Use of Particle Film Technology (

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Use of Particle Film Technology (Surround) in
Tree Fruit Production

• Michael Glenn (Soil Scientist)
• Gary Puterka (Entomologist)
• Tracy Leskey (Entomologist)
• USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Res. Station,
  Kearneysville, WV

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After initial application
Stomates are not blocked
After 24 hours
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Reflective surfaces are common plant adaptation

• Plants use pubescence and cuticular waxes to
  reduce environmental stresses and reduce disease
  and insect damage
• Particle film technology builds on this strategy
  of a reflective plant surface that repels insects

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Particle Film Technology

• Based on a chemically inert mineral, Kaolin.
  Used in paints, plastics, cosmetics,
  pharmaceuticals,food.
• Registered with EPA in 1998 as Surround for
  insect control.
• Exempt from Tolerance and is approved for organic
  use with a 4 hour REI.
• Surround WP is used in conventional (85) and
  
• organic (15) fruit production valuable for
  transition from conventional to organic crop
  production.

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Particle Film Technology

Multi-functional Tool for Agricultural Production

• Reduced Insect Damage
• Protection against insects in a wide range of
  crops
• Horticultural Benefits
• Sunburn reduction
• Heat stress reduction
• Increased photosynthesis
• Decreased water stress
• Improved fruit quality
• Improved fruit color

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Coverage of plant surfaces is key to efficient
use of Particle Film materials!!!
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• Particle Film Development
• First Spray
• Second Spray
• Third Spray

Surround WP
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Uniform coverage is important
Non-uniform coverage leaves excessive deposits
Uniform coverage
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Mechanisms that reduce sunburn damage1)
Reduced temperature 2) Reflection of IR
3) Reflection of UV
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Fruit temperatures demonstrate infrared
reflection and temperature reduction
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The processed kaolin is highly reflective of all
UV wavelengths
Visible Radiation
Uv-A and Uv-B Radiation
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Sunburn damage ()
Wenatchee, WA USA Nelson, New Zealand
Surround-WP 2 1
Untreated 11 22
Generally, sunburn is reduced approximately 50
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Aerial Application of Surround WP to Bananas for
Sunburn Control in Honduras
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• How do particle films alter light transmission
  and scatter?

Laser on particle film
Laser on glass
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Mean fruit weight (g) Control 110 b Surround 117
a
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Effect of Surround-WP on fruit weight (g/fruit)
of Empire apples
Treatment 1998 1999 2000 2001
Surround WP 117 a 164a 124a 134a
Control 105 b (0.12) 139b 116b 131b (0.09)
In 1998 the prototype of Surround WP
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Effect of Surround on fruit color (2005)
Surround 12
Surround 3
Control
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Increased light scatter within the plant canopy
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Reflection of light from the orchard floor
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Light levels in an apple orchard
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Effect of Mylar film and particle film on
Empire apple color development
treatment hue
Control 72a
Control ground particle film 60b
Aluminized plastic 63b
Lower hue angle indicates increased red color
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• The Particle Film improves red color development
  in the unexposed surfaces of apples
• Site and region specific
• Cultivar specific

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Action of Particle Films Against Insects and Mites
850 X
Untreated
Treated

• Repellent
• 2. Oviposition Deterrent
• Feeding Inhibitor
• Acute Mortality
• 5. Chronic Mortality

• Impedes Grasping (Fall-Off)
• Paralysis or Altered Behavior
• Host Camouflaging
• 9. Restricts Movement or Infestation Process

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Pear Psylla Coated with Particles After 10
min. Exposure to a Treated Leaf
850 X
Untreated
Treated
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Pear Psylla Management - Particle Film
Technology (Surround WP) has become a major
tool for early-season pear psylla control. -
Prevents oviposition so that future infestations
are prevented. - Currently used on 75 of the
pear acreage in northern Washington, 35
statewide.
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1st generation Codling Moth control with Surround
WP
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• Surround WP combined with 0.5 (w/w) wettable
  sulfur and 0.5 (v/v) lime sulfur

Treatment San Jose Scale severity (1-4) Plum curculio stings/fruit
Control 0.1 c 0.3 a
Surround WP 3.6 a 0 b
Lime-sulfur Wettable sulfur 1.0 b 0.2 a
Surround WP Lime-sulfur Wettable sulfur 1.3 b 0 b
Conventional 0.1 c 0.2 a
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Plum Curculio
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The Approach

• Starved adult male and female PCs for 24h.
• Set up no-choice assays in which green thinning
  apples were treated with Surround WP at the
  recommended field rate or left untreated.
• Counted the number of punctures made by male
  (feeding punctures) and by female (feeding and
  oviposition) PCs after 72h.

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Results of NO CHOICE at 72h
Under the most stringent test conditions,
Surround reduced feeding/ovipostion by 50-75.
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Conclusions

• In the field, PCs have a choice. In
  Surround-treated trees, PCs must walk on treated
  foliage and woody tissue to reach fruit.
  Therefore, they likely will not reach fruit if
  good coverage is present. They will leave the
  tree.
• Likely due to tactile repellency. PCs covered
  with Surround particles spend a lot of time
  grooming particles from their bodies.
• Surround WP could be used in a push-pull
  approach.

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Apple Maggot Fly
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Visual Stimuli Provided by Applesin Trees
Important to AMF
Mating sites. Egg laying site for females
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SIZE, SHAPE, AND COLOR OF APPLE LED TO
DEVELOPMENT OF MONITORING SPHERE
9.8 b
68.3 a
3.0 b
0.3 b
yellow
red
white
clear
Prokopy, R.J. 1968. Entomol. Exp. et App. 11
403-422 Prokopy, R. J. 1977. Can. Ent. 109
593-596
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The Treatments
Untreated
Treated






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Results
Visual orientation disrupted by fruit coverage,
not canopy coverage with spotty coverage most
effective (disrupts shape of apple).
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Is there a tactile component?

• Treatments included Untreated, 6 full, 3 full,
  6 spotty, and 3 spotty.
• Measured time spent walking, feeding, and egg
  laying.

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Observing AMF on Fuji
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Site Acceptance on Fuji Apples
Time spent foraging is reduced by presence of
Surround.
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Does Surround kill AMF?

• In the laboratory trials, we observed that there
  may be some chronic mortality occurring after
  incidental exposure to Surround.
• Some results with Western Cherry Fruit Fly
  indicated there may be mortality associated with
  Surround as well.

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Incidental Contact Arenas
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Survivorship Results
Even when AMF have access to food and water,
there is mortality associated with incidental
contact with Surround. Only when they have a
refuge does survivorship increase.
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The Bottom Line
Based on our results, 99 control of AMF in
treated plots based on visual disruption, tactile
repellency, and chronic mortality.
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Successes of Particle Films
Insects Crops Pear
Psylla Apple Pear Rust Mite
Pear Apple rust mite Peach Codling
Moth Cherry Leafhoppers Almond Plum
Curculio Walnut Apple Maggot Pecan Thr
ips Grape Leaf Rollers Berries Japan
ese Beetle Corn Mediteranean Fruit
fly Olive fruit fly Olive Glassy-Winge
d Sharpshooter Citrus Blueberry Maggot
Melons
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Summary of Particle Film Technology
Multi-functional tool for agricultural production

• Reduced Insect Damage
• Many classes of insects are repelled in a wide
  range of crops
• Potential Obstacles to Use
• Washoff of mineral residues from fruit
• Washoff by rain and wind
• Interference with biological control

• Horticultural Benefits
• Sunburn reduction
• Heat stress reduction
• Decreased water stress may improve fruit quality
  and yield
• Improved fruit quality
• Improved fruit color