Effectiveness of Selective Insecticides to Control Citrus Leafminer on Mandarin Trees.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The efficacies of four insecticides Viz., imidacloprid (Confidor 20% OD), abamectin (Vertimec 1.8% E.C), a mineral oil (KZ oil 95% EC), and a mixture of Vertimec and KZ oil (1 : 10 V/V) to control the larvae of citrus leafminer (CLM) in mandarin orchard located in Sharkia Governorate during 2013 – 14 and 2014 – 15 were evaluated. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replicates (each contains 5 trees) for each chemical treatment. At each studied year, two foliar insecticidal sprays were applied on early September and late May. CLM larval mortality was recorded at 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after treatment (DAT). Results showed that, regardless the studied year and the time of insecticidal application, nearly complete reduction in number of CLM larvae compared to control was observed with all treatments 7 DAT. At 21 DAT, the insecticidal activities of all chemicals were declined. However, imidacloprid exhibited the highest residual activity. Mixing abamectin with KZ oil increased its insecticidal activity at all inspection times. Thus, Confidor and a mixture of Vertimec with KZ oil gave the higher foliar insecticidal activity and persistence against CLM infestation on mandarin trees.

Keywords