Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
The following oils were evaluated for control of the pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, phytotoxicity, and persistence on Bartlett pear trees; Orchex 696, Orchex 796 with 0.46% emulsifier, Orchex 796 with 1% emulsifier, PGSO-1, PGSO-2, and Volck Supreme. The oils were applied at the rate of 5 gal per acre in a three-spray program, one at the delayed dormant period and two during the summer.
Orchex 796 (1% emulsifier) and Volck Superme oil gave the best control of pear psylla, PGSO-1 and PGSO-2 were intermediate, and Orchex 696 and Orchex 796 (0.46% emulsifier) were the least effective. Each of the oils gave excellent control of the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch).
The oils caused enlargement and corkiness of the bark lenticels on 1-, 2-, and 3-year old wood. The pear fruits showed darker green lenticels than unsprayed fruit, but this green spotting did not persist when the pears were ripened.
Analysis showed each oil to be persistent upon pear foliage. There was little loss after 8 days and an average of 28% loss after 25 days.