Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LVIII
Written by Ciprian Nesu MIRCEA, Roland CHIVEREANU, Stefan CROITORU, Silviu MIRICA, Rada ISTRATE, Ioan ROSCA
Almost all over the world as in Romania, being Holarctic species, the Colorado potato beetle, (Leptinotarsadecemlineata L.), is by far the biggest pest for potato growers. Given increasing consumer demand of products withoutpesticides, concept best expressed by the emergence of the term of „ecological farming” is similar terms „organicfarming” or „biological farming” used in other EU Member States. There are a few methods, taking into considerationorganic or that work well against potato beetle. Some organic gardeners rely on a broad-spectrum of homemade spraysfor reject insects, after the Rodale encyclopaedia. From literature is known that wood ash is highly toxic to adult andlarval stages of the Colorado potato beetle continuously exposed to wood ash for periods of up to 10 days but remainedlow in topical applications. To determine the effect of the experimental products (Dust of grinded beetles dried at105oC; decoction from grinded beetles dried at 105oC; ash of grinded beetles burned at 250oC; decoction from theashes of burnt bugs to 250oC; Chilli pepper powder; decoction of Chilli pepper powder; chopped fresh peppers;decoction of fresh chopped peppers; tobacco decoction; check.), potato leaves were sprayed with decoction for about 3seconds or powdered with dust or powder, put onto the Petri dishes. In present laboratory experiment defined the effectof the 9 extracts on Colorado potato beetle feeding and survival. Colorado potato beetle put onto the Petri dishes filledwith leaves, was provided with 5 Colorado potato beetles adults or 5 larvae in stage L2-L3. The experiment was 24, 48and 72 h long and involved the replacement and supplementing of feed. The test and control combinations (untreateddry leaves) were set up in 5 replications. After 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours the CPB adults or larvae were counted. Testshave shown that the products tested did not significantly effect in combating CPB nor on adults or larvae, eitherpowdered or decoctions, without any repellent effect. So it have been rejected different opinions, spread among potatogrowers, concerning the use of different products non insecticides.
[Read full article] [Citation]
control
