Novel Approaches to Application and Performance Assessment of Insecticide Applications to Crop Leaves

Abstract

Uniform and controlled applications of insecticides constitute a fundamental aspect of applied research on performance of insecticides. We describe and evaluate a spraying device made from an artist airbrush and a soda bottle, the "bottle sprayer," which can be used to apply insecticide formulations both under laboratory and field conditions. Using the bottle sprayer in conjunction with quantitative behavioral analysis, it was shown that (1) miticides can significantly affect movement patterns and (2) it is possible to quantify mite repellency to miticides. The combination of controlled sprays to portions of trial arenas and quantification of behavioral responses by individual spider mites may be used to address a wide range of applied questions related to spider mite ecology. We used the bottle sprayer to apply water on water-sensitive cards and used simple image analysis techniques to correlate average reflectance per pixels (quadratic reflectance in blue color band) with water dose applied. Consequently, we were able to propose a method to quantify dose applied based on average color on water-sensitive cards. The spray card analysis based on data generated with the bottle sprayer was used to interpret spray card data obtained from spray applications in a commercial potato, Solanum tuberosum L., field and to discuss the possibility of developing quality control procedures for insecticide applications in field crops.

Using Spatial Structure Analysis of Hyperspectral Imaging Data and Fourier Transformed Infrared Analysis to Determine Bioactivity of Surface Pesticide Treatment

“…Thus, variance among paired observations is correlated to the distance between points. Analysis of the spatial structure of reflectance values in a single spectral band can be used as indicator of plant stress [41]. The underlying assumption in these studies is that reflectance data from a healthy crop leaf are more uniform than those acquired from a stressed crop leaves.…”

“…Based on experimental re-manipulation of HI data, we discuss the use of spatial structure analysis in classification of HI data. The miticide was applied onto carefully marked (marked with a sharpie) portions of leaves in the field, using a custom-built device, here referred to as the -bottle sprayer‖ [41]. In brief, the bottle sprayer consists of an airbrush (Master Airbrush model G22, TCP Global ® , San Diego, CA, USA) inside a plastic funnel which is inside a 2-liter soda bottle, spraying at a fixed distance (20 cm).…”

Development of models to predict product deposition from coverage obtained on artificial collectors and their practical application

“…[1]. Nansen et al (2010) also proposed a method to use WSP to estimate deposition of products, but their system was based on image analysis to measure the intensity of the blue colour generated on WSP, reporting that the major drawback of their method was its dependence on the lighting system and on the digitizer. In our opinion, it is also important to remember the limitation of WSP collectors for both methods in displaying an asymptotic relationship between coverage and deposition.…”

Preliminary Evaluation of Paecilomyces lilacinus HY-4 to Control Tetranychus urticae

“…To evaluate the virulence of P. lilacinus HY-4 against twospotted spider mite, a SD-tower sprayer was constructed by partially modified bottle sprayer method (Nansen et al, 2010). The SD-tower sprayer consists of the following materials: a dual action airbrush (BD-186: Fenghua Bida Machinery Manufacture Co., China) with a 0.3 mm needle, an acrylic cylinder (diameter: 90 mm, height: 200 mm), two of cuboid acrylic supports (area: 4900 mm 2 , height: 100 mm) and air compressor set (working pressure of 1 kg/cm 2 ) (Fig.…”

“…In Korea, it is also necessary to develop biological control mechanisms as a part of integrated pest management programs against the two-spotted spider mite. Dose-response evaluations of entomopathogenic fungus conducted under controlled conditions typically involve application of known droplet dose onto certain body parts of individual insects and spraying of surfaces with known amounts of fungus (Nansen et al, 2010). Of the two, spraying method is more suitable for small-size insects and practical.…”