SPONSORED | Novel mode of action insecticide for tough vegetable crop pests  

Novel mode of action insecticide for tough vegetable crop pests  

SIMODIS^® insecticide (Group 30) from Syngenta with PLINAZOLIN^® technology marks the next evolution in insecticide technology for protecting plant health.
“PLINAZOLIN^® technology is an innovation from Syngenta and is a novel mode of action that offers reliable, robust and extended efficacy against hard-to-control pests in our key horticultural crops,” said Syngenta Technical Services Lead, Dr Shaun Hood. “We’re anticipating registration of SIMODIS^® insecticide before the end of this year.” 

SIMODIS^® insecticide will help growers tackle resistant and traditionally hard-to-control pests, with the registration including diamondback moth, two-spotted mite and western flower thrips. 
“We’ve put SIMODIS^® through its paces using commercial application equipment on a range of crops across Australia,” said Dr Hood. “What impresses people is both its level of control and its residual activity.” 

Diamondback moth – redefining control  

“Around Australia, diamondback moth has become increasingly difficult to manage, with resistance reducing the efficacy of some well-known chemistries,” said Dr Hood.
In Gatton, Queensland in 2018, SIMODIS^® insecticide (plus AGRAL^® spray adjuvant) was compared to industry standards for the control of diamondback moth (DBM) in a cauliflower crop.
Seven days after the application (7 DAA), all insecticides effectively controlled the DBM population (Figure 1). At 14 DAA, SIMODIS^® insecticide recorded significantly better DBM control than Success* Neo (Group 5), Coragen* (Group 28) and PROCLAIM^® Opti (Group 6). The residual activity of SIMODIS^® insecticide was evident at this application timing when the vegetative growth had slowed. By 20 DAA, larvae and pupae numbers increased nearly threefold in the untreated control, suggesting a recent egg lay had occurred. SIMODIS^® was the only treatment that continued to control the DBM population at 20 DAA.

 Figure 1. Mean number of diamondback moth larvae and pupae per cauliflower plant following a single insecticide application when the harvestable cauliflower was at 60% head diameter (BBCH 46). Numbers were assessed 7 days after application (DAA). Gatton, Queensland (2018). Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different. 

 

“This is a product that is going to redefine DBM control. It’s a highly efficacious insecticide but it’s also going to enable brassica growers to regain control of resistant populations,” said Dr Hood.
“Monitoring is the key to effective DBM management. Apply SIMODIS^® insecticide as soon as the local thresholds are reached, either at egg hatch or very soon after egg hatch to target young larvae.”
“Growers should avoid applying SIMODIS^® to established populations dominated by large, later instar DBM larvae.” 

Photo 1. Syngenta Field Biologist, Jo Gentle. The cauliflower on the left was untreated and has extensive DBM damage, whereas the cauliflower on the right was protected with a single application of SIMODIS^® insecticide.

Two-spotted mites – resistance management resource  

In Bowen, Queensland in 2019, SIMODIS^® insecticide (plus AGRAL^® spray adjuvant) was applied on a cucumber crop and compared to industry standards for control of two-spotted mites (TSM).
In the untreated control, the TSM continued to increase throughout the trial, with more than 60 motiles per 20 mm leaf disk recorded 22 days after application (Figure 2). SIMODIS^® insecticide effectively reduced the density of eggs, nymphs and adult mites to very low levels. SIMODIS® insecticide continued to record strong residual activity out to 22 DAA.
As a contact insecticide, residual activity of SIMODIS^® insecticide will be influenced by crop growth stage and spray coverage.

 Figure 2. Mean number of motile two-spotted mites (TSM) per 20 mm cucumber leaf disc plant following a single insecticide application, with treatments applied 5 weeks after transplanting. Numbers were assessed 7, 14 and 22 days after application (DAA). Bowen, Queensland (2019). Means followed by the same letter at the same assessment are not significantly different.

“SIMODIS^® insecticide is an exceptional miticide. With mites, monitoring is key to effective management. For best results, apply SIMODIS^® insecticide as soon as local thresholds are reached, targeting the mite population before it becomes established,” said Dr Hood. 

“Up to two applications of SIMODIS^® insecticide per crop will be permitted, but to manage resistance, growers will need to rotate to a miticide from a different mode of action group before applying a second SIMODIS^® insecticide application.”  

 “These trials are a snapshot of what we’ve observed at numerous trial sites across Australia. SIMODIS^® insecticide has consistently delivered reliable and robust efficacy and exceptional crop safety against a range of pests and in a range of crops.”  

SIMODIS^® insecticide has excellent sunlight stability and rain-resistant properties, allowing for long spray intervals. 

Photo 2. Syngenta Technical Services Lead, Dr Shaun Hood. 

Syngenta will be showcasing SIMODIS^® insecticide in the field at the Syngenta GrowMore* event, Gatton, November 2022.

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ENDS

 

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com.au and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/SyngentaANZ