Ultralow Oxygen Treatment for Control of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Grape Benchgrafts

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 272 - 276
• Main Authors: Liu, Yong-Biao, Bettiga, Larry J, Daane, Kent M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Animals; controlled atmosphere storage; dormancy; fruit crops; grafting (plants); grapes; Hemiptera - physiology; insect control; Insect Control - methods; insect pests; mortality; Oxygen; Planococcus ficus; plant growth; plant pests; storage temperature; table grapes; Vitex - parasitology; Vitis; wine cultivars; wine grapes
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X
• DOI: 10.1603/EC09221

Controlled atmosphere treatments with ultralow oxygen (ULO treatments) were developed successfully for control of vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on dormant grape (Vitis spp.) benchgrafts. At 30 ppm oxygen, 3-d ULO treatment at 25°C and 4-d ULO treatment at 15°C achieved complete control of all life stages of P. ficus. At a much lower oxygen level (<1 ppm), the two ULO treatments with the same exposure periods of 3 d at 25°C and 4 d at 15°C were tested on six table and wine grape cultivars grafted on rootstocks along with P. ficus. The benchgrafts were then potted in a greenhouse, together with untreated controls, to determine treatment effects on rootstock viability, Both ULO treatments achieved complete control of P. ficus and did not have any negative effects on vine growth, compared with the control. Results indicate that ULO treatments can be used to control P. ficus on dormant grape benchgrafts. The advantages of the ULO treatments are also discussed with respect to hot water treatments.