All commercial potato growers are aware of the fact that some pests have been shown to develop resistance against some of the commonly used insecticides available to combat them. The Colorado potato beetle in particular has a remarkable ability to develop resistance to a wide range of pesticides. Can growers do their own on-farm tests to get an idea if this might be the case in their operations?
In a recent article published by Spud Smart magazine, renowned potato specialist with the Ontario Potato Board in Canada, Dr Eugenia Banks, answers positive to this question. She says an important factor in managing insecticide resistance is to know the effectiveness of the product which is going to be applied.
In her article, Dr Banks then provides growers and agronomists with practical guidelines on how to conduct on-site tests to do this.
She writes that this can be accomplished by using dip tests – a simple technique in which adults or larvae are immersed for a few seconds in insecticide solutions. The mortality rate determined for each insecticide indicates the products which are likely to be most effective under field conditions.
Visit Spud Smart magazine here to read Dr Banks’ insightful article, which contains practical advice and step-by-step guidelines.
Photo: Spud Smart magazine
