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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201765
Title: Microbial control of insect pests of stone fruit and nut crops

Author
item Shapiro Ilan, David
item Lacey, Lawrence
item Siegel, Joel

Submitted to: Book Chapter in Field Manual of Techniques in Insect Pathology, Kluwer Pub.
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2007
Citation: Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Lacey, L.A., Siegel, J.P. 2007. Microbial control of insect pests of stone fruit and nut crops. In: Lacey, L., Kaya, H.K., editors. Field Manual of Techniques in Insect Pathology. Vol. II. Dordrecht: Springer. p. 547-566.

Interpretive Summary: Stone fruit and tree nuts such as peach, pecan, almond and pistachio constitute important North America crops. These crops harbor various insect pests. A number of these pests may be amenable to control using naturally occurring insect diseases as the pesticidal agent. Diseases that may be used as biopesticdes include nematodes and fungi. This chapter summarizes techniques that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of these biopesticides for control of stone fruit and tree nut pests under field conditions. Insect pests that may be amenable to control with biopesticides include pecan weevil, plum curculio, navel orangeworm, peachtree borer, and fruit flies. The manuscript addresses protocols for selecting test sites, plot design, preparation, application and assessment. Generally, the biopesticides must be applied under environmental conditions that avoid excess exposure to ultraviolet light, and nematodes should be applied to soil under moist conditions.

Technical Abstract: Stone fruit and tree nuts such as peach, pecan, almond and pistachio constitute important North America crops. These crops harbor various insect pests. A number of these pests may be amenable to microbial control using entomopathogenic nematodes or fungi. This chapter summarizes techniques that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of these biopesticides for control of stone fruit and tree nut pests under field conditions. Insect pests that may be amenable to control with entomopathogens include pecan weevil (Curculio caryae), plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), peachtree borer (Synanthedon exitiosa), and fruit flies (e.g., Anastrepha ludens and Rhagolites indifferens). The manuscript addresses protocols for selecting test sites, plot design, preparation, application and assessment. Generally, the biopesticides must be applied under environmental conditions that avoid excess exposure to ultraviolet light, and nematodes should be applied to soil under moist conditions.