EVALUATION OF INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS IN SWEET CORN, 2001

Abstract

Sweet corn was planted on 12 Jun at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center near Painter, VA. Each plot consisted of two 20-ft long rows spaced 3 ft apart. Plots were flanked by at least one untreated row. The experiment included nine treatments and an untreated check arranged in an RCB design replicated six times. Insecticide applications were made on 26 and 29 Jul; 1, 4, and 7 Aug using a propanepressurized backpack sprayer that had a boom equipped with a single hollow cone nozzle calibrated to deliver 30 gpa at 40 psi. Latron B-1956 was added to all treatments at 8 fl oz/product/100 gal water. Timing of the first application corresponded with the initiation of the silk stage (approximately 50% silk). On 10 Aug, 40 mature ears were harvested per plot and examined for damage by Lepidopteran larvae and SB. Ear quality was rated as either fresh market (no damage), processing (no damage or damage confined within the first 1.5 inches from the tip of the ear) or cull (any damage below the first 1.5 inches from the tip of the ear). The number of CEW, ECB, FAW, SB larvae and SB adults per ear was recorded. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and treatment means were compared among each other using LSD at P < 0.05.