Alternative control of winter eggs and root-galling form of Daktulosphaira vitifoliae

ABSTRACT: The phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch 1856) (Hemiptera; Phylloxeridae) is one of the main pests of grapevines, feeding on the leaves and roots. In Brazil, the presence of winter eggs has been identified on branches of the ‘Paulsen 1103’ rootstock, which could be a source of leaf and root infesting forms during vegetative phase. This study evaluated alternatives for controlling ‘winter eggs’ in potted cuttings of the ‘Paulsen 1103’ rootstock and evaluate the effect of bioinsecticides and insecticides on the root-galling form in the laboratory. In this study, it was found that heat treatment at 50 °C for 30 min resulted in no galls forming on the leaves (100% mortality of winter eggs). Similar results were obtained using standard insecticides Imidacloprid (Provado® 200 SC) and Flupyradifurone (Sivanto® Prime 200 SL). In treatments in which the cuttings were subjected to the sodium hypochlorite, leaf galls were formed (average of 1.5 gall). The commercial products Meta-Turbo® SC, Metarril® WP E9, Bovéria-Turbo®, FlyControl® WP and Octane®, resulted in low root-galling form mortality at 15 days after application (<16% mortality). Meanwhile, the garlic-based plant extract Eco Tirano® caused 72.6% mortality, which was similar to standard insecticides Provado® 200 SC and Sivanto® Prime 200 SL. Based on the results, heat treatment is an alternative for controlling winter eggs in the process of forming grapevine seedlings and the plant extract-based Eco Tirano® and the Provado® 200 SC and Sivanto® Prime 200 SL are potential insecticides for reducing infestations of the root-galling form of phylloxera in grapevine cultivation.