Efficacy of flubendiamide and emamectin benzoate in the control of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) on sweet pepper

Abstract

The cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) is the polyphagous pest that can cause significant losses in the pepper production (up to 35%). Larvae cause damage by puncturing in pepper fruits and feeding on their internal contents. Damaged fruits are susceptible to rot agents attack and they are not suitable for use. During 2018, in the field trial, we tested the efficacy of flubendiamide (product name: Flubendiamid 200 g/l SC) and emamectin benzoate (product name: Affirm 095 SG) in the control of cotton bollworm on sweet pepper. Flubendiamid 200 g/l SC was tested at application rate of 0.25 l/ha and 0.35 l/ha, while Affirm 095 SG was applied at 1.5 kg/ha. The experiment was performed in a sweet pepper crop at locality Kisiljevo (municipality of Veliko Gradište, Serbia). The trial was conducted according to the completely random block system in four replicates using standard EPPO method for testing the insecticide efficacy in the control of Helicoverpa armigera on vegetables and ornamental plants (PP 1/295 (1)). Three days after treatment (3DAT), the average damage of pepper fruit in untreated plot was 17.5%, and 8 DAT was 22%. Flubendiamid 200 g/l SC showed good efficacy at both application rates and both evaluation periods. Three days after treatment the efficacy ranged from 94.29% to 97.14%. At 8 DAT evaluation, efficacy was 95.45% and 98.86%, respectively. The treatment with Affirm 095 SG had a slightly lower efficacy (3 DAT: 90.0%), while the efficacy were even lower (84.09%), at 8 DAT evaluation. According to this results, new diamide insecticide flubendiamide showed very good efficacy and can be successfully used in H. armigera control on sweet pepper.