Evaluation of Fytomax 0.1% EC for Cotton Aphid Control in Zimbabwe

One of the most common agricultural insect pest in cotton is the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae). It is a common sucking pest present in cotton through-out its growing season. Heavy populations on seedling cotton can cause crinkling and cupping of leaves, failing to expand, defoliation, and a severe stunting of seedling growth. At a later stage in growth contamination of lint lowers lint quality. Biological pesticides which are contracted as biopesticides are pesticides derived from naturally occurring sources, such as microorganisms, plants, and animals. Biopesticides are found in three broad categories namely microbial pesticides, plant incorporated protectants and biochemical pesticides. Fytomax 0.1% EC is a plant extract comprising neem tree extracts. The product is claimed to have efficacy properties against aphids. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the efficacy of Fytomax 0.1% EC against aphids in cotton, and also to assess the effect of the new insecticide on predators of aphids in cotton. Field trials to evaluated Fytomax 10 for efficacy against aphids in cotton were conducted during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 summer seasons at Cotton research institute, Kuwirirana and at Mutimutema. Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments replicated four times was used. Four doses of Fytomax 0.1% EC of the following order; 250ml/ha, 500ml/ha, 750ml/ha, and 1000mls/ha were evaluated along with Acetamiprid 20SP at 50grams per hector as the standard and the untreated as the control. Measurements were made on aphid and predator counts. Data was analyzed using Genstat 18th version and the square root transformation of (X + 3/8) was used for data not following normal distribution. In this experiment and at all the sites Fytomax 0.1% EC could control aphids and conserve predators of aphids at 500ml/ha.