Tobacco Aphid Control on Flue-Cured Tobacco with Foliar Insecticides, 1991

Abstract

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate various insecticides applied as foliar spray and transplant water (TPW) treatments for control of the tobacco aphid on flue-cured tobacco. Experimental plots, 1 row (4 ft) wide and 40 ft long, were established in a Chesterfield-Mayodan-Bourne sandy loam soil at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Experiment Station, Blackstone, VA. Tobacco was transplanted on 15 May into experimental plots that were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Plots were separated by single, untreated, border rows and blocks were separated by vacant 5-ft alleys. Except for insect control, production practices followed recommendations of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. Immediately after transplanting, a measuring cup was used to apply transplant water (TPW) treatments at 4 fl oz/plant (204 gal/acre). Foliar treatments were applied on 9 Jul using a CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer that delivered 26.4 gal/acre through 3 TX-10 hollow-cone nozzles per row at 60 psi. Aphids were counted on 4 upper leaves of 10 plants/plot one day before the foliar treatment and 3, 7, and 14 DAT. On 23 Aug plant damage associated with aphid infestations was rated on a scale of 0 to 5 where 0 = no damage and 5 = most severe damage. Tobacco was harvested, cured, and yield determined. Aphid counts were transformed to log(x+l) before analysis of variance (ANOVA, SAS 1985) and significant means (P=0.05) were separated by DMRT. Actual means are presented in the table.