Journal of Economic Entomology (2012) 105, 916-922
O. Rosenberg, C. Almqvist and J. Weslien (2012)
Systemic insecticide and gibberellin reduced cone damage and increased flowering in a spruce seed orchard
Journal of Economic Entomology 105 (3), 916-922
Abstract: Insects feeding in conifer cones are difficult to control with nonsystemic insecticides. Newly developed systemic insecticides that can be injected into tree trunks may be a possible way of reducing both insect damage and negative side-effects to the surrounding environment, compared with conventional spraying. Several insecticides that could be injected into tree stems were tested on Picea abies (L.) Karst. In one experiment, insecticides (bifenthrin, deltamethrin, abamectin, and imidacloprid) were injected during flowering; in a second experiment two of these insecticides (abamectin and imidacloprid) were injected 1 yr before the expected flowering. In the second experiment insecticide treatment was also combined with treatments with the flower stimulating hormone, gibberellin (GA4/7). The only insecticide that reduced damage was abamectin, both after injection during flowering and after injection 1 yr before the expected flowering. Injections with GA4/7 increased flowering and were as efficient as the conventional application method of drilling but abamectin was not effective in combination with the drilling method. There was no negative effect of the insecticide injections on seed quality. The injections were ineffective against the seed chalcid Megastigmus strobilobius (Ratzeburg), which was found to have an unexpected, negative effect on seed quality. Our results suggest that it may be possible to reduce damage from certain insect species, and to increase flowering by injecting abamectin and GA4/7 in the year before a cone crop.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Olle Rosenberg
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strobilomyia anthracina | Spruce (Picea) | Sweden | ||
| Cydia strobilella | Spruce (Picea) | Sweden | ||
| Eupithecia abietaria | Spruce (Picea) | Sweden | ||
| Dioryctria abietella | Spruce (Picea) | Sweden | ||
| Megastigmus strobilobius | Spruce (Picea) | Sweden |
