Control of San José scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comst.) from apple tree plantations at the Fruit Growing Research and Development Station of Iaşi

Abstract

Many pests are found in apple tree plantations, causing important damages if chemical treatments are not applied. One of these pests is San José scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comst), which is a key pest of apple tree plantations, found on the list of quarantine pests. Its appearance in apple tree plantations is tightly related to the climatic conditions, especially to temperature. This has a determining role in the pest evolution, which may lead to major damages or even to tree death. During 2005-2007, at the Fruit Growing Research and Development Station of Iaşi, we carried out investigations on the efficiency of some insecticides for the chemical control of San José scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comst). The trial was conducted at the Sîrca Farm, in an apple tree plantation (Idared Variety). We have tested the following products of plant protection, some of them being of the latest generation: Fyfanon 50 EC at a rate of 0.225%, Novadim 40 EC – 0.2% Reldan 40 EC-0.15%, Calypso 480 SC – 0.02%, Ecalux S – 0.1% and Pyrinex 48 EC – 0.02%. The tested insecticides belonged to the group of organophosphoric products and of inhibitors of insect metamorphosis.