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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164001
Title: RAINFASTNESS OF A MICROENCAPSULATED SEX PHEROMONE FORMULATION FOR CODLING MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Author
item Knight, Alan
item LARSEN, T - SUTERRA LLC
item KETNER, K - SUTERRA LLC

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2004
Publication Date: 12/10/2004
Citation: Knight, A.L., Larsen, T.E., Ketner, K.C. 2004. Rainfastness of a microencapsulated sex pheromone. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97:1987-1992.

Interpretive Summary: The ability to maximize the deposition and retention of a microencapsulated sex pheromone formulation for codling moth impacts the effectiveness of this approach. Rainfall and overhead irrigation are likely two factors that can minimize the effectiveness of this approach. Studies were conducted to evaluate the deposition and retention of microcapsules on apple, pear and walnut leaves following a simulated rainfall event. The addition of a sticker to increase both the deposition and retention of microcapsules was also evaluated. Increasing the intensity and duration of simulated rainfall significantly increased the removal of microcapsules from both the top and bottom of apple leaves. The removal of microcapsules was significantly higher from the top versus the bottom of leaves at all rates tested. Leaf angle was a significant factor affecting the removal of microcapsules from the top surface of apple leaves with fewer microcapsules removed, as leaves were oriented with a steeper downward angle. Both leaf surfaces of apple and pear retained a higher proportion of microcapsules than walnut leaves, and the bottom surface of apple leaves retained significantly more than pear leaves. Significantly more microcapsules were retained on the bottom versus the top of apple leaves with all stickers. The latex and polyvinyl stickers significantly increased the retention of microcapsules versus the pine resin sticker and the control on apple leaves. However, the addition of the latex sticker significantly increased the retention of microcapsules on the top of apple and pear leaves and the bottom of apple leaves. The addition of a latex sticker did not affect the retention of microcapsules on walnut leaves.

Technical Abstract: The rainfastness of a microencapsulated sex pheromone formulation for codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was evaluated in a series of laboratory experiments with detached apple, pear, and walnut leaves. Increasing the intensity and duration of simulated rainfall significantly increased the removal of microcapsules from both the top and bottom of apple leaves. The removal of microcapsules was significantly higher from the top versus the bottom of leaves at all rates tested. Leaf angle was a significant factor affecting the removal of microcapsules from the top surface of apple leaves with fewer microcapsules removed, as leaves were oriented with a steeper downward angle. Both leaf surfaces of apple and pear retained a higher proportion of microcapsules than walnut leaves, and the bottom surface of apple leaves retained significantly more than pear leaves. Three spray adjuvants were evaluated as stickers for microcapsules. No difference was found in the number of microcapsules deposited on apple leaves among three stickers tested at rates from 0.06 to 0.25%. A latex sticker significantly increased the deposition of microcapsules on apple leaves compared with a polyvinyl polymer and a pine resin sticker at a rate of 0.06%. Significantly more microcapsules were retained on the bottom versus the top of apple leaves with all stickers. The latex and polyvinyl stickers significantly increased the retention of microcapsules versus the pine resin sticker and the control on apple leaves. In another test, the addition of 0.06% latex sticker did not increase the deposition of microcapsules on any of the three leaf types. However, the addition of the latex sticker significantly increased the retention of microcapsules on the top of apple and pear leaves and the bottom of apple leaves. The addition of a latex sticker did not affect the retention of microcapsules on walnut leaves.