Ecologically safe protection system of garden strawberries against common spider mite

Only two biological preparations have been registered for the control of spider mites on garden strawberries; the search for new biological agents to control this pest is relevant. The studies were carried out in the laboratory at the Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection. The study was aimed at the assessment of the biological efficacy of the new industrial sample Insetim Plus, L to control common spider mites on garden strawberries in a greenhouse. The tests on the strawberries Clery variety were carried out in 2023–2024 in the greenhouse. The experimental plan included spraying the plants with the industrial sample Insetim Plus, L (four times) and the standard insectoacaricide Fitoverm, KE (twice). The control variant was treated with water. The pest population, biological efficacy of the preparations, yield, biometric indicators and biochemical composition of berries, and the taste were assessed. On the 7th day in 2023 and on the 10th day in 2024 after the second treatment, the biological efficacy of the industrial sample Insetim Plus, L was at the level of the standard and amounted up to 100.0%. Until the end of the experiment, no spider mites were noted in this option and the biological efficacy on the 14th day after the last treatment was 100.0%. The yield increase in the Insetim Plus, L option amounted up to 43.6%, which was higher than in the standard by 8.3%. In the options with the use of the preparations Insetim Plus, L and Fitoverm, KE, the number of second-rate strawberries was lower than in the control by 40.8 and 38.3%, and the number of first-rate berries, on the contrary, was almost 2 times higher than in the control. The use of Insetim Plus, L had a positive effect on the structure of the yield and biochemical parameters of strawberries.