MAX FaCTS
HyDROPONIC NEWS, TIPS aND TRIvIa
Biocontrol aGent tested
to Battle inVasiVe
Kudzu BuG
Sure, it will feed voraciously on the stems of the vine
that ate the south, but the Kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) also has a taste for legumes—including some of
the big industrial crops in the southern United States.
To combat the problem, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is currently evaluating a top natural enemy of
the bug, the parasitic wasp Paratelenomus saccharalis.
This beneficial bug is non-stinging and harmless to
humans, pets and other animals. However, it lays its
eggs in those of Megacopta’s. Upon hatching, the wasp’s
maggot-like brood devour the pest’s own developing
embryos, reducing the size of the next generation.
Megacopta belongs to a unique insect family that
doesn’t originate in the Americas. Thus, importing its
co-evolved natural enemies isn’t expected to endanger
native U.S. bug species. Still, the wasp must pass a long
list of requirements to confirm its host specificity and
environmental safety; hence, the current trials are taking place in an ARS quarantine facility.
(Source: ars.usda.gov
ars.usda.gov)
how plants chill
Plants elongate their stems when grown at high temperature to facilitate the cooling of their leaves, according to
new research from the University of Bristol.
When grown at higher temperatures, plants have an
elongated, spindly architecture and develop fewer leaf
pores, known as stomata. The researchers suggest that the
increased spacing of leaves observed in high temperaturegrown plants might promote the diffusion of water vapor
from stomata, thereby enhancing the cooling process.
Understanding why plants alter their architecture in response to heat is important as increasing global temperatures pose a threat to future food production.
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
28
Maximum Yield USA | July 2012
desKtop coMputer GardeninG
This modified desktop computer uses its own heat to control the soil temperature and help with the germination and growth of plants. The compact DIY unit
allows the plants to flourish in an office space with limited sunlight.
The top of the case is made of acrylic, so one can see the inner workings of the
computer and the soil used for growing the grass above. There are also acrylic
tubes in the
center of the
computer to
slightly heat
the soil, allow for
more surface area
and help
with drainage.
In terms of
regulating the
temperature of
the case and the
soil, there is a
variable-speedfan
control on both
the inlet and
outlet fans. Turning the fan speed
down increases the
temperature inside
the case and, correspondingly, raises
the soil temperature.
(Source:
inhabitat.com)