ARS | Publication request: Microbial Control of Plum Curculio and Peachtree Borers

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 17, 2007
Publication Date: August 1, 2007
Citation: Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Cottrell, T.E., Mizell, R., Horton, D. 2007. Microbial Control of Plum Curculio and Peachtree Borers. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting, August 12-16, 2007, Quebec City, Canada. p. 75. Available: http://www.sipweb.org/Meeting_Abstracts/2007abstracts.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: The plum curculio is a major insect pest of stone and pome fruits. Stone fruits are also plagued by clear-winged moths such as the peachtree borer and lesser peachtree borer. Microbial control agents such as environmentally-friendly beneficial nematodes and fungi have potential as alternative management tactics for these pests. Soil applications of beneficial nematodes can control plum curculio larvae, e.g., nematode applications have produced 78-100% pest suppression. Beneficial fungi also show some promise for control of plum curculio. Beneficial nematodes are virulent to both lesser peachtree borer and peachtree borer. Field applications with one nematode species have resulted in 88-100% peachtree borer control. Additional research is required to incorporate these microbial control tactics into integrated pest management programs.

Technical Abstract: Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a major pest of stone and pome fruits. Stone fruits are also plagued by clear-winged moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), e.g., peachtree borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) and lesser peachtree borer (Synanthedon pictipes). Microbial control agents have potential as alternative management tactics for these pests. Soil applications of entomopathogenic nematodes can control plum curculio larvae, e.g., applications of Steinernema riobrave have produced 78-100% suppression. Entomopathogenic fungi also show some promise for control of plum curculio. Entomopathogenic nematodes are virulent to both lesser peachtree borer and peachtree borer. Field applications with S. carpocapsae have resulted in 88-100% peachtree borer control. Additional research is required to incorporate these microbial control tactics into IPM programs.