Podcast Iowa State University

Two entomologists from University of Kentucky share ideas about the potential value and pitfalls of this strategy.

In the fall of 2021, nine growers from IA, KY, and NY were interviewed to collect their thoughts regarding the use of mesotunnels as an IPM tool for cucurbit crops. Dr. Heather Dantkzer and Kaitlin Diggins wrap up the most interesting findings of these interviews.

Sean Murphy and Kellie Damann, research technicians with the Pehtybridge Lab at Cornell University, reflect on their experiences doing research with mesotunnels for cucurbit crops in New York. For more information visit Dr. Pethybridge's (EVADE) lab website: https://evade.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/

Dr. Ajay Nair, a professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, delves into the potential uses of mesotunnel row covers for non-cucurbit crops.For more information visit Dr. Nair's website: https://www.hort.iastate.edu/directory/ajay-nair/

Dr. Gwyn Beattie, a faculty member at ISU's PLPM Department, walks us through the science behind working with bacteriophages (or phages for short) as potential biocontrol agents and their implications for IPM.

Dr. Mark Williams, a horticulturist at the University of Kentucky, discusses the potential for using teff as a living mulch for organic control of weeds under mesotunnels.