Work

Efficacy of BAS 40011 for suppressing two-spot cotton leafhopper on eggplant, spring 2025

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The study was conducted to develop a management program for controlling the two-spot cotton leafhopper, an invasive insect pest on vegetable and ornamental crops. ‘Black Beauty’ eggplant transplants were planted on raised beds on 26 April 2025 at TREC, Homestead, Florida. Plants were set 18 inches apart within rows and 36 inches apart between rows. Each treatment plot consisted of a 25-foot-long bed. Treatment plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. A 5-foot-long non-planted area separated blocks from each other. The various treatments used in the study are listed in Table 1. Treatments were applied on 2 dates, 30 Jun and 15 Jul 2025. Application of all treatments was made using a manually operated backpack sprayer with 2 nozzles/row delivering 50 GPA at 30 psi. Treatments were evaluated by visually counting all leafhoppers on the 5 randomly selected wide-open leaves from each treatment plot at 3, 7, and 14 d after the first application and 3, 7, 14, and 21 d after the second application. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were separated using Waller-Duncan K-ratio t-test. Means within a column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly (Waller-Duncan K-ratio t test). Dyne-Amic added to all treatments at the rate of 0.125% (v/v). DAT, Day after treatment. The population abundance of the two-spot cotton leafhopper on eggplant was low (0 to 2/leaf) during this study. All insecticide treatments significantly reduced the two-spot cotton leafhopper 3 d after the first application as compared to the untreated check (Table 1). Insecticide treatments consistently showed significantly lower numbers of the two-spot cotton leafhopper 7 and 14 d after the first application when compared with the untreated check. After the second application on 16 Jul, insecticide treatments also reduced the two-spot cotton leafhopper, as was the case with the first application (Table 1). Insecticide treatments did not cause any phytotoxic effects on eggplants. Weather conditions for the duration of this study were obtained from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) at TREC, Homestead, Florida. The minimum temperature was 61.83 °F, and the maximum temperature was 94.93 °F, with an average temperature of 79.99 °F. The relative humidity average was 81%. The average rainfall was 14.63 inches, and the soil temperature at 10 cm was 82.5 °F. This research was supported in part by pesticide industry gifts and research funding from University of Florida SHARED FOUNDATION. None declared.

Source: Arthropod management tests

DOI: 10.1093/amt/tsag053

Authors: Dakshina Seal, Catherine Sabines, Monalisa Seaton

Institutions: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Insect-Plant Interactions and Control

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $300