The Effect of Surround WP on Apple Productivity and Fruit Quality in a Vermont Apple Orchard

Abstract

Surround WP, a kaolin clay-based biopesticide product, is a potential alternative to some organophosphates used in apple orchards for the management of pests, such as codling moth. In addition, Surround has been reported to have important nontarget horticultural impacts because of its effect on canopy temperature reduction. The label for use of Surround states: “When applied at recommended rates and frequencies, benefits such as increased plant vigor and improved yields may occur in certain apple cultivars.” However, most of the research on nontarget effects has been conducted in warmer, semiarid environments. The objectives of this 3-year (2002–04) interdisciplinary research project were to determine potential nontarget effects of Surround WP application on apple tree vigor, productivity, and fruit quality in the relatively cool and moist climate of the Northeast. The research was conducted at the UVM Horticultural Research Center in South Burlington, Vt., on `McIntosh'/M26 trees. The experiment used a completely randomized design with five treatments replicated six times. Each replicate consisted of single tree plots. Treatments included: 1) Surround beginning at green tip plus fungicides; 2) Surround beginning at green tip without fungicides; 3) Surround beginning at petal fall plus fungicides; 4) standard IPM; and 5) nontreated control. Results indicate no significant differences among treatments 1, 3, and 4 (treatments that included fungicide applications) in vegetative shoot length, spur characteristics, blossom number, fruit weight, firmness, soluble solids, and fruit calcium levels. Trees treated with Surround had significantly lower yield efficiencies in 2003 and 2004 than trees under IPM treatment.