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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153980
Title: EFFICACY OF FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF PARTICLE FILMS AND GENOTYPE FOR MANAGING THRIPS, DISEASES, AND AFLATOXIN IN PEANUT

Author
item Wilson, Jeffrey - Jeff
item Holbrook, Carl - Corley
item MANDAL, B - UGA
item Rowland, Diane
item WELLS, M - UGA
item WILSON, D - UGA

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Wilson, J.P., Holbrook Jr, C.C., Mandal, B., Rowland, D., Wells, M.L., Wilson, D.M. 2004. Efficacy of foliar applications of particle films and genotype for managing thrips, diseases, and aflatoxin in peanut. Plant Health Progress doi: 10.1094/PHP-2004-0419-01-RS.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut production in the United States requires application of pesticides to control insects and diseases. Pesticide inputs can be reduced by new plant germplasm and new inert compounds. A kaolin-based compound has been developed that has the potential to reduce damage caused by insects and diseases, as well as reduce drought stress in some crops. Because of the apparent broad-spectrum of activity, this compound might have the potential to replace pesticide applications in peanut production with an environmentally-benign compound. A kaolin-based particle film was evaluated for its ability to control serious peanut production problems, including tomato spotted wilt and thrips (the insect that spreads the disease), leaf spot, and drought stress (which leads to aflatoxin contamination in peanuts). The compound had little or no effect on thrips populations, spotted wilt severity and incidence, leaf spot severity, drought stress, aflatoxin contamination, and yield. In all experiments, peanut variety was more effective in reducing disease and increasing yield than was the kaolin application. Although foliar applications of particle films may be useful for producing certain vegetables and fruits, its benefits for addressing peanut production constraints are limited.

Technical Abstract: The kaolin-based particle film SurroundTM has been shown to suppress various insect pests and foliar diseases, while reducing canopy temperature and improving water use efficiency in certain agricultural production systems. The usefulness of Surround was examined against important production constraints in peanut, including tomato spotted wilt, leaf spots, and aflatoxin contamination. Field experiments were conducted during 2001 using multi-varietal trials with or without spray treatment of Surround (751bs/acre) + NuFilm- 17 (8oz/acre). The effects of Surround application were evaluated for control of thrips and spotted wilt on genotypes 'Georgia Green', C11-2-39, C34-24, and 'Sunoleic 97R'; for control of leaf spots on 'AgraTech 201', 'GK 7 High Oleic', and 'C-99R'; and for control of aflatoxin contamination on Aspergillus inoculated plots of genotypes Georgia Green, AgraTech 201 and GK 7 High Oleic. In these experiments, Surround applications had little or no effect on thrips populations, spotted wilt severity and incidence, leaf spot severity, drought stress, aflatoxin contamination, chlorophyll content, specific leaf area, and pod yield. In all experiments, host genotype effects were more effective in reducing disease and increasing yield than was Surround protection. Although foliar applications of particle films may be useful for producing certain vegetables and fruits, its benefits for addressing peanut production constraints are limited.