Effect of Insecticides on Pepper Insects, 2015 *

To determine the effect of insecticides on pepper insect control, seedlings were transplanted in a sandy loam type soil on 5 Jun at the University of California’s South Coast Research and Extension Center. Experimental plots were three rows wide (5-ft centers) by 20-ft long and separated by a 3-ft buffer. The pepper transplants were drip irrigated (water pH 7.2–7.5). Treatments were replicated four times in an RCB block design. A treatment list is shown in Table 1 . The Radiant and Lannate plus Pounce treatments were applied as weekly foliar sprays on (14, 21, 30 Jul, 6, 13, and 27 Aug). Sivanto was a foliar spray on (14 Jul, 6 and 27 Aug). Verimark was applied once as a soil drench on 14 July as part of the rotation, which included Radiant (21 Jul, 6, 13, and 27 Aug) and Closer (6, 13, and 27 Aug). Pyrellin was applied (14, 21 Jul, and 27 Aug) as part of the foliar spray rotations with Trilogy (8 Aug), Mycotrol (30 Jul, 6, and 13 Aug), and Entrust (30 Jul, 6, and 13 Aug). All applications were made at twilight. A tractor-mounted boom sprayer with six nozzles per row incorporated D-3 orifice disks, ^# 25 cores, and 50 mesh screens. Operating pressure was 125 psi delivering 100 gpa. All treatments included MSO as an adjuvant at 0.25% vol/vol except treatments, which consisted of Pyrellin, Trilogy, Mycotrol, and Entrust. On 3 Sep, 50 mature-green to ripe fruit were harvested from the center row of each replicate (200 per treatment) and examined for Lepidopterous internal damage TFW, external damage BAW, hemipterous pests (lygus and SB), and PW. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Fisher’s protected LSD analysis to detect differences among treatment means ( P  <   0.05 level, Fisher’s protected LSD test).

Lepidopteran pressure was estimated to be moderate to high in the categories of External damage by BAW and there were significant differences between the treatments for Lepidopterous insect damage. Internal damage by PW was high this year with the untreated control sustaining 36% damage. We did see some differences between treatments for TP numbers. The Lannate 2.4LV plus Pounce 3.2 EC treatments had higher TP numbers. Damage to the calyx showed statistical differences between treatments and can be attributed to TFW, BAW, and PW feeding. No phytotoxicity was observed in any of the treatments.

Author notes