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Syngenta Bioline News |
Almeria changes to Integrated Crop Management "ICM" in salad vegetables |  |
Over recent years the challenge of controlling pests such as whitefly and thrips in vegetable crops grown in the Almeria area of southern Spain has become ever more difficult. The intensity of the greenhouse production is such that in summer planted crops pest levels are extreme. Growers have been faced with reduced efficacy of traditional pesticide treatments due to resistance development. This lead to unacceptable residue levels in crops particularly peppers. Following the success of the testing of the ICM approach in the last two years, crop protection in the 2007 Almeria pepper crop is now all converting to the use of integrated control. Key products being used in peppers are Swirskiline, Oriline Activ, Anderline, Thripline and Aphiline. Other crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplant are also being converted to ICM. Syngenta Bioline expect that in the next three years all of these crops will be grown under an integrated/biological crop management system.
Experience with the ICM approach for vegetables in the Murcia area has shown that it is a more sustainable approach to crop production because the development of pesticide resistance and the risk of residues is reduced.
Syngenta Bioline have trained over 60 technicians who support vegetable growers as they monitor their crops and integrate the use of biological and chemical controls for the first time and are supplying over 25% of the ICM crop area.
Federico Garcia, Business Manager of Syngenta Bioline in Spain said "it is critical that growers who are converting to ICM this year are successful: this will give them confidence to continue with this approach. The old way is no longer possible. Working with trained technicians and quality products is key to delivering success for the growers"
Bugline reaches 1000 km in 2007 |
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This year we introduced our patented development Bugline which is a unique method of delivering predatory mites into crops. Bugline has been a main element in our ICM programmes for Chrysanthemums in The Netherlands. Over 1000 kilometres of Bugline have been layed into cut flower crops using the sprayer gantry system. The Bugline can be placed into crops quickly by growers this reduces management time on crop protection.
New Bugline products are planned for 2008
Swirskiline as(Amblyseius swirskii )Whitefly/Thrips Predatory Mite |
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Amblyseius (Typhlodromips) swirskii had a spectacular introduction in 2006 giving excellent control of whitefly and thrips in crops such as peppers. The control of Tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) has been a serious challenge in horticultural crops for many decades because of its ability to develop resistance to chemical treatments. Whilst parasites to control B. tabaci have been available in some crops for several years they do not give the levels of control that has been achieved with Swirskiline as. The product also gives high levels of control of other pests such as thrips. Swirskiline as performs best in warm and humid conditions, which are found in protected crops of peppers and cucumbers. To perform at its best, Swirskiline needs a mixed pest population of thrips and whitefly, or an alternative food source such as pollen. In crops where B. tabaci is not a problem Amblyline cu will still be the product of choice. Further development trials in other crops continue and promising results have been seen from mid-season use in cut roses.
Swirskiline as is available in boxes of 500 sachets containing 250 mites per sachet. Individual sachets are hung amongst the foliage of the crop. This formulation makes it easy to instruct crop workers how to distribute the product, and makes for uniform introductions. It is also available in a vermiculite and bran mix. This loose product is packed in 5 litre bulk bags containing 125,000 mites, or in 1 litre cardboard shaker tubes containing 25,000 mites
Swirskiline is a significant addition to the arsenal of bio-control products available to growers who use an integrated control programme. The potential is substantial for its use in summer crops such as cut flowers, and those grown in warm conditions such as peppers and cucumbers.
The control of western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) has always been difficult because of the behaviour of the pest. Most of the time the problem is that they will hide in leaf joints, flowers and at soil level during the day. This means that hitting the target with contact sprays can often be difficult, resulting in inconsistent levels of control.
Thripline is an aggregation pheromone that stimulates the thrips to find a surface on which to display to potential mates. In Syngenta Bioline trials we have noted that where Thripline is used to monitor the population of thrips it also has another significant effect - the thrips come out of their hiding places and move to the top leaves on the plant, or onto the surface of flowers. This behaviour, which usually happens within one hour of the introduction of Thripline ams to the crop environment, makes the thrips more vulnerable to contact spray treatments.
Anderline aa (Amblyseius andersoni) is a predatory mite for the control of pest mites in a broad range of protected and semi- protected crops. Anderline aa is an exciting development because it is the first spider mite predator to be available in a controlled release sachet (CRS) breeding colony. It is also active at lower temperatures than other predatory mites used for spider mite control and is more suited to use in outdoor as well as indoor crops.
Anderline can be used in programmes against two spotted mites, russet mites and other mite pests in several crops. Anderline aa is indigenous in Europe and North America and is regularly found in orchards.
Amblyseius andersoni is active over a wide temperature range, even down to 6°C, and so can be used much earlier in the season than other spider mite predators such as Phytoseiulus persimilis.
It is available in the Gemini sachet system, which is suited to both irrigated crops and those that are watered from overhead. The unique design of the Gemini sachets means that they can also be used outdoors, unlike standard sachets.
The benefits of Gemini sachets are well known for the control of thrips in many crops. Anderline aa is delivered in sachets containing 250 mites, and the predators are released over several weeks. The mites that are released onto the crop from the sachet are well fed and in top condition ready to search for prey.
Syngenta Bioline BeesRelocates to a new rearing factory in Weert, The Netherlands |
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Syngenta Bioline Bees relocated to a brand new purpose built rearing facility during 2006. The new factory has state of the art rearing rooms. The high quality of our bumblebee hives is paramount to SBB, and this investment by Syngenta enables us to deliver top quality at all times.
Staphyline acNew Boxline ac rearing system for 2007 |
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The Rove Beetle Atheta coriaria was added to our product range in 2004 for the control of shore flies and fungas gnats (sciarids). Initial trials showed that success with this beneficial can be achieved if a stable population of Atheta can be established over time in the greenhouse. This predator is very mobile and it will search out its prey throughout the house.
For 2007 we have developed the Boxline ac breeder system. The success of Staphyline ac is enhanced if high numbers of beetles can be established in the greenhouse. By using this innovative breeding system very high levels of predators can be established. Ask your Bioline distributor for details.