Plant Protection and the South Pacific Commission

Abstract

Field tests carried out in Ghana in cocoa using live capsids suspended in cages at various heights and distances from the nozzle of a Porta-Pak mistblower manufactured by H. D. Hudson Mfg. Co., USA and designed specifically for u.l.v. application are described.     

Studies in Control of the Weed Merremia gangetica (Linn) Cuf.

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in Cairo to determine if outdoor u.l.v. bioresmethrin would control a heavy housefly infestation. In the first trial, a 100 ha site surrounding a slaughterhouse was treated on five successive mornings with 10 g/ha of bioresmethrin in 470 ml of diesel oil. The mean daily outdoor reduction in the adult fly population, principally Musca domestica vicina Macquart, at 0900 h following application of the u.l.v. aerosol was 96%. In the second trial, the same procedure was adhered to and the site was treated on 14 successive mornings at the same dosage level using the same equipment in order to interrupt the life cycle. A mean daily density reduction of about 99% was obtained. This represents a reduction from 1,147 flies per grill count to only three. After the last consecutive treatment the fly population failed to rise appreciably and subsequently, two further treatments were carried out at weekly interva's.     

Research and Development of High and Ultra-low volume Sprays to Control Tomato Leaf Diseases at Samaru,Nigeria

Abstract

Fungicide spray trials showed that high volume applications (1121 lha) of mancozeb, captafol and vondozeb reduced foliage and stem disease and substantially increased marketable yields of rain-fed tomatoes in northern Nigeria. The results suggest that captafol had a more persistent fungicidal action as there was no yield difference between the 7 and 14 day frequencies of application. U.I.v. methods (<12 l/ha) using three fungicides were compared with high volume treatments. The u.I.v. captafol treatment was particularly effective. An assessment was made of droplet distribution in relation to atomiser disc rotation speed and the height of carriage of the sprayer.     

The effects of intercropping with cereals and minimal permethrin applications on insect pests of cowpea and their natural enemies in Nigeria

Abstract

Major insect pests and their natural enemies were sampled on cowpea in monocrop and cereal intercrop plots in southern and northern Nigeria. Populations of flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom), were reduced by 42% and predators, mostly Orius spp. (Anthocoridae), by 23% on cowpea in maize intercrop plots at Ofiki in the south. Infestation by pyralid pod borer, Maruca testulalis Geyer, was unaffected by cropping system. The results suggest that tasselling maize attracts flower‐eating beetles (Meloidae) to intercrop plots, and that pod‐sucking Hemiptera were increased by cereal intercrops at Yankara in the north. Three u.l.v. applications of permethrin at 150 g a.i./ha to monocrop cowpea reduced pest populations by 50 to 85% in the south and increased yield sevenfold. However, the sprayed crop in the north was lost due to a heavy infestation of pod‐sucking bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stål, and outbreaks of Aphis craccivora Koch on sprayed plots in both localities suggested damage to natural enemies. It is concluded that the pest management potential of intercropping is variable and dependent on environmental factors, but it is recommended that intercropping be used in integrated pest management systems with the progressive decrease in insecticide use.     

Insect Pathogen – U.l.v. Combination for Crop Pest Control

Abstract

Two commercial preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis; Thuricide 16B and Thuricide HPC, four nuclear polyhedrosis viruses of; Trichoplusia ni, Spodoptera exigua, Heliothis zea and Autographa californica, and an entomogenous fungus, Paeceliomyces farinosus were tested. They were applied using; a Micro-Gen super model MS2W-15 Unit, on cotton, grapes and pears and a handgun on pears. The use of a u.l.v. sprayer reduces the cost of applying insect pathogens and makes spot treatments practical.     

An Assessment of Swath Width and Frequency of Application of V.I.v. Captafol Sprays on Tomato in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

V.I.v. captafol spray treatments applied using a 1.8m swath (3.3 kg a.i./ha/application) were more effective than treatments using a 3.6 m swath (1.67 kg a.i./ha/application). At sites with more than 700 mm rainfall during the crop's field life weekly applications were more effective than spraying at 10- and 14-day intervals, but at the drier sites (< 650 mm rainfall) spraying at 10 days was adequate.     

Analytical method for the simultaneous determination of diquat and paraquat residues in potatoes by high-pressure liquid chromatography

A novel method was developed for the simultaneous determination of diquat and paraquat residues in potatoes. Potato tissues were spiked at several levels and extracted with acid using a micro-reflux procedure with 5 g of sample; this was followed by adjusting the hydrolyzate pH to 9 to 10 and using a silica Sep-Pak for rapid clean-up and preconcentration. Aliquots of the final eluate were taken to dryness, dissolved in the h.p.l.c. mobile phase and analyzed as their heptanesulfonate ion-pairs by u.v.-h.p.l.c. (reverse phase column chromatography) at 254 and 313 nm for paraquat and diquat, respectively. A detection limit of approximately 0.05 mg kg^?1 dication in a 5-g sample of spiked potato (i.e. 0.25 μg ml^?1 final extract) was achieved. Recoveries of 79.5 to 97.6% were obtained at spiking levels of 0.05 to 5.0 mg kg^?1 for diquat and paraquat with coefficients of variation not greater than 8.27%. The method was developed and validated using ¹⁴C-radiolabelled diquat and paraquat; u.v.-h.p.l.c. recoveries were comparable with recoveries determined by radioassay. Several parameters affecting the extraction, adsorption and chromatography of diquat and paraquat were evaluated. The formula weights of diquat and paraquat were determined and their importance described; they were determined as mono- and tetra-hydrates, respectively.     

Nitrogen fertilization and yield losses of tea to red crevice mite (Brevipalpus phoenicis geijskes) in the Eastern Highlands of Kenya

A field trial using a mite-susceptible clone 11/4 of tea whose yield potential is over 3 t ha^-1 year^-1 was conducted to determine how yield losses due to infestation by red crevice mite (Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes) relate to nitrogen nutrition. This was done over a 3 year period in plots either receiving 0, 100, or 200 kg N ha^-1 year^-1. For determining the losses due to mites, an acaricide check method of yield loss assessment was used. Mites were controlled in the plots by spraying flucythrinate. The yield varied considerably between seasons with mean yields in the 3 year period ranging from 2.0 to 2.4 t ha ^-1 without fertilizer and 2.4 to 2.6 t ha^-1 year^-1 at 100 kg N and 2.5 to 2.7 t ha^-1 year^-1 at 200 kg N. Application of the acaricide decreased the mite population by 60-74%. Yield loss between sprayed and unsprayed treatments was 12-22% without fertilizer but this was reduced to 5-6% when fertilizer was supplied at 100-200 kg N ha^-1. The reduction in yield losses in fertilized plots indicate the beneficial effects of nitrogen in inducing tolerance to mites and possibly increasing plant vigour. Protecting the tea from mite attack resulted in yield advantage and a net benefit of $US 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 per kg made tea at 0, 100 and 200 kg N ha^-1 respectively. Application of 100 kg N ha^-1 had higher net cost benefit than the 200 kg N application rate. The strategy for control of mites would be to integrate spraying with use of fertilizer.     

A Comparison of DDT w.p. and Dieldrin e.c. for Tesetse Fly Control in Botswana

Abstract

During the present century increasing world demand for forest products has brought about a rapid expansion of even-aged forest plantation estates, requiring the forester to adopt the outlook and techniques of the farmer to an increasing extent, both to maintain yield and protect crops from damage.

Aircraft have already proved their worth in the protection of natural and artificial forests from fire and are frequently used for seeding, fertiliser application, survey and the control of insect pests. They are also potentially useful for the control of forest diseases, although their role in this respect has so far been limited. The development of aerial spraying to control dothistroma blight of Pinus radiata is reviewed in this paper.     

Effect of Dicamba/2,4-D on Production of Wheat in U.A.R.

Abstract

At two sites in the U.A.R. we investigated the possibility of improving wheat production by spraying 2,4-D amine, mixtures of 2,4-D with dicamba as amine salts, or dicamba alone as the dimethylamine salt. The best results followed application of a mixture of dicamba at 0.084 lb per feddan (90.7 g/ha) with 2,4-D at 0.84–1.12 lb per feddan (907–1210 g/ha). The mixture controlled many species of weeds; it significantly increased the average number of grains per ear, the yield of grain, the protein content of grain and also the yeild of straw. Compared with the hand-weeded controls, treatment with dicamba/2,4-D raised the grain yield by 14% and increased its protein content by 10%.     

Development of an integrated pest management programme for cotton. Part 1: Establishing and utililizing natural enemies

The strategy for the control of cotton pests, notably Helicoverpa spp., in Australia is insecticide-dependent with limited consideration of the role of beneficial insects. A programme for the development of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach commenced in cotton fields at Norwood near Moree in New South Wales in 1992. In this approach, an alternative crop, lucerne (Medicago sativa), was used in an interplant system plus spraying of cotton with a supplementary food (Envirofeast®), which served to attract and retain predators in treated plots. The predator complex consisted of predatory beetles, bugs, lacewings and spiders. The deployment of these two components, interplants and predator retention, reduced the number of Helicoverpa spp. eggs, very small and small larvae (first, second and third stages), medium and large larvae (fourth and fifth stages) and resulted in a cotton yield (2.72 bales ha^?1) that was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the yield from the untreated control plot (0.59 bales ha -1 ). However, the yield from the interplants and food sprayed plot was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than in the insecticide-managed plot (7.12 bales ha^?1). Whenever the ratio of predators to Helicoverpa spp. (pests) per metre row of cotton was S 0.5, Helicoverpa pest numbers were maintained below the economic damage threshold. Though not successful in suppressing Helicoverpa spp. numbers, to avoid significant yield loss, further improvement could be made by introducing other potential components to the IPM strategy.     

Control of Farm Flies in Malta—III. The effect of residual insecticide sprays on Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

Field trials to control flies on animal farms in Malta were held during 1973 with tetrachlorvinphos, iodofenphos, fenitrothion, bioresmethrin and dimethoate applied as cover sprays to walls and ceilings. Results were assessed by fly population counts (using sticky fly-paper traps exposed for 24 h at weekly intervals), bioassay tests and visual assessments of flies on individual farms. Tetrachlorvinphos gave the best results and was applied as a cover spray on 12 large animal farms in the northwestern part of Gozo during 1974. Results, using the same criteria as in the 1973 trials, indicated that, although high fly mortality was observed and deposits on walls remained toxic throughout the season, effective control of houseflies and stableflies was not achieved.

It is suggested that residual spraying alone on the larger animal farms was not sufficient to overcome the breeding potential of the flies and that a residual spraying campaign could only be successful if more extensively applied and supplemented by a comprehensive programme of farm hygiene improvement.     

Pathogenicity of Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae race 1 to courgette

Fusarium solani f. sp.cucurbitae race 1 causes foot rot in courgette (Cucurbita pepo). The pathogen could be distinguished fromFusarium solani from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) both morphologically and in its host range.In inoculation experiments all nine cultivars of the six species of Cucurbitaceae tested were susceptible. Courgette Green became diseased after inoculation with a spore suspension by root dipping or adding the suspension to the soil around the stem base or spraying the whole plant with it.Both wounded and young plants died more quickly than unwounded and older plants. With low inoculum densities the plants were affected more slowly than with high densities and the differences in susceptibility of the Cucurbitaceae tested were more pronounced.From infected courgette seeds the fungus could be reisolated until 6 months after harvest.This is the first record of this pathogen in courgettes in the Netherlands.Samenvatting Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae fysio 1 is de oorzaak van een voetrot in courgette. Het pathogeen is morfologisch en door middel van een waardplantenreeks goed vanF. solani uit paprika te onderscheiden.In inoculatieproeven waren de getoetste Cucurbitaceae in meer of mindere mate gevoelig voorF. solani f. sp.cucurbitae. Bij courgette Green werden zowel gedompelde, als aangegoten, als bespoten planten door het pathogeen aangetast. Zowel verwonde als niet-verwonde planten werden aangetast als ook planten van verschillende leeftijden. Niet-verwonde en ook oudere planten stierven minder snel af dan verwonde en jongere planten. Bij lagere inoculumdichtheden werden de planten minder snel aangetast dan bij hogere dichtheden en waren de verschillen in vatbaarheid voor het pathogeen tussen de getoetste Cucurbitaceae duidelijker.Uit courgette zaad, dat met het pathogeen was besmet, kon de schimmel tot 6 maanden na zaadwinning opnieuw worden geïsoleerd.Dit is de eerste melding van dit pathogeen in courgette in Nederland.     

Studies of the Pink Bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella,on Sea Island Cotton in Barbados

Abstract

Barbados once grew large amounts of Sea Island cotton but the accidental introduction of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in the 1920s, falling prices and rising costs led to the collapse of the industry. Falling sugar prices subsequently led to a revival of interest in the crop but pink bollworm still presented a problem and warranted investigation.

The synthetic sex pheromone of pink bollworm, gossyplure, was shown to attract far more males than hexalure or virgin females. Sticky traps needed stirring daily and were only able to catch about 50 males a night. Water, with a drop of liquid detergent, proved to be a suitable trapping medium and was cheaper than liquid paraffin although not quite as effective. The best type of trap from materials readily available was one made from a plastic half gallon ice cream container with lid and holes cut around the upper sides. Traps without the attractant caught very few moths. Gossyplure adsorbed onto rubber caps was attractive to pink bollworm males for over 56 days but the half-life appeared to be about 28 days. Best catches were obtained in cotton when the traps were suspended just below the tops of the plants and, within fields, traps at the leeward end caught more than traps elsewhere. Peak catches of males occurred before midnight in a black light trap whereas pheromone traps caught no males before midnight but peaked at 03.00h.

A close season during which no cotton is allowed to grow is a recognised means of reducing pink bollworm carryover between crops. This was practised in Barbados but island-wide pheromone trapping showed that moths were caught throughout the close season. This continuous trapping of moths indicated that pink bollworm must be breeding (short-cycle) in order to survive. Trapping and laboratory studies confirmed the presence of long-cycle pink bollworm which entered diapause towards the end of the cotton season as daylength increased. This diapause terminated with shortening days after the new season's rains commenced. The case for a four month close season is discussed.

Pheromone trap catches were shown to be very closely correlated with boll damage. Catches of 8–9 moths in a night represented a 10% level of boll damage some ten days later and this is the trapping level at which cotton growers are advised to begin insecticidal treatment.

Thorough residue destruction is the key to a good close season and a suitable method was needed for use under Barbadian conditions. The method finally chosen and proved on an estate scale was to cut down the standing cotton with a horizontal-rotary chain slasher, driving across the rows of cotton, the debris was then raked along the rows, stacked and burnt and finally the stumps were ploughed in, again across the rows.

The parasite Perisierola nigrifemur is very common in pink bollworm larvae towards the end of the season but too late to be of economic value. Predation of diapausing larvae by the mite Pyemotes ventricosus is very common at the end of the cotton crop and during the close season. Insecticidal application in Sea Island cotton which usually grows very tall (> 1.75m) and rank is best achieved with hand-held, battery-operated, u.l.v. sprayers. Control of pink bollworm can be obtained with carbaryl S formulations applied through these sprayers with the addition of a little water and molasses. Synthetic pyrethroids in u.l.v. formulations are also expected to provide control.     

Improving Control of the Vegetable Armyworm

Abstract

Because of recently acquired resistance of armyworm in Cyprus to prophyllactic spraying of methylparathion, a full investigation into the biology of Spodoptera littoralis was launched. It is not yet clear whether immigration to the Island occurs, but some moths can overwinter in “survival pockets” on the South coast. Pheromone traps and sterilisation are suggested as an alternative method of control. A more rational use of pesticides will cause less damage to natural enemies of the pest and reduce further development of resistance.     

稻飞虱和纹枯病化控的策略及复合指标研究

采取田间小区和网室盆栽试验,研究稻飞虱和纹枯病混合发生的化控策略及复合防治指标。结果表明,水稻孕穗期(7月上中旬)用高效、长效、安全药剂扑虱灵和粉锈灵混合防治的“治前控后”化防策略保产效果最佳。试验证明,稻飞虱和纹枯病对水稻有明显的交互作用。组建了稻飞虱(白背飞虱、褐飞虱)虫量(X_(1-2))、纹枯病病株率(X_3)的复合为害损失及动态经济阈值模型。经田间小区、大田应用检验,不仅防效高,保产效果好,而且减少施药次数,保护了天敌,三大效益显著。     

Efficacy of aerial application ofBacillus thuringiensis to controlSpodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) infesting soybean cultivations in Egypt

The calculated percentage of droplets deposition ofBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki HD-1 Dipel 2X on the foliage of soybean plants in relation to the sensitive “Ciba Geigy” papers showed to be the highest (92.4%) after ground spray application, compared to an average of 67.4, 85.8 and 89.3% following aerial application of the same preparation in spray volumes of 10, 20 and 30 l/F, respectively. Aerial application ofB. t. showed to be more effective during the first 3 days after spraying soybean cultivations and the mortality ofSpodoptera littoralis larvae varied between 36.9–67.2% in correlation to the spray volume. The volume achieving the highest and significant suppression of infestation was 20 l/F. On the other hand, the yield of soybeans obtained from plots receiving a spray volume of 30 l/F was higher compared to plots sprayed with a volume of 20 or 10 l/F, but with no significant difference when compared to those plots receiving ground spray application.     

Specific detection of Ralstonia solanacearum 16S rRNA sequences by AmpliDet RNA

The potential of AmpliDet RNA for specific detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in potato tuber samples and surface water was demonstrated. AmpliDet RNA is a procedure based on nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) of RNA sequences and homogeneous real time detection of NASBA amplicons with a molecular beacon. The procedure is carried out in sealed tubes, thus reducing the risks for carry-over contamination. AmpliDet RNA enabled reliable detection of specific 16S rRNA sequences of R. solanacearum in total RNA extracts from potato tuber samples in 90min at a level of 10 cells per reaction, equivalent to ca. 10⁴cellsml^–1 of sample. In surface water, AmpliDet RNA allowed detection of R. solanacearum at a level of 10cfuml^–1, after concentrating bacteria from 200ml of surface water into 1ml of surface water by centrifugation.All strains of R. solanacearum and a strain of R. syzygii were positive in AmpliDet RNA, but not other (related) bacterial species. Ralstonia solanacearum (race 3, biovar 2) could be detected reliably in 18 naturally infected potato tuber samples containing varying concentrations of cells. Ninety-one negative tuber samples, from which no R. solanacearum was isolated, were tested in AmpliDet RNA, including 23 samples containing bacteria (cross-) reacting with antibodies against R. solanacearum in immunofluorescence (IF) cell-staining. Only one negative sample, containing high numbers of IF-positive cells, was positive in AmpliDet RNA.     

Photo-induced fungicidal activity elicited by naturally occurring thiophene derivatives

Photo-induced fungitoxicity was observed in Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium variabile, Colletotrichum sp., Rhizopus nigricans, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Saprolegnia sp., elicited by 5-(but-3-en-l-ynyl)-2,2′-bithienyl, 2,2′: 5′,2″-terthienyl, and 2-chloro-4-[5-(penta-1,3-diynyl)-2-thienyl]but-3-ynyl acetate in the presence of near ultraviolet (u.v.) radiation (320–380 nm). Conidiogenesis in A. niger, and sporangiosporogenesis in R. nigricans were depressed on media treated with 2,2′: 5′,2″-terthienyl and irradiated with near u.v. light. Radial growth of mycelia of all fungi tested was dramatically reduced by all three compounds in the presence of near u.v. light. The viability of conidia of A. niger, and R. nigricans was unaffected by 2,2′: 5′,2″-terthienyl, both in the dark and in near u.v. light. Newly emergent germ-tubes were most sensitive to toxicity mediated by u.v. light. The oomycetous fungi tested were the most sensitive to the photo-activated toxicity generated by the three compounds used. The results indicate that ED₅₀ values are dependent upon the species and the presence or absence of near u.v. light. Dramatically lowered ED₅₀ values were always observed in all systems treated with near u.v. light. The dose of near u.v. light used had no effect on the radial growth of fungi in the absence of the three compounds.     

Groundnut Rust (Puccinia arachidis) in Brunei

Abstract

A field trial was conducted during the cotton growing seasons of 1978-79 and 1979-80 at Hissar, Haryana (India) to determine the capture threshold of male pink bollworm moths in traps baited with gossyplure for timing the insecticidal application. It was found that application of insecticides when the number of male moths averaged 4 or 8 per trap per night was superior to fixed spray schedule (spraying at an interval of 13-14 days starting from middle of August) in reducing the pink bollworm incidence and obtaining higher yield of seed cotton. For effective and economic control of the pest, insecticides should be applied within 24-48 hours when the number of male moths captured in gossyplure baited traps reaches 8 per trap per night.