afpp – colloque ravageurs et insectes invasifs et

AFPP – COLLOQUE RAVAGEURS ET INSECTES INVASIFS ET ÉMERGENTS
MONTPELLIER – 21 OCTOBRE 2014
INVASIVE TREE PEST CONTROL BY EMAMECTIN BENZOATE TREE MICRO INJECTION
P. BOURDREZ(1), R. DELGADO(2) AND P. WYSS(3)
(1)
Syngenta France SAS ; 1, avenue des Prés ; CS 10537 ; 78286 GUYANCOURT Cedex ; France
Syngenta Crop Protection, Lda ; Avenida D.João II; 1990-084 Lisboa ; Portugal
(3)
Syngenta Crop Protection AG ; 215 ; CH-4058 Basel ; Switzerland
(2)
ABSTRACT
Revive®, an emamectin benzoate 4% ME formulation, gave high and long lasting activity against tree
pests when applied as tree micro injection (TMI) into the stem of trees. 50 ml of product protected
canary island date palms for over 1 year from infestation by the Red palm weevil. An injection of 1-2ml
of product/cm DBH (diameter at breast height) protected pine trees against the infestation with pine
processionary moth and pine wood nematodes, horse chestnut trees against cameraria leaf miner and
oak trees against oak processionary moth for up to 3-4 years. None of the TMI treated palms and dicot
trees showed any evidence of damage caused by drilling holes into the stem, sealing the orifices with
injector-lances (palms) or biodegradable one-way plugs (dicot trees) and injection of undiluted product
at pressures of 2-4 bars.
Keywords: Tree Micro Injection; insecticide, palms, broad leaf trees, conifers.
RESUME
Revive®, formulation sous forme de micro émulsion à base de 4 % d’emamectine benzoate, possède un
niveau d’efficacité très élevé et durable contre différents ravageurs des arbres lorsqu'il est appliqué par
micro injection dans le tronc. 50 ml de produit protègent les palmiers des Canaries (Phoenix
Canariensis) pendant plus d’un an contre l'infestation du charançon rouge du palmier. Une injection de
1 à 2 ml de produit / cm DBH (diamètre du tronc à hauteur de poitrine) suffit à protéger les pins contre
l'infestation de la processionnaire du pin ou des nématodes du pin, les marronniers contre la mineuse
du marronnier (Cameraria), les chênes contre la chenille processionnaire du chêne, et ce, jusqu'à 3 à
4 ans. Aucun palmier ou arbre dicotylédone traité par micro injection ne montre de signe de dommage
causé par le perçage des trous dans le tronc, par le bouchage des orifices avec les lances-injecteurs
(palmiers) ou par les plugs biodégradables (arbres dicotylédones) et l’injection de produit non dilué à
des pressions 2 à 4 bars.
Mots-clés : Micro injection des arbres, insecticide, palmiers, arbres à feuilles larges, conifères.
INTRODUCTION
A legend tells that Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century was successfully injecting arsenic solutions into
apple trees to poison the fruits against thieves sneaking into the orchards (Perry et al., 1991; Doccola
and Wild, 2012).The idea of a systemic distribution of chemicals in trees after stem injection has been
taken up many times since then. However, it was only in the 20th century that scientists started to study
this technology in more detail, triggered by the dutch elm disease outbreak in the 1940s. Limited
success and disappearance of elm trees in the western world slowed down research dynamics. During
the last quarter of the 20th century the spread of invasive tree pests and diseases across the world
increased dramatically, due to global trade, which acts as a vector, and climatic change, which allows
certain species to increase their dispersal area. The first category includes species which may travel long
distances before establishing in a new area, e.g. emerald ash borer and asian longhorn beetle in the US
and Europe, pine wilt nematodes in Asia and Europe, horse chestnut leaf miner in Europe or red palm
weevil in Middle East, N-Africa and Europe (Aukema et al., 2010; Poland et al., 2006; Straw and Tillbury,
2006). Species, profiting of climatic changes are processionary moths of oak and pine trees, moving
northwards in Europe.
The massive spread of various pests, threating a huge number of tree species, led to the exploration of
numerous chemicals applied by various techniques. One of these chemicals is emamectin benzoate, a
derivative of the avermectin family of natural products (Dybas et al., 1989). Through contact or
ingestions it paralyzes pests by agonizing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and activating chloride
channels in the insect nervous system. Revive®, an emamectin benzoate 4% ME formulation, applied as
stem injection has been tested against various tree pests over the last years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Product: a 4% ME formulation of emamectin benzoate.
The product was injected through holes, drilled at breast height (canary island date palm) or into root
flares within 30 cm from ground, with 6.5 mm (palms) or 10 mm (dicot trees) diameter drill bits, at
depths of 15-30 cm (palms), 6-10 cm (pine trees) or 4-5 cm (broad leaf trees). Two to four holes per
palm or 1 hole per 5-10 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) in dicot trees were used as injection points.
Product was used undiluted at low pressure (2 bar in palms and broad leaf trees; 4 bar in pine trees)
using a veterinary syringe or the Syngenta TMI® equipment. Orifices were sealed by the use of tight
fitting injector-lances (palms) or biodegradable one-way plugs (dicot trees). Assessment: Trials were
evaluated by assessment of biological activity - pest counts, artificial infestations or health of trees – or
chemical analysis of active ingredient at site of infestation.
RESULTS
Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) on canary island date palms (Phoenix canariensis):
Fig. 1: TMI trial against red palm weevil on canary island date
palms in Athens (Greece), Palms - 3-4.5 m high; stem diameter
78±12 cm, 3 randomized replicates - were injected with 25, 50
and 100 ml product / palm.
ppb active ingredient
All treated palms contained emamectin benzoate in biological active concentrations in
the leaves up to 360 days after treatment (DAT). The highest concentrations were found
in palms with holes drilled to a depth of 1/3 of stem diameter (e.g. 27 cm deep for a
stem diameter of 81 cm). They were up to 10 times above the concentrations found in
palms injected through drill holes of 15-20 cm. Injection of 8 times diluted product into
15-20 cm deep drill holes did not improve import of active ingredients into leaves.
15 DAT
250
30 DAT
200
60 DAT
150
120 DAT
100
150 DAT
360 DAT
50
0
Product/palm
Drill depth
25 ml
50 ml
100 ml
50 ml
50 ml
15-20 cm
15-20 cm
15-20 cm
1/3 DBH
15-20 cm
undiluted
8x diluted
Fig. 2: Chemical analysis of treated palms; Samples: tissue from base of leaves from the upper
part of the canopy at 15-360 days after treatment (DAT) Analysis was made from 1 leaf per
replicate palm each sampling date. The averages of the leaf samples of the 3 replicate palms are
shown. Parameters tested: dose rates (25, 50 and 100 ml Product / palm); undiluted vs diluted
product injection; injection depth (15-20 cm vs 1/3 of DBH (diameter at breast height)).
Pine processionary moth (PPM) (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) on european black pine (Pinus nigra),
Fig. 3: TMI trial in a stand of european
black pine (Pinus nigra) near Toulouse
(FR) against pine processionary moth.
When treated, pines were 10 years old
with an average DBH of 12.7 ±2.5 cm.
Per treatment 8 replicate pines were
applied in randomized blocks.
In a stand of european black pine TMI reduced and controlled pine processionary moth for up to
three years. In the first year after treatment all nests and larvae disappeared at all dose rates
tested. No natural infestation occurred for at least 3 years after treatment. Artificial infestations
with 4 nests/tree, moved from trees outside the trial in October, 1 and 2 years after treatment,
resulted in an efficacy of 100 and >80% respectively.
Table 1: TMI of european black pine against pine processionary moth at 14 November 2012.
Assessment of natural infestation 3 months after treatment (MAT); and of artificial infestation
14 and 26 MAT (3 and 2 months after infestation (MAI) respectively). %Efficacy: Mortality of
larvae. Control mortality was below 11%
Revive®
28.02.2012
10.01.2013
06.01.2014
Dose
3 MAT
14 MAT
26 MAT
Nat. Inf.
3 MAI
2 MAI
ml/cm DBH
% Efficacy
% Efficacy
% Efficacy
1
0
100
87
2
49
100
81
4
42
100
85
Pine wood nematode (PWN) (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) on maritime pine (Pinus pinaster)
Fig. 4: TMI trial in a stand of maritime pine
(Pinus pinaster) at Comporta (PT) against
pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus
xylophilus)(Naves et al., 2013)
TMI against pine wilt nematode on maritime pines in a stand with heavy infestation pressure resulted in
a high protection. In the untreated control trees, over 25% of the trees were killed by PWN one year
after treatment. After 2 years the mortality rate reached 32%. During the same period none of the
treated trees died. Only in the third year after application 1 tree died, treated at lowest dose rate. At the
higher two dose rates first trees died only in the 5th year after application.
100%
Pine trees (replicates)
Alive
Dead
80%
60%
40%
20%
Control
0.8 ml/cm DBH
1.6 ml/cm DBH
Mar 09
Nov 09
Feb 10
Nov 10
Feb 11
Nov 11
Oct 13
Mar 09
Nov 09
Feb 10
Nov 10
Feb 11
Nov 11
Oct 13
Mar 09
Nov 09
Feb 10
Nov 10
Feb 11
Nov 11
Oct 13
Mar 09
Nov 09
Feb 10
Nov 10
Feb 11
Nov 11
Oct 13
0%
3.2 ml/cm DBH
Fig. 5: TMI against pine wood nematodes (PWN) on maritime pine trees. Application: March
2009, 3 dose rates (ml Product/ cm DBH Diameter at breast height), . along with an untreated
control plot (n=75 trees). Injected pines were assigned at random and homogeneously
distributed through the four plots,
which also included several non-treated trees. Assessment of tree mortality caused by PWN
Cameraria ohridella (leaf mining moth) on horse chestnut (HCN) (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Fig. 6: TMI trial on horse chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum) against
cameraria leafminer at Zürich
(CH). Picture taken in the second
year after application. Tree on the
left side untreated; tree on the
right side treated (2 ml
Product/cm DBH).
TMI reduced infestation of cameraria leaf miner on horse chestnut trees by over 80% for the
first 3 years after application. Infestations on treated trees have been found on leaves of certain
branches while leaves of all the other branches were free of infestation.
Table 2: TMI of horse chestnut trees against cameraria leafminer. Treatment of 40-60 years old
horse chestnut trees along a street side in June 2007, dose rate 2 ml Product/cm DBH, 4
randomized replicate trees. Assessment: End of August, average infestation % (= % leaf area
with mines) of 4 replicate trees (average of 10 leaves per tree); C=control trees, TMI=treated
trees
2007
2008
2009
2010
C
TMI
C
TMI
C
TMI
C
TMI
Infestation %
35
23
48
9
44
5
42
11
Efficacy %
93
80
89
74
Oak processionary moth (OPM) (Thaumetopoea processionea) on english oak (Quercus robur),
Fig. 7: TMI trial against oak processionary moth on english
oak at London (UK). Trees (4 randomized replicates) were
treated at 25 April 2012 at 4 dose rates (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 ml
Product/cm DBH).
English oak trees infested with oak processionary moth larvae (L1-L2 instar stages) at
application, were free of larvae 2 months after treatment. The second year no natural
infestation occurred. Nests were transferred to control and treated trees (6 nests with L1L2 instar stages/ tree) in April of the second year. Two months later, colonies were
established on control trees but no surviving larvae were found on treated trees,
independent of dose rate.
Table 3: TMI trial against oak processionary moth on english oak trees at London (UK).
Trees (4 replicates) were treated at 25 April 2012 at 4 dose rates (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 ml
Product/cm DBH). Assessment: 1st year natural infestation; 2nd year artificial infestation in
April by transfer of nests.
Year 1; 2 MAT
Year 2; 14 MAT
Treatment
Nests/tree
Larvae
Nests/tree
Larvae
No
mortality %
No
mortality %
Control (no injection)
0.5b
0
6.0
0
Water injected
1.0c
0
6.8
0
0.5 ml Product / cm DBH
0.0a
0.0a
1 ml Product / cm DBH
0.0a
0.0a
2 ml Product / cm DBH
0.0a
0.0a
4 ml Product / cm DBH
0.0a
0.0a
-
DISCUSSION
Red palm weevil on canary island date palm: Concentrations of emamectin benzoate found in leaves of
Revive® TMI treated palms were highest in palms injected with undiluted product into drill holes with a
depth of 1/3 of the stem diameter. In these palms concentrations were enough high enough to prevent
new infestations up to 1 year after treatment. This high persistence has been confirmed in trials carried
out in Spain (LLorens et al., 2014). From various chemicals tested, emamectin benzoate produced the
highest and longest lasting activity. The authors of this study concluded that 1 year treatment intervals
were sufficient to protect palms from being attacked by the Red palm weevil.
Pine processionary moth on european black pine: Revive® TMI of pine trees resulted in a high level of
activity, lasting over 3 years against pine processionary moth at all 3 dose rates tested. A low efficacy at
first evaluation might be explained by the timing of the application, which was mid-November. During
the cold season, transpiration of pine trees might be low and emamectin benzoate distribution in the
tree slow. On artificially infested trees there were no or only less than 20% survival larvae found during
the second and third years respectively.
Pine wood nematode on maritime pine: TMI protected pine trees for up to 3-4 years from infestation
with pine wood nematodes. The main effect is the high intrinsic activity of emamectin benzoate against
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Takei et al., 2000). As a secondary effect it might also reduce Monochamus
galloprovincialis adult feeding activity and longevity (Naves et al., 2013). Monochamus galloprovincialis
is the vector of the PWN.
Cameraria leaf miner on horst chestnut trees: TMI reduced leaf miner infestation of horse chestnut
trees by over 80% for the first 3 years after treatment. Infested leaves on treated trees were found
along certain branches, which indicate some inhomogeneity in the distribution of emamectin benzoate
in the canopy. Effectively, experiences show, that horizontal distribution of emamectin benzoate in the
stem of horse chestnut trees is low and that the distance between two neighboring injection points on
the circumference should not exceed 30 cm.
Oak processionary moth on english oak trees: TMI applied during first 2 larval instar stages of oak
processionary moth resulted in 100% control before the larvae reached urticating hairs stage. The
control also persisted during the second year. On treated trees no larvae of transferred nests survived
but nearly all did survive on check trees.
In all the trials no adverse effects caused by the treatment - drilling and injection of emamectine
benzoate into the trees - were observed. In all trials trees checks are made at yearly intervals for
potential damages. So far no evidence of damage has been found.
CONCLUSIONS
Revive® is a specifically designed formulation of emamectin benzoate, a derivative of the avermectin
family of natural products, for the use of Tree Micro Injection (TMI). Due to its long lasting activity
treatment intervals can be one (palms) to several years (dicot trees), reducing the need to drill holes
into tree trunks. Applied in a closed system, it is safe to the environment and surrounding, which makes
it highly suitable for the use in the urban forest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank Dr. Dimitris Kontodimas, Benaki Phytopathological Institute Athens (GR), Dr.
Adeline Renier, CETEV Le Faget (FR), Dr. Glynn Percival, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory Reading (UK),
Matthias Brunner, Unabhängiger Baumexperte Zürich (CH) and Dr. Edmundo de Sousa and Dr. Pedro
Naves, National Institute of Biological Resources Oeiras (PT) for their scientific support and trial
collaboration. The studies reported in this publication have been sponsored by Syngenta Crop
Protection AG, Basel (CH).
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