Pest and disease control with low doses of pesticides in low and ultralow volumes applied to intensive apple trees

In 3 year field experiments on the development of more economical methods for pest and disease control on intensively planted dessert apple trees, low dose applications of one-tenth of the normal quantities of pesticide in one-hundredth, one-tenth and one-fifth of the normal volumes were compared with conventional high volume spraying at 2250 litres/ha. An experimental tractor-mounted mist blower, a motorised knapsack mist blower and a fan-assisted disc sprayer were each used to apply the pesticides in 225, 45 and 22.5 litres of water/ha. Control of the apple-grass aphid, Rhopalosiphum insertum, obtained by low dose spraying of demeton-S-methyl (8 g a.i./ha) combined with azinphos-methyl (37 g a.i./ha) in 225 and 22.5 litres/ha in 1971 and of fenitrothion (70 g a.i./ha) in 225, 45 and 22.5 litres/ha in 1972 and 1973 was almost equal to that obtained by the conventional high volume method. Low dose applications of benomyl fungicide programmes gave poor control of apple scab, Venturia inaequalis in 1971 when the disease incidence on the fruit was very high at 73%, but in 1972 and 1973, when it was moderately high at 42–45%, control was almost equal to that given by the conventional high volume method. Under these conditions all the low dose methods gave better control with benomyl than with dodine/captan programmes.     

Pest and disease control in blackcurrants and apples by the use of overhead irrigation sprinklers

In field experiments on the effectiveness of overhead irrigation spraying of crop protection chemicals, an oscillating bar sprinkler was compared with hand spraying in post-harvest applications of protective fungicides mancozeb (0.096% a.i.) with zineb (0.022% a.i.) for the control of blackcurrant leaf spot, Pseudopeziza ribis. Twin-jet rotating sprinkler nozzles were compared with conventional automatic spraying of Cox's Orange Pippin apple trees in the application of a malathion emulsion (0.125% a.i.) for the control of apple-grass aphid, Rhopalosiphum insertum and also in applications of pre-blossom dodine emulsion (0.03% a.i.) and post-blossom captan suspension (0.09% a.i.) for control of apple scab, Venturia inaequalis. All applications were made at a nominal rate of 2250 litres/ha (200 gal/acre). On blackcurrants, the hand spraying gave much better control of leaf spot and was shown by fluorescent tracer assessment to give more cover on the lower surfaces of the leaves than the sprinkler. On apple, the rotating sprinklers gave almost as good control of apple-grass aphid and apple scab as the conventional automatic spraying. The malathion deposit levels, determined by g.l.c., on the flower trusses were also comparable, though the liquid volume distribution from the irrigation nozzles was uneven.     

Spray deposit cover and fungicide distribution obtained on intensive apple trees by overhead mobile spraying methods

Spray deposit assessments were made on the leaf surfaces in the top, middle and base zones of intensively grown apple trees sprayed by the conventional largevolume automatic method applying 2250 litres/ha and by fast overhead methods with nozzle booms applying 1125 litres/ha and with mist-blowing equipment applying 562 litres/ha. Qualitative assessment of spray cover, using a 0.05% suspension of Saturn Yellow fluorescent tracer showed that whereas the conventional method gave heavy cover on upper and lower surfaces in all zones, the two overhead methods gave heavier cover on the upper surfaces than on the lower and that an appreciable proportion of the lower surfaces especially in the base zone on trees sprayed by the overhead mist-blower had no fluorescent deposit. Quantitative assessments of copper spray deposits by colorimetric estimations separately on upper and lower surfaces agreed in general with the fluorescent tracer indications, especially the much greater deposits on the upper surfaces on the trees sprayed from overhead. Monitoring of captan spray deposits before and after each successive fungicide application through the season showed that in the three zones the residual and cumulative deposits from the conventional automatic applications were heavier and more uniform than those from the overhead methods which gave lighter deposits on the middle and base zones. In the intervals during which rain fell, most of the captan deposit levels from all methods of spraying were reduced by >70%, whereas during a rainless interval the reduction was 0–45%. The reduction of captan deposit levels during the rainy intervals was significantly greater on the trees sprayed from overhead than on the conventionally sprayed ones. There was a correlation between the percentage loss of captan and the rainfall in the intervals.     

Residual effects of fungicidal spray programmes on apple trees

Spraying programmes for apple scab and mildew control sometimes had residual effects for one or even two years. Thus, benomyl (0.025% a.i.) and pyridinitril (0.035% a.i.) drastically reduced the subsequent incidence of cankers caused by Nectria galligena on young wood. Apple scab fruit infection, caused by Venturia inaequalis, was also less on trees on which benomyl had been used in the previous season. In the bark of such trees, toxic residues equivalent to 1 to 4 μg benomyl/g fresh wt. were detected by bioassay 7 months after spraying.     

Effect of spraying techniques on the brown rot of peach fruit,and on black spot,powdery mildew and the two-spotted mite of apple trees

Application by hand-held equipment of the commercially recommended doses of proprietary formulations of captan (9.0 g a. i. per tree), mancozeb (10.8 g a. i. per tree), oxythioquinox (1.1 g a. i. per tree), and cyhexatin (1.8 g a. i. per tree), in spray volumes ranging from 0.225 to 9.0 litres per tree, gave commercial control of the brown rot of peach fruit, and of black spot (apple scab), powdery mildew and the two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) of apple trees. Commercial control was also obtained using a quarter of the recommended doses when applied in 0.225 or 2.25 litres per tree. The residue of oxythioquinox on the leaves, immediately after applying 1.1 g a. i. per tree, doubled as the volume of spray was reduced from 9.0 to 2.25 litres per tree, and increased further when the volume was reduced to 0.225 litres per tree. It is suggested that some of the oxythioquinox ran off the trees at the higher volumes, and that less run-off at lower volumes resulted in higher chemical residues.     

The effect of fungicide sprays on the incidence of apple canker (Nectria galligena) in Bramley's Seedling

In two trials established between 1983 and 1990, copper oxychloride and prochloraz-manganese applied at 5 and 50% leaf-fall were as effective as phenylmercury nitrate, formerly used (but now banned) for the control of leaf-scar infection by Nectria galligena. However, prochloraz-manganese has not been developed for use on fruit. Autumn application of carbendazim gave inadequate control and thiophanate-methyl, bitertanol and fenpropimorph were ineffective. Carbendazim applied as a spring-summer treatment reduced canker development to a similar level to a spring-summer dodine scab programme plus autumn copper oxychloride. Summer carbendazim + captafol was an outstandingly effective treatment, but since this trial the use of captafol as a fungicide in the UK has been prohibited. In the absence of an effective autumn treatment, penconazole alone or with captan, and myclobutanil preblossom with myclobutanil alone or with mancozeb post-blossom tended to be less effictive than the standard programme (dodine pre- and dithianon post-blossom). Carbendazim mixed with an effective scab fungicide such as dithianon therefore remains the recommended treatment in an orchard with a serious canker problem. In orchards where there is a limited risk of canker, a spring-summer scab fungicide programme should prevent N. galligena infection at this time of year, with copper oxychloride applied at leaf-fall, particularly after wet weather, to prevent leaf-scar infection.     

Evidence for the Predisposition of Fungicide-Resistant Isolates of Venturia inaequalis to a Preferential Selection for Resistance to Other Fungicides

In the United States, populations of the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis have progressed through three consecutive rounds of fungicide resistance development, first to dodine, then to the benzimidazoles, and most recently to the sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). Analysis of extensive monitoring data have to date provided no indication of detectable cross-resistance or partial cross-resistance of V. inaequalis populations to the three unrelated classes of fungicides prior to the selection of resistant subpopulations. However, in this study, resistance to both benomyl and DMIs developed to significantly higher frequencies within the previously established dodine-resistant population than in the population sensitive to dodine. Accelerated selection of phenotypes double resistant to dodine and the DMI fenarimol was apparent over the course of distinct seasons of apple scab management with either dodine or fenarimol. The data provide evidence for an accelerated speed of resistance development among phenotypes of V. inaequalis already resistant to an unrelated fungicide. This finding represents a departure from the previous model, which assumed entirely independent rounds of resistance developments. The data indicate that phenotypes of V. inaequalis might not only be selected for the trait of fungicide resistance but also for traits allowing a more flexible response to changes in the environment where they compete.     

Spray deposit cover and fungicide distribution obtained by low and ultralow volume spraying of intensive apple trees

Spray deposit assessments were made on the leaf surfaces in the top, middle and base zones of intensively grown dessert apple trees sprayed by a conventional high volume automatic mast method applying 2250 litres/ha, an experimental low and ulfralow volume tractor mist blower, applying 225 litres/ha at normal dilution, 45 litres/ha at five times normal concentration or 22.5 litres/ha at ten times normal concentration, and a modified proprietary hand-directed fan-disc sprayer applying 225 or 22.5 litres/ha. Fluorescent tracer assessments showed that the high volume method gave heavy cover on upper and lower surfaces of the leaves in all zones, the tractor mist method gave lighter but uniform cover and the fan-disc sprayer gave sparse cover on the upper surfaces at the top and on the lower surfaces at the base zone. The hand-directed low and ultralow volume methods, applying one-tenth of the amounts of copper fungicide/ha, gave deposit levels 5–30 % of those of the high volume method and the tractor mist applications gave 0.8–5.2%. The corresponding captan deposits from 5–6 applications were 12–50% and 10–20%: residual deposits from the ultralow volume applications of the concentrated captan were greater than the low volume applications of the same quantities in dilute form. In general, the order of pest and disease control obtained by the three methods was high volume automatic, fan-disc and experimental mist, and this was related to the order of deposit levels: the order of control by the three volume rates was 2250, 225 and 22.5 litres/ha, and this could be related to the degree of spray cover.     

Can phyllosphere yeasts explain the effect of scab fungicides on russeting of Elstar apples?

In 1999 and 2000, the effects of scab fungicides on yeast composition and russeting of Elstar apples were assessed. Yeast composition of fungicide-treated and untreated young apple fruit with or without russet symptoms was investigated and enzyme activity of the yeasts was studied. Cryptococcus albidus, C.laurentii,Rhodotorula glutinis, Sporobolomyces roseus andMetschnikowia pulcherrima dominated the apple fruit surface. Russeted apple fruitlets had a higher red yeast density than non-russeted fruitlets. Invitro fungicide susceptibility of the dominant yeast species varied. Dithianon and dodine were active against all tested species, captan and tolylfluanid showed specificity for certain species, whereas pyrimethanil and bupirimate were largely ineffective. Fungicide treatment in the field had a clear effect on the yeast composition. Metschnikowia etschnikowia pulcherrima was eliminated from the phyllosphere and cryptococco$ï species diminished by both captan and dithianon. The red yeast population was not significantly changed by either fungicide. Captan, dithianon, tolylfluanid and pyrimethanil reduced russet in the field in both years, dodine and kresoxim-methyl only in 2000. All yeast species had cutinolytic activity, all but M.pulcherrimaand Debaryomyces hansenii were lipolytic, and some of the isolates showed proteolytic activity.     

Evaluation of insecticides for the control of the green vegetable bug,Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on sweet corn,Zea mays (L.), in New Zealand

The efficacy of insecticides for the control of Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), the green vegetable bug, was tested in laboratory and field trials. Bioassays of 11 insecticides against field-collected adults were used to select two insecticides for a field experiment conducted in a process sweet corn crop, Zea mays (L.) (cv. Punch), near Tolaga Bay on the east coast of the North Island, New Zealand. Lambda-cyhalothrin (as 200 ml Karate®/100 litres water ha m 1 ) and methamidophos (as 1 litre Tamaron TM /100 litres water ha m 1 ) were tested against a water control. Both insecticides demonstrated efficacy, with respective mortality rates of 87 and 83% compared with 2% in the control. Green vegetable bug flew into the experimental crop in large numbers over 48 h before the start of the trial. Damage thresholds were exceeded in two of the three control plots within 7 days of the green vegetable bug first invading the crop, leaving only a very small 'window' for insecticide application. Success or otherwise of these insecticides is therefore likely to be dependent on the timing of application as well as on the efficacy of the products themselves.     

Effects of some fungicides on Rhizobium trifolii and its symbiotic relationship with white clover

A comparison has been made of the effects of some protective and systemic fungicides, and an eradicant fungicide, on the growth, metabolic activity and nitrogen-fixing capacity of Rhizobium trifolii. Effects on the bacterium grown in vitro with a combined nitrogen source were not necessarily reflected in the nitrogen-fixing capacity of excised nodulated roots of white clover. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation was affected by thiram, oxycarboxin and “Ethylan CP”, but was unchanged by benomyl, captan, carbendazim, carboxin, dodine, dimethirimol, ethirimol, tridemorph, triforine or thiophanate-methyl. None of the fungicides tested altered the leghaemoglobin content of the root nodules.     

苹果黑星病在辽宁省的分布及其发生规律

苹果黑星病是辽宁省植物检疫对象。目前主要分布于小苹果栽植区及大、小苹果混栽区,已接近辽宁南部的大苹果主产区。经自然感病和人工接种证明,大、小苹果上的黑星病菌可以交互侵染,目前一些主栽的大苹果品种均能感染此病。辽宁地区苹果黑星病的初次侵染来源是落地越冬病叶上于翌春产生的子囊孢子。分生孢子不能越冬成活。苹果枝条及芽鳞不带菌。黑星病菌的两种孢子随气流传播,使病害逐步扩大蔓延。经过6年的观察,苹果黑星病发生始期早晚及发病轻重,与早春和夏季的降水量多少成正相关。田间药剂防治试验结果,以托布津、乙磷铝、多菌灵、特克多等药剂防治效果良好。     

Integrated pest-management approaches in orchard,cereal and potato protection in Poland1

With its total area of 312,683 km² and a population of about 39 million people, the area of agricultural land per person in Poland is about 0.47 ha. The yields of basic crops are rather low and the losses due to pathogens, animal pests and weeds are high. The use of pesticides is about 1.0–1.3 kg a.i. per ha and this gives a good starting point for integrated pest management (IPM) in the production system of various crops. IPM in glasshouse crops reached the level of 500 ha per year. An IPM approach against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in orchards allowed a reduction by 70% in the number of insecticide treatments. In the case of apple scab (Venturia haequalis), the IPM approach allowed a reduction in the number of fungicide treatments by 30% on an area of 100,000 ha. In respect to small grains, the IPM approach concerns rational use of fungicides and herbicides in winter wheat and barley. In potato protection, the IPM approach mainly concerns Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which at present is controlled by chemical insecticides on 77% of the potato area. Special research and demonstration IPM programmes sponsored by USDA/AID in Central and Eastern Europe will be operational during 1992/1995 and will concern orchards (apple, pear), small grains (wheat, barley) and potatoes.     

Effect of two systemic fungicides on rice blast control in a rainforest zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Two systemic fungicides, benomyl (methyl 1‐((butylamino)‐carbonyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl carbamate) (Benlate 50WP, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.) and tricyclazole (5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazole (3,4‐b) benzothiazole) (Beam 75 WP, Eli Lilly & Co.), were sprayed on Faro 29, a popular shallow swamp rice, at full tillering stage for the control of natural infection of rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cav. in the rainforest zone of eastern Nigeria. The rates evaluated for each fungicide were a split application of 150 + 150, 300, and 400ga.i./ha of each fungicide. Both fungicides suppressed foliar and neck blast development, but tricyclazole was superior to benomyl. One application of tricyclazole at 400g a.i./ha at full tillering stage of rice successfully suppressed blast development and resulted in a significantly (P = 005) higher grain yield than the untreated control plants by an average of 42.17% during the 2 years of this study. Similarly, benomyl at 400g a.i./ha produced 18.94% more rice grain than the control. A fungicide such as tricyclazole may therefore be recommended for control of blast in areas where resistant varieties are not available or where popular resistant varieties become susceptible to one or the other phases of the disease.     

Studies on the Efficacy of Various Insecticides Against Mustard Aphid [Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt)]

Abstract

An experiment was designed to test the efficacy of various insecticides for the control of mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt)) on mustard (Brassica juncea), variety RL 18 at the Research Farm of the Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar (India). Out of the 13 insecticides tried, each at two levels, it was found that methyldemeton 250 ml and menazon 250 g a.i. gave the maximum control of mustard aphid. Maximum yield of 1111 kg/ha was obtained with methyldemeton 250 ml (a.i./ha) against 360 kg/ha of the control.     

Control of Sugarcane Pyrilla and Whitefly by Aerial Application of Emulsifiable Concentrates at Ultra-Low-Volume

Abstract

Large scale field trials were undertaken with emulsifiable concentrates of different organophosphorus insecticides to control Pyrilla and whitefly, two serious pests of the sugarcane crop in the Peshawar Division of West Pakistan. All emulsifiable concentrates excepting Dimecron were applied in concentrate form without diluting with water. Of the seven insecticides tested against Pyrilla adults and nymphs, Dimecron, Lebaycid, Nexion (Bromophos) and Malathion gave superior control. In the case of whitefly, Dimecron, Lebaycid and Malathion gave almost equal mortality of adults and 3rd instar nymphs when applied at 8, 8 and 17 oz a.i./ac respectively, but much higher dosages would be required to get satisfactory control of the 4th instar nymphs. The cost of operations for the ultra-low-volume technique (excluding cost of insecticide) was 66% less than for the conventional method.     

The effects of helicopter applied adulticides for riverine tsetse control on Simulium populations in a West African savanna habitat. I. introduction,methods and the effect on biting adults and aquatic stages of Simulium damnosum s.l.

Abstract

Helicopter applied insecticides used for tsetse control were investigated for their potential to reduce populations of Simulium damnosum s.l. in riverine forest in the Guinea savanna zone of southwestern Upper Volta. Populations of aquatic stages and biting females were sampled before and after spraying. Deltamethrin applied at 12·5 g a.i./ha to a 30 km length of riverine vegetation almost eliminated adults for a period of about nine days. Residues which fell into the water killed all larvae in the river. Endosulfan at 100 g a.i./ha applied to a similar stretch of vegetation caused a reduction of over 60% in biting adults for 11 days, but residues falling into the river killed only young larvae. Neither dieldrin at 400 g a.i./ha, endosulfan at 10 g a.i./ha nor deltamethrin at 12.5 g a.i./ha applied to a 5 km insecticide barrier between the experimental blocks and the untreated river appeared to have much effect. This suggests that most S. damnosum were traversing the barrier without coming into contact with the insecticides.     

A during-infection spray strategy using sulphur compounds,copper, silicon and a new formulation of potassium bicarbonate for primary scab control in organic apple production

In a field experiment conducted over two growing seasons, the effectiveness and phytotoxicity of inorganic fungicides such as sulphur, lime sulphur, copper, silicon and Armicarb (a new formulation of potassium bicarbonate) was compared with water for the control of primary apple scab infections in Belgium on high, medium and low scab-susceptible cultivars (cvs ‘Pinova’, ‘Pirouette’ and ‘Reinette des Capucins’, respectively). In order to drastically reduce the amount of fungicide applied in the orchard, two approaches were used: (1) a strategy involving spraying during the infection process, before fungal penetration and (2) a tunnel sprayer machine for treatment applications. Under field conditions highly favourable for disease, low rates of elemental sulphur (31.8 and 38.6 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 2005 and 2006, respectively) combined with low rates of copper (2.1 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in both years) provided the best scab control and reduced scab severity on the fruits of cv. ‘Pinova’ by 97 and 98% compared with water control in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Lime sulphur was much more effective than wettable sulphur and appeared to be efficient at temperatures below 10°C, but its effectiveness against apple scab decreased if the treatments were applied 12–24 h later than in the ‘during-infection’ spray strategy. Armicarb used alone significantly reduced apple scab severity on the leaves and fruits of the three cultivars compared with the water control. Its effectiveness was as good as wettable sulphur applied using the same timing and dosage. Silicon reduced apple scab on fruits very slightly, but not on leaves. The amounts of wettable sulphur, lime sulphur, copper, silicon and potassium bicarbonate used in this experiment to control apple scab were not phytotoxic, did not increase fruit russet, did increase the yield of each cultivar and did not affect summer density of the beneficial Typhlodromus pyri. The potential and limitations of ‘during-infection’ spraying as a protection strategy against apple scab in organic farming are discussed.     

The effect of benomyl and some related compounds on Lumbricus terrestris and other earthworms

Earthworm populations in apple orchard plots sprayed with benomyl and thiophanate-methyl were greatly reduced. Lumbricus terrestris, a surface-feeding species, was not found in the treated plots. Captive worms would not feed on leaf material with spray deposits of benomyl, MBC and thiophanate-methyl at 1.75 μg/cm², and feeding was significantly reduced when deposits were 0.87 μg/cm². There was 100 % kill of worms in pots of soil within 14 days following a benomyl drench at the rate of 7.75 kg/ha, and a 60 % kill following a drench at the rate of 1.55 kg/ha. Worms immersed for 1 min in benomyl suspensions of 0.05 or 0.5 % died within 27 and 13 days respectively; those immersed in lower concentrations would not feed for 2 weeks but eventually did so. It is suggested that the lethal effects of benomyl may be due to anti-cholinesterase activity of the carbamate moiety of the molecule.     

Experiments with some of the newer systemic fungicides on apple and marrow

In field trials against apple scab (caused by Venturia inaequalis) and powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera leucotricha), improved control of one or other disease has been given by the newer systemic fungicides benomyl, triarimol and the thiophanates. However, in tests on apple seedlings in the greenhouse, biological evidence of translocation from individual deposits was generally limited to movement within the treated leaf. In greenhouse tests with cucumbers and marrows, using Oidium sp., there was again little evidence for movement of toxicant from a treated leaf, although effective disease control was readily obtained by root application of several compounds at low dosage. These results suggest that the systemic properties of the compounds evident when used as soil or seed treatments are of little account when they are applied as foliar sprays.