Signoret Research Paper

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Abstract
The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret), is one of the most serious pests of grape because it reduces the plant vigor by sucking the sap from inflorescence, tender leaves, shoots and fruit peduncles. To control this pest, three chemical compounds of different groups were evaluated against the adult of P. ficus (Signoret) under laboratory conditions by using grape leaves dipped in respective treatment solutions and air dried to remove excess ethyl alcohol. The results showed that the virulence of (1) was higher than the virulence of (5) and (3). In case of (1) isolate, the LC50 value was 152. 22 mg/ml while LT50 recorded 4.11 days at 250 mg/ml. Results showed that (1) isolate caused the highest mortality in comparison to other …show more content…

In addition to grapes, this pest has been reported feeding on mango, oleander, dahlia, bamboo, walnut, avocado, Dichrostachys glomerata, mesquite, Tephrosia purpurea, ornamental and commercial fig, date palm, sycamore, pomegranate, jujube, apple, quince, willow, cacao, and styrax (Daane et al., 2012). It is found on all parts of the vine, for example, hidden under the bark of the trunk, in the first and second year canes, leaves, clusters, cordons and within developing buds by the late spring and summer. During the winter months, the only life stages are nymphs located under the bark predominantly at the graft union, on the pruning wounds and below the base of spurs. They feed by sucking plant sap from the stem, branches, leaves, fruits and roots, resulting in wilted, distorted and yellowed (chlorotic) leaves, premature leaf drop, stunted growth‘ and occasionally the death of infested plants or plant parts (Kosztarab and Kozar 1988). They excrete large quantities of honeydew that encrust the leaves, canes and clusters, resulting in further crop damage and defoliation. Sooty moulds colonize the honeydew coated grapes and leaves causing them to look dark and unsightly and this leads to reduce fruit quality and lower tree vitality through the loss of photosynthetic capacity (Godfrey et al., 2002). Moreover, P. ficus transmits Grapevine Leafroll-associated Virus 3 (GLRa V3) (Engelbrecht, Kasdorf 1990 and Golino et al. 2002); therefore, it is considered a dangerous pest even at low infestation

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