Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Emil GEORGESCU, Maria TOADER, Lidia CANĂ, Luxița RÎȘNOVEANU
Maize leaf weevil (Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyll) is one of the main pests of the sunflower in Romania. This pest can destroy sunflower seedlings. Seed treatment with systemic insecticides was the most effective measure for maize leaf weevil control. After the ban of the neonicotinoids in the EU, no alternative for sunflower seed treatment remained available in Romania. This study has tested possible alternatives for replacing the neonicotinoids, for controlling the maize leaf weevil. The experience was carried out at the NARDI Fundulea, in the southeast of Romania, in 2021 and 2022. This study has tested seed treatment with cypermethrin active ingredient, seed treatment with cypermethrin, followed by foliar treatment with cu deltamethrin or acetamiprid, seed treatment with neem oil, and treatment with a biological insecticide on the base of Beauveria bassiana entomopathogen fungus, in two doses. This study, in both years, hasn't registered significant statistical differences concerning weevil density between treated sunflower plots and control (untreated) plots. Regarding maize leaf weevil attack on sunflower plants, in both years it hasn't registered significant statistical differences between the control and treated plots.
[Read full article] [Citation]
