For the year 2022/2023, global grape production amounted to about 27.9 million metric tons. This figure show that protecting grape harvest are a central concern for growers across the globe and biocontrol has an important role to play.
Highly effective mealybug control
Koppert’s products Citripar and Cryptobug are key tools that grape growers must include in their IPM strategy. In the fight against vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus), Citripar (Anagyrus vladimiri) and Cryptobug (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) have proven to be a highly effective team, ensuring comprehensive vineyard protection.
Citripar can be used preventatively or at first sign of pest presence. The adult female parasitic wasps parasitize the mealybugs, with the preferred hosts being the third instar nymphs, but females will also readily attack second and fourth instars of the female vine mealybugs (Planococcus ficus). Pupae develop in the mummified skin of the host and look like swollen mealybug larvae. Empty pupae have an irregular exit hole at the posterior end of the mummy after the parasitic wasps emerged. Working with Citripar, Cryptobug can be used for a blanket release for all stages of many mealybug species. The process of controlling mealybugs with Cryptobug is based on predation, and adults and larvae of Crytobug consume the mealybugs completely.
Trial results prove efficacy
The dynamic duo of Citripar and Cryptobug offers growers a compact, yet potent, solution for sustained crop protection and productivity, as recent trials showed. When observing the number of mealybugs per bunch, trials showed that after 3 weeks of using Citripar and Cryptobug there were only 11 mealybugs per bunch, compared to the grower standard of 214. The mealybug population also showed a significant decline 20 days after a second release of Citripar and Cryptobug adults with 4 times less population per leaf, compared to the grower standard.
Residue free solutions
Biological agents, like Citripar and Cryptobug, offer grape growers’ significant advantages. These solutions:
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Presents limited to no resistance
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Have no-preharvest interval
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Are safe for growers, consumers and the environment
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Easy to use and integrate into your IPM strategy
Comprehensive mealybug control with easy strategic IPM integration, that is what it means to be in control of your vineyard with Koppert.
