ISHS Acta Horticulturae 94: XI International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
CHEMICAL STERILANTS, VIRUS VECTORS, INSECT CONTROL |
| Author: | M.L. SHARMA |
| Abstract:
Several chemosterilants have been tested in the laboratory and chemicals as 5-fluorouracil, thiotepa, tepa, metepa and apholate have given excellent results in the reduction of reproductive capacity as well as in sterility of Tetranychus urticae, Aphis fabae, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. Because of their perennial nature, the fruit trees provide excellent testing material and as such the above mentioned chemosterilants may be tested in experimental orchards against Aphis pommi, Myzus persicae and Tetranychus species that abound these perennials. Since the sterility by 5-fluorouracil and thiotepa seems to be prolonged upto F2 generation, these products may have a long range effect in the aphid control. Since M. persicae and A. pommi are virus vectors, not only we can expect an eradication of the virus vector but also an attenuation of the viruses itself because of the nature of chemosterilants used. In the use of thiotepa (maximum of 0.5%) the stability of the chemosterilant can be prolonged when used in solutions with sodium bicarbonate. These applications will probably bring a solution to virus vector eradication as well as to viruses propagation. At this stage, however, no guarantee seems available against the destruction of useful insects as Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae. The above suggestions should be considered as experimentation hypothesis under controlled and isolated orchards. In all cases great care must be taken in the application of chemosterilants because of the sterility and side effects they may cause to the animal and human life. | |
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