title: Enhancement of insecticides against codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with L-aspartate in laboratory and field experiments.
abstract: The idea of enhancing insecticide efficacy against phytophagous insects with feeding stimulators was proposed as early as the 1960s, and a number of insect feeding stimulators based on sugars, molasses, and cottonseed extracts, biologically active at relatively high (5% and higher) concentrations, have been advocated. Here, we show that an acidic amino acid, L-aspartate, stimulates feeding in codling moth neonates at much lower concentrations and acts as an effective tank-mixed additive for increasing efficacy of insecticides, reducing fruit damage, and increasing yield of the fruit. In laboratory experiments, 1 mg/ml L-aspartate increased foliage consumption by 40-60% and, when added to Assail 30 SG, Baythroid XL, Delegate WG, or Carbaryl 80S, maintained its feeding stimulatory properties and reduced LD50(s) by approximately 10 times. In a 3-yr field trial, addition of L-aspartate to the aforementioned insecticides at 395 g/ha reduced fruit damage from approximately 6%, on average to < 1% for first-generation codling moth, and from approximately 20 to approximately 5% for the second generation. Interestingly, addition of L-aspartate also increased the average weight of apples by 11-27%, as measured at the time of harvest.
authors.forename: Maciej A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pszczolkowski
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012721:Carbaryl / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D007306:Insecticides; D018942:Macrolides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D011725:Pyridines; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C464485:acetamiprid; D012721:Carbaryl; C548262:spinetoram