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.     

棉田插种玉米对天敌虫口的影响及其控制害虫的作用

陕西渭南地区棉虫的主要天敌有4大类:蜘蛛、瓢虫、食虫蝽和草蛉,以蜘蛛类为最重要。在棉田按每亩120～150株插种玉米,天敌虫口大量增加。插种玉米的棉田天敌数较对照纯棉田增加了62.8～115.7％。对棉铃虫、伏蚜、盲蝽和红铃虫均有明显的控制作用。棉田插种玉米可以诱捕棉铃虫成虫,从而减少第二代该虫产卵,减轻棉花被害。     

Integrated pest management in a cotton-growing area in the Southern Rift Valley region of Ethiopia: development and application of a supplementary food spray product to manage pests and beneficial insects

Cotton crop Ethiopia is a high-value crop and the strategy for pest control is insecticide-dependent with no consideration of beneficial insects. We carried out a study in 2013 and 2014 to determine the effectiveness of a food spray product developed with local ingredients from Benin (BFP), a food spray product developed from Ethiopian ingredients (EFP), and mixtures of the individual food spray products with and without neem extracts. Applications of BFP and of EFP alone attracted and retained beneficial insects and significantly reduced the number of pests, and increased cotton yields and profitability. The net margins of 18,418 and 18,642 Ethiopian birr (ETB)/ha were achieved from the plots treated with BFP and EFP, respectively, and 13,000 ETB (US$1 = 19 ETB) was achieved from the unsprayed plots. Addition of neem extract to the food spray products decreased the number of beneficial insects attracted to the food spray plots. In conclusion, food sprays can be used as part of integrated pest management (IPM) for managing cotton pests and can result in significant increases in crop yields and profitability.     

Spiders in sprayed and unsprayed cotton fields in Israel,their interactions with cotton pests and their importance as predators of the Egyptian cotton leaf worm,spodoptera littoralis

Densities of spiders in sprayed and unsprayed cotton fields were determined during 1981 and 1982. Eighteen families were found in an unsprayed field and 13 in sprayed fields. Species of Clubionidae, Gnaphosidae and Philodromidae comprised more than half of the total number collected. The mean weekly number of spiders per meter of cotton row was 9.1 in the unsprayed field and 5.1–5.6 in sprayed fields. Spider populations fluctuated similarly in sprayed fields in both observation years, with only one peak in July, whereas there were two peaks in the unsprayed field. Spiders played an important role in suppressing pest populations and in delaying pest outbreaks early in the cotton growing season. Thus, early pesticide applications to cotton fields are unnecessary. In a biocontrol experiment, spiders suppressed larvae of the Egyptian cotton leaf worm,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), thereby reducing damage to cotton leaves.     

Toxicity of biorational insecticides to Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and predators in cotton field

Field trials on upland cotton (Gossypium hirstum L.) during its reproductive phase were used to assess the toxicity of several biorational pesticides and chemicals to Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and H. puntigera Wallengren, as well as major predators at Dalby, Queensland, Australia. Moderate rate-dependent control was obtained in plots treated with neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed extract-azadirachtin (Aza) at rates of 30, 60 and 90 g/ha. Plots treated with Talstar EC (bifenthrin) applications achieved the best results, followed by treatment with alternation of chemicals (methomyl, bifenthrin, thiodicarb and endosulfan) and biorational insecticides (neem oil, azadirachtin and Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki var. Berliner). Predators, including lady beetles, lacewings, spiders and predatory bugs, were insensitive to Aza, tooseendanin (Tsdn) andBT applications. In contrast, chemicals were very destructive of predators. All treatments provided some protection from infestation of H. armigera and H. puntigera. The effect of Aza on Helicoverpa spp. was reflected in a relatively higher yield of seed cotton harvested from Aza-treated plots compared with the control, but chemical control achieved significantly higher yields than any other treatment.     

新疆南疆棉区食虫蝽类天敌的群落结构

在新疆南疆,我们对棉花、苜蓿、马铃薯、新疆杨和苦豆子5种植物上的食虫蝽类天敌的数量和发生情况进行了调查。食虫齿爪盲蝽、姬蝽(华姬蝽和原姬蝽)和微小花蝽数量分别占总数的63 30%、26 68%和10 02%,这些食虫蝽在棉花上占总数的27 91%,苜蓿上占23 31%,苦豆子、马铃薯和新疆杨上的分别占总数的23 58%、17 62%和7 59%。不同植物上的食虫蝽数量在不同调查年度间没有明显规律。食虫蝽在6月中下旬和8月上中旬大体出现两个高峰期,在6月下旬苜蓿上的食虫蝽数量非常高,为棉田害虫防治提供了应用可能。     

Red leaf blotch (Dactuliochaeta glycines) of soybeans (Glycine max) and its relationship to yield

Red leaf blotch of soybeans, caused by Dactuliochaeta glycines, was evaluated on soybean plants in field plots located in Zambia. Two experiments were conducted in each of two seasons. Experiment 1 had four cultivars that were either fungicide-sprayed or not sprayed. Disease severity was greatest on leaves at the lowest nodes from early vegetative through the reproductive growth stages. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values and percentage of nodes defoliated at growth stage R5 were significantly ( P  = 0.05) greater in unsprayed plots for all cultivars in both seasons. Yield losses ranged from 8 to 37% while reduced seed size ranged from 21 to 29% for the four cultivars. Number of pods per plant in fungicide-sprayed plots did not differ from those in unsprayed plots. However, the number of seeds per plant and seeds per pod were significantly ( P  = 0.05) greater in sprayed than unsprayed plots for some cultivars. In experiment 2, cultivar Tunia was either fungicide-sprayed at different times or not sprayed. The lowest attached leaf had the most variation in the amount of disease while ratings of the most median leaf in the canopy were generally less variable. The AUDPC values calculated from the lowest attached leaf, the mean of all attached leaves, and the median attached leaf differed significantly ( P  = 0.05) the number of times plants were sprayed with fungicide. Defoliation and vertical incidence of red leaf blotch from lower to higher nodes were significantly ( P  = 0.05) reduced in fungicide-sprayed plots in one season, but not the other. One thousand-seed weight and yield differed significantly ( P  = 0.05) with treatment as one application of triphenyltin acetate increased yields by 18% over unsprayed plots in season 1. One thousand-seed weight and yield, regressed on the AUDPC for the median leaf in the canopy, explained 92 and 72% of the variation, respectively.     

新疆莎车县棉田自然天敌数量动态

2002-2004年研究了新疆莎车县棉田节肢动物类自然天敌种群动态及棉花品种的影响。结果发现节肢动物类自然天敌67种,数量较多的共10类,即瓢虫类、蝽类、隐翅虫类、蓟马类、草蛉类、食蚜双翅目、胡蜂类、蚜茧蜂类、蜘蛛类和捕食螨类。其中瓢虫类、蝽类和蜘蛛类占天敌个体总数85%~93%。3年中这三类天敌各自所占比例,瓢虫为4%~65%,食虫蝽为19%~57%,蜘蛛为6%~34%。瓢虫、食虫蝽和蜘蛛的最高密度2002年分别为237.2、164.0、87.0头/百株,2003年分别为28.3、533.3、232.0头/百株,2004分别为1506.5、237.0、55.3头/百株。对转基因抗虫棉GK19(表达Cry1A杀虫蛋白)、SGK321(表达Cry1A CpTI杀虫蛋白)和普通棉花泗棉3号、石远321的研究表明,各种天敌在不同品种上的种群数量没有显著性差异,而喷施化学农药可以造成天敌数量明显减少。     

Development of an integrated pest management programme for cotton. Part 2: Integration of a lucerne/cotton interplant system,food supplement sprays with biological and synthetic insecticides

Part 1 of the paper showed that the integration of a lucerne/ cotton interplant system with supplementary food sprays retained and increased populations of predatory insects in the cotton crop. The strategic use of biopesticides (Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV)) reduced the use of synthetic insecticides by 50% without sacrificing cotton yield and profitability. In economic terms, the average gross margin for the IPM plot was A$3255 compared with A$3020 and A$3218 for the plots treated with (1) conventional insecticides on transgenic (Ingard®) cotton and (2) conventional insecticides on non-transgenic cotton. The use of transgenic cotton affected a 25% saving on synthetic insecticide usage. The results clearly indicate that a refined IPM approach could have a distinctive advantages in terms of economic and environmental impacts on cotton production. The success of such an approach lies in a strict adherence to its methodology.     

北疆棉区不同杂草上草蛉发生密度及季节消长

本研究于2015—2017年通过扫网法系统调查了北疆棉田周边17种常见杂草上草蛉种群密度与季节动态.结果表明:北疆棉区杂草带上共有6种草蛉分布,其中普通草蛉Chrysopa carnea(占64.8％)、叶色草蛉C.phyllochroma(占25.8％)为优势种.草蛉种群密度在不同杂草上存在显著差异,紫花苜蓿、大麻上...     

Relative abundance of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoids,and the impact of augmentative release of Eretmocerus spp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on the population dynamics of the pest in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Whitefly infestations and parasitism were monitored year-round in overlapping cotton crops sown on three dates in Burkina Faso. The relative abundance of B. tabaci (Gennadius) and its parasitoids, Eretmocerus spp. and Encarsia spp., was recorded in control and insecticide-sprayed plots. Low B. tabaci populations developed during the first half of the rainy season. Pest populations increased when rainfall was ending, and the levels reached were higher in insecticide-treated plots (48 nymphs/leaf) than in control plots (25 nymphs/leaf). Parasitism reached 88.7% in control plots, and 53.7% in insecticide-treated plots. Eretmocerus spp. nymphs were more abundant than Encarsia spp. in both treated and control plots. A positive and significant curvilinear relationship was observed where % parasitism, on a linear scale, rose to a plateau with logarithmic increase in host density. In general % parasitism was correlated with the abundance of pest populations except in March and April where parasitism increased while B. tabaci populations decreased. In a separate experiment, adult Eretmocerus spp. were released into caged cotton plants to study the impact of augmentative releases of the parasites on the population dynamics of the pest. Pest densities increased from 1.47 nymphs/leaf to 39.4 nymphs/leaf in the control, but were reduced to 0.8 and 0.6 nymphs/leaf in the cages where, respectively, 4 and 8 parasitoids were released per plant. It appears that parasitism is an important factor reducing B. tabaci populations during and after the cotton-growing season, and that Eretmocerus spp. are promising biological control candidates against the pest in cotton.     

Effects of petroleum spray oils on oviposition behaviour and larval survival of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

We determined the effects of petroleum spray oil (PSO) (Caltex Canopy®) on oviposition responses of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner adults, and larval survival of the pest moths on cotton and maize plants in the laboratory. Application of 2% (v/v) of the PSO deterred H. armigera oviposition. Increasing the rate from 2 to 5% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid by H. armigera on the treated plants. In contrast, the minimum rate at which the oil could deter oviposition of O. nubilalis on maize plants was 5% (v/v). Increasing the rate from 5 to 10% (v/v) did not significantly reduce the number of eggs laid per plant. However, a reduction in the rate of the PSO from 5 to 3% (v/v) resulted in a 73.9% increase in oviposition activity on the maize plants. In wind tunnel bioassay tests, all mated H. armigera females tested could detect and settle on plants treated with water but with plants treated with PSO at various times, only 50% of tested females settled on the plants 4?–?5 days after treatment (DAT) and none on the plants 0?–?2 DAT. A solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) test to determine the effect of the PSO on volatiles released by the cotton plants showed that the quantity of volatiles released by the cotton plants treated with PSO was lower than for water treated plants. This indicates that the PSO sprays may be suppressing or masking the leaf surface volatiles of the cotton plants, thereby deterring oviposition of H. armigera. Larval survival data show that PSO sprays can cause direct mortality of first, second and third instar O. nubilalis larvae. PSOs may have the potential to be integrated into pest management programme targeting H. armigera and O. nubilalis on cotton and maize crops, respectively.     

Relationships between disease and yield in cotton fields affected byAlternaria macrospora

Application of various fungicides to cotton plots (Gossypium barbadense cv. Pima) affected byAlternaria macrospora resulted in a yield increase from 3955 kg/ha in unsprayed plots to 5207 kg/ha in plots treated with fentin acetate. Pathogen, host and disease parameters were estimated by a key of grades in the field and by precise measurements of detached plants. Measurements included the number of spores present in the field and numbers and/or areas of healthy, lesioned and shed leaves and bolls. No significant differences were found between the number of healthy bolls on variously treated plants and the number of lesioned bolls on the same plants. Disease incidence was relatively low in treated plots, with no significant difference between treatments and no correlation with the size of the pathogen population or the yield level in variously treated plots. The low proportion of lesioned leaves resulted from their tendency to shed and from the emergence of new leaves, which masked the damage. Rate of shedding was correlated with the respective yield and with the size of the pathogen population in the same plot. Leaf shedding was induced by lesions occupying an average of 1 to 3% of the leaf area. Shedding was affected by leaf position on the plant, being most frequent for the lowest leaves despite their being the least lesioned, and least frequent for the upper leaves even though these were the most lesioned.     

Evaluation of food sprays and relay strip crops for enhancing biological control of bollworms and cotton aphids in cotton

Studies were conducted at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station research farms located at Munday (1996 test) and Chillicothe (1997 test) to evaluate relay strip crops in combination with a food spray to enhance biological control of bollworms, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover, in cotton. The relay crops included fall plantings of hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Roth, and canola, Brassica napus L., and a spring planting of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., was planted between the relay crops or was isolated from the relay crops. Treatments within the two cotton systems included an untreated check plot, a plot sprayed with sugar+yeast (food spray) during summer to attract and hold predator insects, a plot sprayed with biological ('soft') insecticides for bollworm and cotton aphid control (Bacillus thuringiensis and pymetrozine, respectively), and a plot sprayed with harsh insecticides for bollworm and cotton aphid control (zeta cypermethrin and dicrotophos or profonofos, respectively). A split-plot experimental design, with three replications, was used where whole plots included relay and isolated cotton systems and subplots were the four food/chemical treatments. Predator numbers were monitored with a vacuum sampler once a week in relay crops and cotton. Bollworms and cotton aphids were monitored visually once a week in cotton during July and August. Total predator numbers were higher in cotton adjacent to relay crops in 1996, but not in 1997. The food spray did not enhance attraction and retention of predators either year. Bollworm larval numbers were significantly higher in relay cotton, food spray plots in 1996. Bollworm larval numbers were similar in relay and isolated cotton, and larval numbers were significantly reduced only in the plot where zeta cypermethrin (harsh insecticide plot) was used. In 1996, cotton aphid numbers in the relay cotton system were significantly higher in the untreated check plots in relation to numbers in the food spray, soft insecticide, and harsh insecticide plots, which were statistically similar. In the isolated cotton system, aphid numbers were highest in untreated plots, intermediate in food spray and soft insecticide plots, and lowest in the harsh insecticide plots. Aphid numbers increased more rapidly in the harsh insecticide plots that had been treated previously for bollworm control. The food spray and pymetrozine treatments reduced cotton aphids more effectively in the relay cropping system than in the isolated cotton system. Bollworms and cotton aphids did not reach pest status in 1997. The combination of a relay cropping system with a food spray did not enhance predator numbers and did not aid in retention of predators in cotton during August. Sucrose in the food spray attracted high numbers of bollworms in 1996.     

Biological control of aphids on capsicum1

During four growing periods from 1986 to 1989, biological pest control on capsicum was investigated in glasshouses under practical conditions. Aphids, mainly Myzus persicae, caused the most serious pest problems. As biological control agents, the commercially available predatory gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza and the green lacewing Chrysoperla curnea were used. Both these natural enemies were released according to the recommendations of the producers. For the releases of the gall midges, small peat samples containing the pupae of the predator were placed at a few spots in the glasshouse (1–2 pupae per m²). The lacewings were introduced as eggs on small mesh-pieces which were placed on every second plant (10–20 eggs per m²). In these experiments, control of the aphid populations was effective only if the two predators were introduced early and were released several times. During the summer, other natural enemies such as parasitic wasps, syrphids, ladybirds and predatory bugs immigrated from outdoors and enhanced the biological control of aphids.     

Efficacy and phytotoxicity of multiple petroleum oil sprays on sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.)) and pummelo (C. grandis (L.)) in Southern China

The efficacy of pest control of three different oil formulations in multiple low-concentration spray programmes on sweet orange and pummelo were compared with unsprayed and normal farmer-treatments over three years. Phytotoxicity of sprays was assessed in terms of fruit and leafdrop, fruityield and external fruitquality. Trees sprayed with any type of oil had lower pest numbers than unsprayed trees. On sweet orange, the heaviest oil was better than the normal farm practice at controlling chaff scale on fruit and red mite and whitefly on leaves. On pummelo it provided the best control of red mite on leaves. All three oils were as effective as the normal farm practice in control of rust mite on sweet orange fruit and leaves and red mite, rust mite and red scale on pummelo fruit. On sweet orange trees there was no evidence of phytotoxicity, and the external quality of fruit generally improved over time. On pummelo trees, oil sprays were unable to improve the external fruitquality. The number of pummelo per tree was reduced in three of the oil spray schedules in 1995 and one in 1996, but the total weight of fruit harvested per tree was unaffected.     

Improving the efficacy of nuclear polyhedrosis virus and Bacillus thuringiensis against Helicoverpa spp. with ultra-violet light protected petroleum spray oils on cotton crops in Australia

Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are the most commonly used biopesticides for the control of Helicoverpa spp. larvae on cotton crops in Australia. The performance of NPV and Bt against Helicoverpa spp. larvae on cotton crops, is inconsistent and at times totally unsatisfactory against high densities of Helicoverpa spp. larvae. We determined the effect of mixing petroleum spray oils, containing ultra-violet light absorbing compounds, with NPV and Bt for efficacy against Helicoverpa spp. larvae, levels of cotton plant damage, and persistence of efficacy. The study showed that the efficacy and persistence of NPV and Bt were increased when mixed with petroleum spray oil (PSO?–?Canopy®) at the rate of 2% (v/v). In the field experiments, mixing NPV with 1 and 2% (v/v) PSO, increased Helicoverpa spp. mortality from 25.9 to 31.5 and 44.8%, respectively. Similarly, the mortality caused by Bt, when mixed with 1 and 2% (v/v) PSO, was increased from 31.5 to 36.0 and 48.2%, respectively. In addition, 1 and 2% PSO mixtures with NPV increased persistence of efficacy from 1.1 to 1.6 and 2.5 days, respectively, whilst persistence of Bt was increased from 1.5 to 1.8 and 2.6 days, respectively. In another study using potted cotton plants, in which the plants were left outdoors throughout the study, the average NPV induced mortality of first instar Helicoverpa larvae was increased from 20.9% to 35.9 and 43.4% by 1 and 2% (v/v) PSO, respectively. Persistence of NPV efficacy was enhanced by 2 and 3.1 times by 1 and 2% (v/v) PSO, respectively. Similarly, Bt induced mortality of Helicoverpa larvae was increased by 1 and 2% PSO from 68.1 to 78.8 and 83.2%, respectively, and the persistence of Bt efficacy was enhanced 1.3?–?2.0 times, respectively. In a mesh house study, young cotton plants, treated with a PSO/biopesticide mixture, suffered less leaf damage than cotton plants treated with the biopesticides alone. In conclusion, the results of this study showed synergies from the combined use of UV protected PSO and NPV or Bt, against Helicoverpa spp. larvae on cotton. Such a biopesticide-PSO combinations could be a useful tool for IPM program in cotton.     

中黑盲蝽对棉花的为害及损失研究

中黑盲蝽在棉花各生育期对叶、蕾、铃各器官的为害量或为害程度和田间盲蝽群体的密度呈正相关,而个体平均为害量则和群体密度呈负相关。若虫自然群体平均每头破叶4.71片,或可为害2.6—3.7个蕾,或1.93个铃,按成活个体计算则为害量可增加3—5倍。为害损失一般成虫期大于若虫期,蕾铃期大于真叶期。损失因素不在于叶片受害后形成的“破叶”,而是受害幼蕾幼铃超过正常的脱落所引起的减产和晚收。田间百株百头盲蝽群体,其为害损失,真叶期可达2.5—7.7％,蕾期6.2—18.8％;铃期9.1—15.1％以上;各生育期连续为害,产量损失为16.9％。     

Evaluation of the Francome MkII exhaust nozzle sprayer to apply oil-based formulations of Metarhizium flavoviride for locust control

Conidia of the fungus Metarhizium flavoviride were formulated in a paraffinic oil, ‘Shellsol’ T, and sprayed using the Francome MkII exhaust nozzle sprayer. Germination of the conidia collected from the spray was reduced by 30% as compared to unsprayed conidia. However, in bioassays, there was no detectable difference in virulence with conidia collected from the spray samples and unsprayed formulation. This indicated that, despite the recorded reduction in the concentration of active conidia, the efficacy of the formulation remained unchanged after passing through the exhaust nozzle sprayer. The droplet size spectra produced by the sprayer were investigated using the Malvern series 2600cc particle size analyser. The optimum droplets for locust control produced by this sprayer were generated by the number 1 nozzle (internal diameter 2·5 mm) with the number 1 restrictor ring (internal diameter 12.5 mm) sprayed at a pressure of 0·2 bar. The droplets thus produced had a volume median diameter of 58 μm when the nozzle protruded between 1 and 2 mm above the level of the restrictor ring. Of the droplets in the spray plume created by these conditions, 33% were between 50 and 100 μm, a range recommended as an achievable optimum for the ultra-low-volume application of Metarhizium flavoviride. The role of the exhaust nozzle sprayer as a tool for the application of M. flavoviride for locust control is discussed with reference to other vehicle-mounted ultra-low-volume sprayers. © 1997 SCI