Biorational and conventional insecticides efficacy to control thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Perg.) on strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) at Morelos state, Mexico: Spanish
Strawberry cultivation presents multiple phytosanitary limitations among which the “western flower thrips” stands out. Adults and nymphs of F. occidentalis produce severe damage to flowers and fruits, reducing the yield and quality of the product. In Mexico, thrips control is based on the use of synthetic chemical insecticides. The objective of this research was to evaluate the insecticidal effectiveness of biorational and conventional products as control alternatives and their phytotoxic effects in strawberry cultivation. The study was carried out in strawberry cv. Camino Real in flowering stage - fruiting established in open ground. A completely randomized design with seven treatments and four replications was used. Significant differences between treatments could be identified; Imidacloprid + Lambda Cyhalothrin and Bifenthrin caused the highest mortality of thrips with an efficiency of 92 and 93% respectively. Spinosad obtained good results, ranking as the second best option with 90% control efficiencies; neem extract stood out as an excellent biorational pest management alternative with 77% control efficacy in the last evaluation. No phytotoxic effects were observed from any of the treatments on the crop.Objective: To evaluate the insecticidal effectiveness of biorational and conventional products as alternatives to control thrips and their phytotoxic effects in strawberry cultivation.
Design / methodology / approach: The research was carried out in strawberry cv. Camino Real during its flowering stage - fruiting established in open ground; A completely randomized experimental design with seven treatments and four replications was used. The treatments evaluated were: T1: neem oil extract, T2: paraffin oil, T3: garlic extract + hot chili pepper + cinnamon, T4: spinosad, T5: imidacloprid + lambda cyhalothrin, T6: bifenthrin, and T7: control. Applications were made weekly and the mortality evaluation was carried out by counting the number of live thrips per flower. With the obtained data, an analysis of variances and a mean comparison test (Tukey, p ≤ 0.05) were performed.
Results: Significant differences between treatments could be identified (p ≤ 0.05); imidacloprid + lambda cyhalothrin and bifenthrin caused the highest mortality of thrips with 92 and 93 % efficacy, respectively. Spinosad obtained good results, ranking as the second-best option with 90 % control efficiencies; neem extract stood out as an excellent biorational pest management alternative with 77 % control efficacy in its last evaluation. No phytotoxic effects were observed from any of the treatments on the crop.
Limitations on study / implications: It is important to continue the study in the laboratory to obtain the LD50 and LD90 of the management alternatives, as well as an MRL analysis of the molecules used.
Findings / conclusions: The proposed protocol evidenced the efficacy of biorational and ecological thrips control treatments in intensive horticultural systems
