Effectiveness of modern insecticides in protection of apple planting from blood-red aphids
Authors: Yanovskyi Yu. , Sukhanov S. , Krykunov I. , Fomenko O. 
Published: August 2021

Goal. To investigate an efficacy of the insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramate, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) and Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/ kg) on a reduction of a number and a harmfulness of blood-red aphid (Eriosoma laniqerum Hausm.), their impact on yields in commercial apple orchards.

Methods. A field method, in the commercial apple orchards under the conditions of educational production department of Uman National University of Horticulture of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine . A type of apple trees was Golden Delicious. Planting scheme — 4.0 × 3.0 m. Year of planting — 1992. Crown shape — sparsely (improved) — tiered. Rootstock — MM-106. Phases of plant development at application timing — “after blooming, fruit size — up to 20 mm” (BBCH 72) and “development of fruit (fruits about 90% of the final size)” (BBCH 79). Soil — shallow, low — humus dusty — loamy podzolic leached black soils: humus content — 1.3—2.5%; pH 4.8—5.2; mobile compounds Р2О5 — 130—180 mg/ kg and К2О — 8.9—9.2 mg/ kg (by Chirikov method). The measures for care of the experimental site — loosening a soil in the stem strips during the growing period, an application of organic and mineral fertilizers, a pruning, a splaying of grass between the rows (row spacing),a protection from pests and diseases. The technical effectiveness of applications was determined in different rates against blood-red aphids and their impact on yields in commercial apple orchards. Calculations were made according to generally accepted methods in in horticulture, plant protection and entomology.

Results. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramate, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) and Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/kg) against blood-red aphids provided a reduction of this species in the number of 92.8—97.2%. It allowed to obtain a high — grade apple product with a yield of 1.7—1.9 times higher comparing to control. The outcome of non-standard products did not exceed 4,9% compare to 24,9% in the control (water treatment). An application of these insecticides allowed to increase the effectiveness of main biometric indicators of trees, namely: the average length of annual shoots, shoot thickness, leaf surface area by 52.4—76.9%, 1.1—1.2 times and 47.9—138.5%, accordingly, which is important for settlement of potential fruit buds and future yields.

Conclusions. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramat, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/kg) can reduce effectively the harmfulness of blood-red aphids in apple orchards and control its number during the growing period. A limitation of a number of the current sucking species in apple orchard by using the studied applications provided a yield increase and a marketable quality of the obtained fruit products and the effectiveness of basic biometric indicators of trees, namely: the average length of annual shoots, shoot thickness, leaf surface area, which is important for the potential yields in commercial apple orchards in the next years.