Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

In the context of plant growth in green houses in Canada, the issue of pest management has proven to be anx000D
important one to avoid crop lost. This fact together with consumers' demand for chemical-free ornamentalx000D
plants needs to be taken into account when doing research on pesticides' effects on plants. Shelmerdine Nurseryx000D
in Winnipeg, the largest garden center and retail nursery of Manitoba wants to reduce or eliminate the use ofx000D
pesticides to produce a premium and safe product to meet the market demand. Assiniboine Community Collegex000D
(ACC) will partner with Shemerdine Garden Center to develop applied research on a new biological pestx000D
management program for the company's retail nursery site that will target a number of key pests. In 2015-16,x000D
various research trials using biocontrol agents were conducted in ACC's greenhouse located in Brandon,x000D
Manitoba. These trials have resulted to be very successful in eliminating pesticide use on ornamental and foodx000D
crops (CBC News Report, 2016; Hinrichs et al, 2016.). Based on this experience, ACC will now develop ax000D
similar program to use at Shelmerdine Nursery. Shelmerdine Nursery has identified the presence of a varietyx000D
of pests that cause damage directly by feeding on the plants, and indirectly by spreading disease pathogens andx000D
viruses. The research, will build strategies by using biologicals singularly and/or in combination with otherx000D
physical, cultural, mechanical and chemical controls. The principal investigator for the research anticipates thex000D
development of a customized integrated pest management system for Shelmerdine Nursery, and providex000D
training to their staff to use it.