The efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug , Planococcus ficus ( Signoret ) ( Hemiptera : Pseudococcidae ) on grapes during the period of investigation

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was a majour pest in many grape vines growing regions in the world and Egypt. It is feeding on several agricultural and weedy plant species. However, grape vines are a preferred host, and are the most adversely affected by this insect. Like other mealybugs, vine mealybug feeds on phloem sap, but it can be found throughout the plant-even on the roots. The pest were suppressed by preventive measures with a view to reducing the impact of the attack. Allowed substances acting on the suitable time, if appropriate. Insecticide of plant origin citric acid are used in May before coloration. Along with the biological control of Chrysoperla carnea in July after coloration, as well as, low toxicity insecticide (Malathion) in January after pruning process. In the spring where the small buds appear a sequence of mineral oil (KZ) are used. The obtained data showed a significant effect on the different stages of the total insect population The obtained data indicated that, tested compound Citric acid on P. ficus infested grape showed a slight effect after three days from treatment, then their effect increased gradually to give the highest effectiveness after 18 days. Using the predator, C. carnea for controlling P. ficus infested grape, showed the effectiveness of this predator in reducing the P. ficus after releasing. INTRODUCTION Grapes, Vitis vinifera L. (Family: Vitaceae) is considered one of the most important fruit crop in Egypt, not only as a popular fruit, but also for using in many agricultural industries. Vineyards are attacked by several pests; causing several types of damage. The pseudococcid, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is the most important one; in few years became an economic pest in Egypt, especially in the newly reclaimed areas. The proplem with P. ficus in grape vine is already very grave and the ways to diminish the losses should be searched for and the only sustainable way on a long term basis is in biological control (Marotta et al., 2001). The predator, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) use to control the targeted, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) on sugarcane (Abd El-Gawad and Mohamed, 2009) Formulation plays an important role in agriculture field; it makes a very small amount of active component to spread over a very large area. Also it facilitates the penetration of the active ingredient to reach its target and achieve its action (EL-Kady, 2008). Citric acid as soluble powder formulation exhibited highly activity for the control of Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (Mohamed et al., 2009). The aims of this work is to study the efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug, P. ficus on grapes during the period of investigation. Mohamed, G. H. et al. 70 MATERIALS AND METHODS Population dynamics of P. ficus were carried out on grape-vine, at ElNoubaria, El-Beheira governorate during 2010. The selected orchards did not receive any chemical control for many years before starting monitoring and within the studying period. All, vines (Thompson seedless) received the same routine horticultural practices by their owners. Selected ten vine were similar in size, shape and vegetation as possible. Vine of each host plants were homogenous in their infestation with P. ficus. Halfmonthly samples were carried out from January to December 2010. Each sample consisted of 400 leaves (10 leaves/vine) and 40 randomly bunches (1bunch / vine); from each bunch 10 berries were examined. From the trunk, the mealybug individuals were counted in a square inch, while from roots sampling was carried out from December to April 2010, with one square inch / vine. The numbers of P. ficus (pre. adults and adult femals) were counted and recorded. The efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug, P. ficus on grapes during the period of investigation. *Different material AUsed insecticide: Malathion: Emulsifiable concentrate of O, Odimethyl dithiophosphate of diethyl mercaptosuccinate. Samples of malathion used in this study was 57% E.C. and formulated by the American Cyanamid Company. Rate of use: 2.5 ml/l L. BUsed mineral oil: KZ oil: Formulated by Kafr El-Zayat chemical Co. contains 95% paraffinic oil (W/W) and 5% inert ingredients (emulsifying additions ). Rate of use: 15 ml /1 L. CUsed natural compound: Citric acid : As asoluble powder, formulation (Sp 90%) were prepared by second author, according to method described with EL-Kady (2008). DUsed insect's predator: Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens): The angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) were cultured in laboratory according to the method described by Abd El-Gawad and Mohamed (2009). *Experimental design Eight orchards (quarter feddan) of grape vine were heavily infested with P. ficus, four of them treatment different material (Malathion, KZ oil, citric acid and the predator C. carnea) while the last four orchards left as a control. These orchards were carefully selected at El-Noubaria, El-Beheira Governorate. Grape vine were about 8 years-old, and free of any insectidal application for years previous to these experiments. Four treatments were applied. Every treatment was replicated 3 times each using 5 grape vine. The application included winter and summer. Date of application is shown in (Table 1). Table 1: Timing for different programs. Treatments Date of applications Malathion Spraying in (Winter after pruning and Remove loose bark of the vine) January


INTRODUCTION
Grapes, Vitis vinifera L. (Family: Vitaceae) is considered one of the most important fruit crop in Egypt, not only as a popular fruit, but also for using in many agricultural industries.Vineyards are attacked by several pests; causing several types of damage.The pseudococcid, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is the most important one; in few years became an economic pest in Egypt, especially in the newly reclaimed areas.The proplem with P. ficus in grape vine is already very grave and the ways to diminish the losses should be searched for and the only sustainable way on a long term basis is in biological control (Marotta et al., 2001).The predator, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) use to control the targeted, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) on sugarcane (Abd El-Gawad and Mohamed, 2009) Formulation plays an important role in agriculture field; it makes a very small amount of active component to spread over a very large area.Also it facilitates the penetration of the active ingredient to reach its target and achieve its action (EL-Kady, 2008).Citric acid as soluble powder formulation exhibited highly activity for the control of Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) ( Mohamed et al., 2009).
The aims of this work is to study the efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug, P. ficus on grapes during the period of investigation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Population dynamics of P. ficus were carried out on grape-vine, at El-Noubaria, El-Beheira governorate during 2010.The selected orchards did not receive any chemical control for many years before starting monitoring and within the studying period.All, vines (Thompson seedless) received the same routine horticultural practices by their owners.Selected ten vine were similar in size, shape and vegetation as possible.Vine of each host plants were homogenous in their infestation with P. ficus.
Half-monthly samples were carried out from January to December 2010.Each sample consisted of 400 leaves (10 leaves/vine) and 40 randomly bunches (1bunch / vine); from each bunch 10 berries were examined.From the trunk, the mealybug individuals were counted in a square inch, while from roots sampling was carried out from December to April 2010, with one square inch / vine.As asoluble powder, formulation (Sp 90%) were prepared by second author, according to method described with EL-Kady (2008).

*Experimental design
Eight orchards (quarter feddan) of grape vine were heavily infested with P. ficus, four of them treatment different material (Malathion, KZ oil, citric acid and the predator C. carnea) while the last four orchards left as a control.These orchards were carefully selected at El-Noubaria, El-Beheira Governorate.
Grape vine were about 8 years-old, and free of any insectidal application for years previous to these experiments.Four treatments were applied.Every treatment was replicated 3 times each using 5 grape vine.The application included winter and summer.Date of application is shown in (Table 1).
Spraying applications of different material (Malathion, KZ oil and citric acid) were accomplished by means of 6 horse-powered motor sprayer, (600 liters tank), at a rate of 25-30 liters of insecticide solution per Grape vine to ensure complete coverage Grape vine at a pressure of 400 pounds per square inch (25 kg/cm 2 ).
Releasing of the predator application was at the rate of 14400 predators/feddan 3 times at 15 day intervals.

* Counting and evaluation of treatments:
A sample of 25 unite (5cm 2 of branch or leaves) from grape vine, each replicate were picked up at random, from different sides of the treated grape vine.The unite (5cm 2 ) of branch or leaves were put in polyethylene bags and transferred to the laboratory for inspection.
Pre-treatment counts were taken immediately before spraying.Three posttreatment counts were taken 15, 30 and 45 days after application.The percentage of a live pre-adults and adults per leaf before and after spraying and releasing was recorded.The evaluation of (Malathion, KZ oil, citric acid and the predator C. carnea) were based on the reduction in the population density of a live individuals per unit.
The percent reduction of the different stages of the P. ficus in relation to the pre-treatment count was estimated according to Henderson and Tilton formula, (1955): % Population reduction =100 * [ 1-(Ta X Cb ) / (Tb X Ca)] where: Cb = mean alive number of pest / unit in untreated before spraying.Ca = mean alive number of pest / unit in untreated after spraying.Tb = mean alive number of pest / unit in treatment before spraying.
Ta= mean alive number of pest / unit in treatment after spraying unit (5cm 2 of Roots or branch or leaves or Clusters).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Population dynamics of P. ficus on all parts of the vine:
The population dynamics of P. ficus on all parts of the vine (Thompson) from January to December 2010.could be traced in Table (2).

Infestation in trunk:
During the season, (2010) (Table 2), population started in Jan., 1; increasing gradually till representing a small peak in Feb. 1, with a mean count of 26.8 pre.adults /sq.inch and 4.21 adult females/ sq.inch, with a total of 31.01 individuals /sq.inch.This peak was followed by a decrease in population size in mid -June, as a result of the movement of P. ficus individuals from the bark to leaves and bunches.Thereafter, the population increased gradually to form the the highest peak in mid-August; being represented by 61.88 pre.adults and 2.8 adult females / sq.inch , with a total count of 64.68 individuals /sq.inch.In Nov. 15, the peak was observed; being represented by 23.99 pre.adults and 4.38 adult females ,with a total of 28.37 individuals /sq.inch.

Infestation in leaf:
In (Table 2) pre.adults and adult females started to appear in 15 June; increasing gradually to reach a peak of 29 individuals/ leaf (27.18 pre.adults + 1.31 adult females) in Aug. 1.This peak was followed by a decrease till Oct. 15.During Nov., no individual was detected.

Infestation in bunches:
In (Table 2), infestation began in 1 June; reaching its greatest count in Jul.15; a total of 27.13 individuals / berry.Afterwards, the population decreased till no individual was detected.
The obtained results are presented in (Table 2) observed biweekly mean count of P. ficus on (roots + trunk + leaves +clusters) of Thompson seedless grapevines during 2010.Total biweekly counts reached 45.03 individuals /sq.inch.This peak was, followed by a decrease in population size in June, 15 and July 1, as a result of the movement of P. ficus individuals from the bark to leaves and bunches.Thereafter, the population increased gradually to form the highest peak in Aug. 1; with a total count of 84.03 individuals /sq.inch.In Oct 1, the peak was observed; with a total of 54.25 individuals /sq.inch.Bently et al. (1999), reported that P. ficus could be found on all parts of the vine including roots;the case that didn't report for other mealybugs infesting grapes.
These results are in line with Tawfik et al., (2005); Mohamed & Gaser, (2010).Duso, (1989) who mentioned that focus of infestation is detected in winter by removing portion of the bark near the trunk.

The efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug, P. ficus on grapes during the period of investigation.
The following indicates the results of applying different material (Malathion, KZ oil, Citric acid and C. carnea) in four programs during 2010 using P. ficus as a target pest.The obtained results are presented in Tables, (3,4) as mean individual count and percent reduction of insect population.Average percentage of reduction in insect population pre-adult of P. ficus for KZ oil, Malathion, Citric acid and C. carnea were 94.6, 91.5, 75.9 and 47.1%, respectively.
The obtained results of the conducted programs indicated that Malathion and Citric acid were the most effective control agenst for P. ficus.The effectiveness of the tested materials increased over time where thirty days after application showed the highest reduction.The three selected dates of application were assumed to be the proper time for controlling this mealy bug.This may emphasize that applying programs at the proper time may increase their efficacy.These results are in agreement with those of Mohamed et al., (2009)

The efficiency of different materials for controlling vine mealybug, P. ficus on grapes during the period of investigation. *Different material A-Used insecticide: Malathion:
The numbers of P. ficus (pre.adults and adult femals) were counted and recorded.

Table 3 :
Effect of different material on pre-adult of P. ficus on thompson seedless grape vine at El-Noubaria, El-Beheira Governorate.

Table 4 :
Effect of different material on adult of P. ficus on thompson seedless grape vin e at El-Noubaria, El-Beheira Governorate.