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Pest management in Queensland strawberries: Reality bites, and growers' perspectives change!

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Waite, G.K. (2006) Pest management in Queensland strawberries: Reality bites, and growers' perspectives change! Acta Horticulturae, 708 . pp. 105-108.

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Publisher URL: http://www.ishs.org/

Abstract

Prior to the 1980s, arthropod pest control in Queensland strawberries was based entirely on calendar sprays of insecticides (mainly endosulfan, triclorfon, dimethoate and carbaryl) and a miticide (dicofol). These chemicals were applied frequently and spider mite outbreaks occurred every season. The concept of integrated pest management (IPM) had not been introduced to growers, and the suggestion that an alternative to the standard chemical pest control recipe might be available, was ignored. Circumstances changed when the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athios-Henriot, became available commercially in Australia, providing the opportunity to manage spider mites, the major pests of strawberries, with an effective biological agent. Trials conducted on commercial farms in the early 1980s indicated that a revolution in strawberry pest management was at hand, but the industry generally remained sceptical and afraid to adopt the new strategy. Lessons are learnt from disasters and the consequent monetary loss that ensues, and in 1993, such an event relating to ineffective spider mite control, spawned the revolution we had to have. Farm-oriented research and evolving grower perspectives have resulted in the acceptance of biological control of spider mites using Phytoseiulus persimilis and the 'pest in first' technique, and it now forms the basis of an IPM system that is used on more than 80% of the Queensland strawberry crop.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Additional Information:© International Society for Horticultural Science.
Keywords:Acari; Araneae; Arthropoda; fragaria x ananassa; Phytoseiulus persimilis; Tetranychidae; biological control; biological control agents; carbaryl; chemical control; dimethoate; endosulfan; insect control; insect pests; insecticides; integrated pest management; natural enemies; pest control; plant pests; predators; strawberries; trichlorfon.
Subjects:Plant pests and diseases > Pest control and treatment of diseases. Plant protection
Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture > Berries and small fruits
Plant pests and diseases > Individual or types of plants or trees
Plant culture > History
Live Archive:27 Jan 2009 00:09
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:47

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