Phytoparasitica (1999) 27, 75-76

A.R. Horowitz and I. Ishaaya (1999)
Chemical control in IPM-IRM systems in Israel
Phytoparasitica 27 (1), 75-76
Workshop on Environment-Friendly Crop Protection of the Flower Industry to Suit Future Market Trends, October 19-22, 1998, Herzliyya, Israel
Abstract: Chemical control has been used extensively for pest management in flower production in Israel. Although chemical control is an essential component of crop protection in modern agriculture, overreliance on insecticides has resulted in resistance problems, ecological disturbances and higher costs to the growers. In addition, difficulties in the registration of new insecticides have led to a decrease in the number of insecticides available for controlling agricultural pests in many countries. Thus, chemical control should be practiced with consideration of valid ecological, economic and human health issues in the context of IPM programs. Agriculture in the semi-arid Israeli climate has developed into intensive cropping systems including irrigated field crops, orchards and greenhouses. In Israel, the main pests of ornamental crops are: the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, the Egyptian leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis, agromyzid leafminers, Liriomyza sp., aphids and spider mites. Most of the flowers are exported to western Europe. Due to quarantine regulations, the export tolerance for some pests, such as B. tabaci, is very often almost nil. Thus, it is very difficult to treat the crops according to action thresholds. Nevertheless, based on the Israeli cotton IPM-IRM (Integrated Pest Management - Insecticide Resistance Management) strategy, various programs are being developed and implemented in flower production. In these programs the use of novel insecticides with selective properties, with less impact on natural enemies and humans, is encouraged. Much effort is invested in pest sampling to achieve accurate estimates of pest populations and action thresholds for insecticide applications. Use of practical tactics, such as alternation and the application of mixtures, complies with IRM.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Abraham Rami Horowitz, Isaac Ishaaya

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci		Israel
	Frankliniella occidentalis		Israel
	Spodoptera littoralis		Israel