SUSTAINABLE CONTROL OF CODLING MOTH, CYDIA POMONELLA L. IN SOME APPLE ORCHARDS OF BULGARIA

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The codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., is the key pest of pome fruits in Bulgaria. Reduction of pesticide use is an important consideration for human health as well as for conservation of biodiversity. Environmentally friendly methods such as semiochemicals are among the most promising. These trials were carried out during the years 2020 and 2021 in southeast Bulgaria to test the effectiveness of microencapsulated sprayable pheromones in apple orchards using CIDETRAK® CM MEC (pheromone) liquid formulations as well as the effectiveness of mating disruption (MD) using CIDETRAK® CMDA COMBO™ MESO™ -A dispensers at rate of 80 dispensers per ha. Monitoring of CM flights was implemented using pheromone or pheromone and kairomone lures with traps during the years of the study. The traps baited with standard PHEROCON® CM L2 lures were changed at 4-week intervals. We also used PHEROCON® CMDA COMBO™ - P + AA lures, which is a new product developed by Trécé Inc., USA for use in orchards with MD. The traps baited with PHEROCON® CM DA COMBO - P + AA lures were changed at 8-week intervals. The damage in the treatment plot increased slowly over time and even in late cultivars, fruit damage by CM was below the economical threshold from 0.1 to 0.2% in both years of the study. Comparatively, ten insecticide treatments were applied to the reference orchard located in the region during the season, targeting CM and other pests. Correspondingly, fruit damage at harvest in the reference orchard by CM was from 2.2 to 2.5%. The significance of differences in the damage rate between the trial and the reference orchard was estimated by Chi-square tests. These new products developed by Trécé Inc., USA can be used in organic farming and fits perfectly into any IPM system. The use of CIDETRAK® CM MEC and CIDETRAK® CMDA COMBO™ MESO™ - A dispensers will help growers to decrease the number of chemical treatments in the field. Introduction of these products for pest management should result in reduction of the use of conventional chemical insecticide treatments, thus resulting in less environmental pollution and improved food quality.