NEWS HIGHLIGHT
New aphid control for fruit, veg growers
Growers of fruit and vegetable crops including seed potatoes,
brassica, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, hops, leafy vegetables, root
vegetables, pome fruits and stone fruits, have an effective new tool available
for the control of aphid populations.
February 8, 2011,
Dorchester, Ont – Growers of fruit and vegetable crops including seed potatoes,
brassica, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, hops, leafy vegetables, root
vegetables, pome fruits and stone fruits, have an effective new tool available
for the control of aphid populations.
Beleaf™ 50SG
is a selective insecticide that controls several aphid species while preserving
a number of beneficial insects that prey on aphids, including various beetles,
mites and bugs.
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| Green peach aphid |
Beleaf 50SG is a Group
9C product with the active ingredient flonicamid. Beleaf 50SG belongs to the
pyridinecarboxamide class of chemistry and comes in a soluble granule
formulation that dissolves in the tank. It may be applied by a boom and nozzle
field sprayer or by air blast.
“The application rate is
dependent on the species of aphid in the crop, as well as the level of insect
pressure and the amount of foliage present,” says David Strilchuk, country
manager for FMC Corporation.
Aphids are known to feed
by piercing plant tissue and sucking out plant juices. The damage they cause by
feeding varies from crop to crop, but visual symptoms include cupping and
curling of leaves, as well as mold on some crops. Aphids are also known to
transmit viruses in certain crops.
In Canada, the green
peach aphid is one of the major pests of concern that is controlled by Beleaf
50SG, as it is responsible for the transmission of Potato Virus Y in seed
potatoes. Potato Virus Y is a serious disease that negatively impacts
production due to the impact on tubers. In the worst cases, Potato Virus Y can
render potatoes unmarketable.
“One of the keys to
effective aphid control is to apply the product before populations reach
significant economic thresholds associated with more severe damage and before
damaging populations become established,” says Janet Porchak, national
marketing and communications manager for UAP in Canada, which is a distributor
of Beleaf 50SG.
Beleaf 50SG works by
causing rapid feeding cessation in aphids.
“Beleaf 50SG is active
on contact and ingestion,” Strilchuk says, adding that both younger and adult
stage aphids are controlled by the product. “Mortality may take two to five
days, depending on the rate of dehydration and insects may remain on the plant
until they desiccate.”
According to Strilchuk,
Beleaf 50SG also has good residual activity, lasting from one to three weeks
after application, depending on environmental conditions.
From a crop rotation
perspective, any crop listed on the Beleaf 50SG product label may be replanted
any time after an application of the product and all other crops may be planted
30 days after the last application of Beleaf 50SG. Pre-harvest intervals for
fruit and vegetable crops range from 0 days for several crops to 31 days for
hops.
Beleaf 50SG has no
demonstrated resistance or cross-resistance issues and is suitable for
inclusion as part of an integrated pest management program.
For more information,
visit www.uap.ca or www.fmc.com.
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