brown fuzz mycelium that causes the flower petals to turn brown and shrivel. The predisposing factors are cooler and moist weather conditions. This can be accelerated by weakened plant tissues. Stressed plants are highly susceptible to the disease pathogens.

Damage: Infection usually begins spotted flower petals. Grayish brown fuzz grows on infected plant parts. Flowers shrivel and decay.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: A major disease of foliar of fruits and is particular severe in tropical environment. The initial symptoms are found on the top surface of leaves and consist of small pale green to greasy looking angular or rectangular spots that are delimited by leaf vein. During moist weather the corresponding lower leaf surface is covered with downy, pale gray to purple fungal mycelium and spores.

Damage: Purple angular spots with yellow edges forms on the veins on the upper leaf surface. Fluffy gray spores grow on the underside of infected leaves. Blackish to dark red spots may appear on infected plant stem in severe infestation. Leaves become brittle and drop off.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of fruits. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis).

About: This disease is caused by a fungus that attacks the plant and forms a white powdery spore on new tender growth then spreads out into other plant parts. The pathogen is usually favored by warm, dry days and cooler, damp nights. The new leaves may become curled or twisted and the shoots may look badly deformed. In some varieties, the upper surface of the leaf may appear normal but the underside has extensive fungus growth.

Damage: Starts as small white or gray powdery spots on leaves or new growth. Leaves covered with white powdery mold, occurs in hot dry conditions.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off.” Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis).

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis).

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

Armillaria is a parasitic fungi that lives on the trees and woody shrubs, in small dense clumps or tufts. The mushroom tops are usually yellow-brown, with a sticky touch when moist.

Damage: Armillaria is a destructive pathogen in that it causes “white rot” root disease. Armillaria is a facultative saprophyte, feeding on dead plant material which allows it to kill its hosts. This is different to a parasite which must moderate their growth to avoid host death.. An infected tree will die once the fungus has caused significant root damage. Symptoms include shortage of leave in spring and mushrooms grow in clusters from the infected plant.

Solution: FoundationX15® (Trichoderma Koningiopsis)

Improvement in agricultural sustainability requires an integrated water, crop, pest and disease management strategy, managing soil fertility and soil physical properties by promoting soil biodiversity and soil biological processes offers the potential for using rhizosphere processes to improve soil quality and productivity.

In many soils, nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium and iron are present in large amounts but in forms that are not available to plants. Many bacteria and fungi are able to make these nutrients available to plants by secreting organic acids or other chemicals (siderophores) to dissolve the minerals. These beneficial micro-organisms are naturally occurring and are prolific and readily available in natural, undisturbed, rich, fertile lands.

The use of these micro-organisms results in high quality crop yields often demonstrated in both size and volume of produce. This increase in yield and quality has been demonstrated in a wide range of plants even during times of stress. Increasing yield while improving quality attributes, such as firmness, colour, size and crop uniformity, gives you the competitive edge and increased profits which are key pillars of sustainable agriculture.

Solution: FoundationX15® (Trichoderma koningiopsis), ProBoost® Bacillus Subtilis, Flourish® (Blackfly Compost + Trichoderma + Bacillus Subtilis)

Root architecture, with its shape and structured development, is vital to a crop’s success. Shoot growth, quality and yield all depend on the development of a strong plant with a large, healthy root system that helps you get the most out of your fertilizer program.

A well-developed root network encourages beneficial interactions with micro ‐ organisms that allows soil exploration, resource acquisition and maintenance of crop performance even under stress caused by disease and limited soil water and nutrient conditions.

The beneficial micro-organisms in this network effectively reduce root rots and increase the solubility of phosphates and micronutrients such as zinc, copper, iron and manganese thus enhancing growth of the roots and the above ground parts of the plant.

Solution: NEMARID3X® (Purpureocillium lilacinus), FoundationX15® (Trichoderma Koningiopsis), ProBoost® (Bacillus Subtilis), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Aphids have soft pear-shaped bodies measuring 1.5-4mm in length with long legs and antennae, their colour ranges from green, yellow, brown, red, to black depending on the species. They occur in clusters around the young terminal shoots or under the leaves.

Damage: Aphid nymphs and adults suck plant sap leading to stunted growth, deformed leaves and sometimes yellow spots appear. In addition to damage from direct feeding on plant sap, they excrete excess sugars in the form of honeydew which serves as a growth medium for black sooty mold. This soils the crop, reducing photosynthesis and consequently growth and production. Aphids are also vectors of plant pathogenic substances, particularly, viruses.

Solutions: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii)

About: Bulb mites infest the bulbs of many plant species among them; lilies, onions, tulip, hyacinth and many other vegetable crops, cereals and ornamentals. They can occur in the field during growing and in storage after harvest.

Damage: Bulb mites feed on the underground parts of bulbs, weakening the plant tissues. Feeding scars predispose the bulbs to secondary infection by plant pathogens such as Fusarium, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia. Typical symptoms include rosetting, retarded growth, and chlorosis of new shoots and occasionally the new growth can be smothered to death. Flower stalks can be stunted or fail to develop all together. Bulb mites are difficult to observe until their damage becomes apparent.

Solution: ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus)

About: Cutworms is the name used for the larvae of a number of species of adult moths. Adults are grayish hairless caterpillars of waxy appearance that attack vegetables during nights and hides in the soil during the day. The larvae stage attacks the first part it encounters, the stem and often the seedling. The adult moth has brown wings with 1-1/2 inch wingspan.

Damage: It causes wilting in young plants, with plants attacked near ground level.

Solution: EntophageX15® (9CFU 9*10(9) Strains X5, X23, X20, X9, X22), Mothrid+® (Aizawai Strain BTAB11)

About: Cyclamen mites are tiny arachnids that are oval, translucent white to yellow-green in colour and are 0.25mm in size with six legs for the first nymph and eight legs for the remaining stages. They are very difficult to identify until severe damages occur. Cyclamen mites are mostly found on the base of the plant or near the buds. They prefer darkened humid areas of immature leaves and buds in growing tips.

Damage: Cyclamen mites feed through sucking the cell contents resulting in detrimental damage. Plant symptoms include distortion of the growing tip, resulting in thickening of the meristematic (growing point) tissue. Damages results in the curling up of leaves and blotching with some foliage turning purple in colour. Damaged buds do not develop and plants may not produce flowers or fruits.

Solution: EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9) Strains X5, X23, X20, X9, X22).

About: The moth is a small, greyish brown with narrow front wings, conspicuously fringed hind wings, and approximately 8 to 9 mm long with a wing span of 12 to 15 mm. When at rest, the wings come together to form a line of white or pale yellow diamonds down the middle of the back. When the wings are folded while the moth is at rest, these markings come together to form three yellow diamonds, hence the name “diamondback”. The life cycle involves seven developmental stages: egg, four larvae instars, pupa and Adult.

Damage: Plant damage is caused by larval feeding. Although the larvae are very small, they can be quite numerous, resulting in complete removal of foliar tissue except for the leaf veins. This “window-pane” damage is very characteristic. This is particularly damaging to seedlings, and may disrupt head formation in cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. The presence of larvae in florets can result in complete rejection of produce, even if the level of plant tissue removal is insignificant.

Solution: Basila+® (Bacillus Thuringiensis Kurkstani), ENTOPHAGEx® Stratiolaelaps scimitus mites)

About: Vegetable Leafminers is a small black fly with a bright yellow spot on their thorax; the maggot makes long, slender, white mines (tunnels) in leaves. Mining or puncturing activities on the plant causes cosmetic damage and makes it an important pest.  The larvae are often visible within the mine where they remove mesophyll between the surfaces of the leaf.

Damage: The act of laying eggs and feeding on leaves can kill seedlings. It is also an agent for fungal diseases.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii).

About: Nematodes are tiny, round-bodied, unsegmented, worms. Plant parasitic nematodes cause economic losses to horticultural and field crop worldwide. There are also serious concerns in terms of food safety and environmental quality issues.

Damage: Stunting and yellowing with a tendency to wilt. Visibly, there will be Distorted, swollen and bearing knots of various sizes on roots. Mid- day wilting of the crop, Patched of poor crop growth on the field, galls on the roots, stubby roots and lesions and dark spots on the root.

Solution: NEMARID3X® (Purpureocillium lilacinus)

About: Spider mites are tiny arachnids (not insects) measuring about 0.5mm long with an oval shaped body which varies in colour from greenish-yellow, to virtually transparent, brown, and red-orange with two dark spots visible on either side of the abdomen. The life cycle involves five developmental stages: egg, larva, two nymphal stages, and adult. Immatures resemble adults (except they are much smaller and lighter in colour), and the newly hatched larvae have only six legs.

Damage: Adults and juveniles feed on the underside of leaves by inserting their stylets into the plant cells and sucking out the cell contents resulting in typical ‘stippling’ damage i.e. white or chlorotic spots easily recognizable on the upper leaf surface. Defoliation, leaf burning, and even plant death can occur due to direct feeding damage. Indirect effects of feeding may include decrease in photosynthesis and transpiration. This combination of direct and indirect effects often reduces the aesthetic value and/or amount of harvestable material.

Solution: Entophage Super® (Metarhizium anisopliae)

About: Adult Sciarid flies are slender, approximately 2.5 mm in length, and have long legs and antennae. They are weak fliers but can run quite rapidly across the soil surface. Their wings are clear or smokey-colored with no pattern and few distinct veins. However, the females of several species are wingless. They have shiny black head capsules.

Damage: Larvae, however, when present in large numbers, can damage roots and stunt plant growth, particularly in seedlings and young plants. Significant root damage and even plant death have been observed in interior and house plants when high populations were associated with moist, organically-rich soil.

Solution: ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Adult thrips are tiny (1-2mm long) slender insects with fringed wings. Immatures are similarly shaped with a long, narrow abdomen but lack wings. Most thrips range in colour from translucent white or yellowish to dark brown or blackish, depending on the species and life stage.

Damage: Thrips feed in rapidly growing tissue by sucking sap from individual cells. The sucked out empty cells are filled with air, causing a silvery appearance. Petals may exhibit ‘’colour brake,” which is pale or dark discoloration of petal tissue affected. Infested terminals may discolor, deform, and drop leaves prematurely. When thrips populations are high on ornamentals, flower buds may become deformed and fail to open. Petals may be covered with brown streaks and spots. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) can also vector certain spoviruses including Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and several strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), ENTOPHAGEx® (Stratiolaelaps scimitus), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: Whiteflies derive their name from the powdery white wax covering the adult’s wings and body. Adults are tiny (less than 2mm long) insects with yellowish bodies and whitish wings. They usually occur in groups on the undersides of leaves. The most common species in horticultural farming is the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum.

Damage: Whiteflies suck phloem sap. Large populations can cause leaves to deform, turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants. They also excrete honeydew, so leaves may be sticky or covered with black sooty mold. The honeydew may also attract ants, which interfere with the activities of natural enemies that may control whiteflies and other pests.

Solution: MaxKillx5® (Beauveria Bassiana), FarmJoy Plus® (Lecanicillium lecanii), EntophageXGen® (9CFU 9*10(9).

About: A fungal disease which attacks cankered stems and flowers. The fungus grows into a gray brown fuzz mycelium that causes the flower petals to turn brown and shrivel. The predisposing factors are cooler and moist weather conditions. This can be accelerated by weakened plant tissues. Stressed plants are highly susceptible to the disease pathogens.

Damage: Infection usually begins spotted flower petals. Grayish brown fuzz grows on infected plant parts. Flowers shrivel and decay.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: A major disease of foliar of vegetables and herbs and is particular severe in tropical environment. The initial symptoms are found on the top surface of leaves and consist of small pale green to greasy looking angular or rectangular spots that are delimited by leaf vein. During moist weather the corresponding lower leaf surface is covered with downy, pale gray to purple fungal mycelium and spores.

Damage: Purple angular spots with yellow edges forms on the veins on the upper leaf surface. Fluffy gray spores grow on the underside of infected leaves. Blackish to dark red spots may appear on infected plant stem in severe infestation. Leaves become brittle and drop off.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: This disease is caused by a fungus that attacks the plant and forms a white powdery spore on new tender growth then spreads out into other plant parts. The pathogen is usually favoured by warm, dry days and cooler, damp nights. The new leaves may become curled or twisted and the shoots may look badly deformed. In some varieties, the upper surface of the leaf may appear normal but the underside has extensive fungus growth.

Damage: Starts as small white or gray powdery spots on leaves or new growth. Leaves covered with white powdery mold, occurs in hot dry conditions.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off.” Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis),

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)

About: Damping-off frequently attacks young seedlings of almost all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Just after seedlings have emerged from the soil, they are easily killed by fungus organisms likely to be present vegetable field. Seedlings that die or fall over are said to “damp-off”. Seedlings may also die before emergence, referred to as pre-emergence damping-off. The pathogen has increase in importance in years.

Damage: Seedling fails to appear or collapse at soil level. Soft brownish water rots.

Solution: FoundationX15 (Trichoderma koningiopsis)