Effectiveness of spinosad and mineral oil for control of Grapholita funebrana Treitschke in organic plum orchards

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in an organic plum orchard in Sicily to evaluate the damage caused by the plum moth Grapholita funebrana (Treitschke) to three plum cultivars (Angeleno, Friar, and Stanley) and to evaluate plum moth control provided by mineral oil applied every 20 days (Moil), spinosad applied every 10 days (S10), or spinosad and mineral oil applied alternately (S/Moil). Treatment application began when eggs were first observed on fruits. S10 and S/Moil effectively reduced plum moth damage on all cultivars but Moil did not. Plum moth infestation was significantly lower on Stanley than on Friar and Angeleno.