Watermelon Whitefly Insecticide Efficacy Trial, 2015

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of various insecticides, insecticide rotations, types of application (soil injections or foliar sprays) and timing of applications for insect control and for suppression of watermelon vine decline (WVD) disease fruit symptoms caused by the SPW-transmitted Squash vein yellowing virus (SVYV) on watermelon under desert growing conditions. An insecticide trial was established at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center, Holtville, CA using a stand of watermelon variety ‘Sugar Baby’ direct seeded into single row beds, 80 inch centers, on 25 Mar 2015. Stand establishment was achieved using drip irrigation, which was used thereafter. Plots were two beds wide (13.33 ft) by 50 ft long and bordered by one untreated bed. Included were an untreated check and nine insecticidal treatments, applied …