ARS | Publication request: Development of Micro-Encapsulated Pear Ester Kairomone Spray Adjuvant

Submitted to: Western Orchard Pest and Disease Management Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2006
Publication Date: January 10, 2007
Citation: Light, D.M. 2007. Development of Micro-Encapsulated Pear Ester Kairomone Spray Adjuvant. Western Orchard Pest and Disease Management Conference.p.22

Technical Abstract: Food Quality Protection Act 1996 is banning the use of most organophosphate (OP) insecticides and limitations on VOC-based products are being considered. Thus, there is a need for alternative insecticides to be made more effective and affordable. Knight and Light (2001) reported that the pear ester (PE), ethyl (2E, 4Z)-2,4-decadienoate, kairomone was highly attractive to neonate codling moth larvae. Field trials and demonstrations using a micro-encapsulated formulation of the pear ester kairomone (PE-MEC) (CIDETRAK DA-MEC, Trece, Inc.) have expanded over the last four years testing its efficacy as a bait-spray adjuvant with various insecticides, including OPs, IGRs, and microbials. These spray adjuvant trials have been conducted in Californian walnut orchards and more broadly in apple and pear orchards of Argentina, Italy, Spain and the US Pacific Northwest. Treatments were reduce-rate insecticide alone vs. reduce-rate insecticide + PE-MEC, and treatments without insecticides were PE-MEC alone and a “blank-MEC.” Trial designs have been both hand-gun sprays applied to replicate single trees and air-blast sprays applied to 1 - 10 acre plots, either replicated or singular for demonstration purposes. Resolution of improved insecticide efficacy has best been achieved in high-pressure orchards using both low-label or reduced-rates (50% or lower than label) of insecticides and low rates of adjuvant (< 0.6 grams PE a.i./acre).