ChileanJAR

Brevicoyne brassfcae is one of the major pests on cruciferous crops in Chile, where chemicais are repeatedly sprayed to avoid aphids presence and damage. Non selective materials are frequently used, meaning a limitationto predators,while aphid parasitoid’s efficiency is seriously limited by hyperparasito ids. Application of 0.01 cc of omethoate/plant on the surface of apical leaves of cabbage, as a localized treatment, resulted on a sustained control of B. brassicae and Myzus persicae. The dose/plant was diluted in 0.25 cc solution of Teepol (detergent) at 0.01% and applied to two apical leaves. After 32 days, only 14% of the treated plants maintained aphids, averaging 1.9 aphids/plant, while the non treated check plants had 73 aphids/plant. Being a selective alternative approach to integrated pest management, using one third of the recommended dose and having some toxicity against lepidopterous larvae, this treatment could also be used on vegetable crops other than cabbages.