A new project seeking new control options for mealybugs in persimmons will also benefit four other A Lighter Touch product groups whose crops have the same pest problem.
The New Zealand Persimmon Industry Council-A Lighter Touch project will begin this autumn with trials establishing the residue profiles of five insecticides in three orchards in Gisborne, Matakana and Northland.
Longtailed mealybug and citrophilous mealybug are important pests in persimmon. These insects and the sooty mould associated with them reduce plant vigour and contaminate fruit. They are also a common pest for other crops, including passionfruit, grapes, citrus and summerfruit.
Currently there are two main crop protection products registered for the control of mealybug in persimmons, and limited use of a third. Two of these products have withholding periods that mean they do not provide effective late season control, as pest pressure continues during the window from last sprays until harvest.
Persimmon orchard. Credit Persimmon Industry Council.
Ian Turk, the Persimmon Industry Council’s manager and representative on ALT’s Industry Stakeholder Advisory Group, says persimmons are a crop that is grown with a focus on export.
“For many of our markets delivering a product that is free of pests that are of concern to the importing country is vital. Mealy bugs are certainly a pest that can cause import problems, yet there is a shortage of control products with a short withholding period.
Ian says better knowledge of decay curves will give confidence to apply mealy bug controls later in the season, and new options with short withholding periods will further increase late season control options.
“This will have a significant impact on export marketing of persimmons, and other products that can use the knowledge gained from these trials.”
In addition to the trials being held this autumn, the project will also explore the efficacy of four biological compounds and three synthetic insecticides, comparing them to the industry standard. This work will commence later in the year when pest pressure is evident.
