5736: Kaolinbehandlungen gegen Obstschädlinge [Kaolin treatments against orchard pests]

{PROJECT} Kaolin: Kaolinbehandlungen gegen Obstschädlinge [Kaolin treatments against orchard pests]. Runs 01 February 2003 - 30 September 2006. Project leader(s): Daniel, Claudia and Wyss, Eric. More information online at <http://www.fibl.org/de/schweiz/forschung/entomologie.html>.

Summary

State of the Art:
Application of processed kaolin particle film (Surround WP) repels insects without lethal effects; hence side effects on beneficial arthropods are low. This type of technology based on a natural clay mineral strictly fits with the goals of organic pest management strategies. Processed kaolin may be an alternative control strategy for different orchard pests.
Definition of the problem:
Many severe pest insects in orchards (Dysaphis plantaginea; Cacopsylla pyri; Anthonomus pomorum; Hoplocampa testudinea) are controlled by foliar application of different organic broad-spectrum pesticides (Rotenone, Pyrethrum, Neem, Quassia, Spinosad). Kaolin shows promise as an alternative control strategy for these pests.
Project aims:
The project aims are:
(1) to confirm the repellence of kaolin against different insect groups
(2) to test different application regimes of kaolin and to find the most effective application schedules
(3) to compare the effectiveness of kaolin with traditional control approaches in order to develop an alternative control strategy
Methodology:
Small- and large-plot field trials are conducted on organically managed farms.
Results, conclusion, state of the art:
Pre-flowering application of kaolin is a promising and suitable method to keep Cacopsylla pyri under its economic threshold for the entire season. Kaolin protected pear trees at least as good as the standard organic insecticide rotenone and the common IPM control strategies.
Repeated applications of kaolin in autumn significantly reduced the number of female Dysaphis plantaginea in autumn and, consequently, the number of hatched fundatrices in spring. Single kaolin treatments were less effective. The results show that autumn treatments with kaolin against the gynoparae and sexuales of D. plantaginea could be a viable option. A more detailed analysis of factors influencing the efficacy of autumn treatments could help to establish a new approach to control D. plantaginea after apple harvesting and during a period when farmers workload is reduced.
Neither spring nor autumn treatments of kaolin showed any reduction of the pear leaf blister mite Eriophyes pyri.

Additional Summary

Involved organisations, project partners: Agroscope RAC, Changins, Switzerland
Literture:
Daniel, C. Pfammatter, W.; Kehrli, P., Wyss, E. (2005): Processed Kaolin as an alternative insecticide against the European pear sucker, Cacopsylla pyri (L.). Journal of Applied Entomology. In press
Bürgel, K., Daniel, C., Wyss, E. (2005): Effects of autumn kaolin treatments on the rosy apple aphid Dysaphis planaginea (Pass.) and possible modes of action. Journal of Applied Entomology. In press
Daniel, C., Wyss, E. (2005): Vorblütebehandlungen mit Kaolin gegen den Gemeinen Birnenblattsauger (Cacopsylla pyri). Poster. Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie. Dresden. 21.-24.03.2005. (pdf-Datei: http://orgprints.org/5025/)
Daniel, C., Wyss, E. & C. Linder (2004) Applications de soufre en automne: une nouvelle manière de lutter contre l`ériophyide à galles du poirier. Revue suisse de viticulture arboriculture horticulture 36 (4): 199-203.
Wyss E, Daniel C, 2004: Effects of autumn kaolin and pyrethrin treatments on the spring population of Dysaphis plantaginea in apple orchards. J Appl Ent 128, 147-149.
Daniel, C. & Wyss, E. (2004): Efficacy of different insecticides and a repellent against the European pear sucker (Cacopsylla pyri). Vortrag. 04.-05.02.2004 11th International Conference on Cultivation Technique and Phytopathological Problems in Organic Fruit-Growing, Weinsberg, Deutschland (pdf-Datei: http://orgprints.org/00002580/ )

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