Bangor 30 th August, 2012 Controlled release of volatile fine chemicals used in crop protection Owen Jones AgriSense / Suterra
Pheromones & Other Semiochemicals
The principal component of the sex pheromone of the Citrus Moth and the Olive Moth l Z -7- tetradecenal (Z-7-14:ald) »Nesbitt, B.F., Beevor, P.S, Hall, D.R., Lester, R., Sternlicht, M., and Goldenberg, S. (1977). Identification and synthesis of the female sex pheromone of the citrus flower moth, Prays citri. Insect Biochem. 7:
Pheromone Dispenser Each Vial contains 1 mg of the pheromone
Delta Trap in Olive Tree
Control of Release Rate by Easily Available Means Vials Matrix System (Septa) Sachets and Plastic Pouches The Lure Technology – Early Days
Types of Delivery Systems Employed Laminates Matrix systemsReservoirs Extrusions Pheromone reservoir layer Impermeable top layer Impermeable backing layer Attractant incorporated into structure of device Attractant mostly stored in enclosed lumen Laminate More Advanced Lure Technology Membrane systems
Release Rate Profile days Percent remaining Zero Order First Order
Detection threshold Damage threshold Generation peaks? Interpreting the Information Pheromone Monitoring
Pheromone Lures for over 1000s of species
Semiochemicals now come from many sources l 1-octen-3-ol »An important flavour chemical in mushroom soup – is also an attractant for mosquitoes and midges l 4aS7S7aR-nepetalactone (cis,trans) »Extracted from Nepeta cataria and used in many aspects of aphid pest management l para - menthane–3,8–diol »Extracted from lemon Eucalyptus citriodora and also synthesised - is a good repellent for biting insects
Formulations of novel Semiochemicals Nepetalactone in controlled release polymer dispensers R-octenol and ammonia dispenser for mosquitoes
Control of Moth Pests with Sex Pheromones Mating Disruption
Pheromones are released to interfere with the ability of male insects to locate females of the same species, thereby disrupting mating and controlling the damage to crops inflicted by the hatching larvae. The Principal of Mating Disruption
Matrix Systems for Controlled Release Frustrate PBW Control of Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella in cotton 250 devices/ha applied once Lasts 3-4 months Selibate CS Control of Chilo suppressalis in rice devices/ha applied once Lasts 3-4 months
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones - Dispensers Dispensers (Single or Double) Twist-tie Ropes Ampoules (Single or Double)
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones – Micro-Encapsulated Formulations. Polymer Skin Nucleus [active ingredient: component(s) of pheromone]
Formulations for: Pome FruitCodling Moth Cydia pomonella Stone FruitOriental Fruit Moth Grapholita molesta Peach Twig Borer Anarsia lineatella VegetablesDiamond Back Moth Plutella xylostella Beet Army Worm Spodoptera exigua Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones – Micro-Encapsulated Formulations
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones – Timed Release Aerosol Delivery
Deployment Strategies A large number of low-dose point sources »CheckMate Microencapsulated formulations million caps / ha per application 350 ng pheromone / capsule »Ecopom and Ecodian 2,500 point sources / ha applied 2 to 3 x 20 g A.I. per ha per application »Ecotape 4,000 point sources / ha 12 g A.I. Per ha. Continuous self adhesive tape
Hand-Applied Dispensers »Isomate twist ties, RAK ampoules, and CheckMate membrane dispensers »250 to 1000 dispensers per ha »80 – 200 g A. I. per ha / season Puffers »2 to 3 per ha »110 g A.I. per ha / season Deployment Strategies
Situation Today and in the Future l Market for pheromone-based control products is about $200 million world-wide currently but growing at over 10% per annum l 780,000 ha treated in 2010 with pheromone-based products l It has taken nearly 35 years to get to its current size. l It is still under 3% of the world-wide Insecticide Market ($9 Billion) l This is just the mating disruption market – in the future there will be markets for repellents, arrestants, dipersal or alarm pheromones, attractants for beneficial insects and many more – All Requiring Controlled Release