Hydrophobic Particle Films: A New Paradigm for Suppression of Arthropod Pests and Plant Diseases

Abstract

We introduce a unique concept, hydrophobic particle film technology, that represents the combined synthesis of knowledge on the use of hydrophobic films, physical particle barriers, and white reflective surfaces to suppress arthropod pests and diseases of agricultural crops. The hydrophobic particle film is based on the inert mineral, kaolin, that is surface treated with a water-repelling agent. We demonstrate suppression of important tree fruit arthropod pests and diseases by altering the plants surface with dust applications of these hydrophobic particles. There are a number of potential mechanisms involved in pest suppression. Arthropods can be repelled from, or infestations suppressed, on a plant coated with a hydrophobic particle film barrier by making the plant visually or tactually unrecognizable as a host. In addition, insect movement, feeding, and other physical activities can be severely impaired by the attachment of particles to the arthropods body as they crawl upon the film. Diseases can be prevented by enveloping the plant in a hydrophobic particle film barrier that prevents disease inoculum or water from directly contacting the leaf surface. Thus, many fungal and bacterial pathogens that require a liquid film of water for disease propagule germination are prevented. Other key features of the hydrophobic particle film are that it reduces heat stress by reflecting sunlight with its bright white color, and does not affect plant photosynthesis or productivity because of the porous nature of the film. Our results suggest that the hydrophobic particle film concept could offer broad spectrum protection against arthropod pests and diseases in certain agricultural crops.

Short communication: Laboratory approach to the use of sulphur and kaolin as preventive control against Drosophila suzukii

“…2a and 2b). This product appears to be effective against other dipteran pests (Mazor & Erez, 2004;Leskey et al, 2010;Pascual et al, 2010), and several authors have reported that kaolin forms a barrier when applied on fruits, hindering visual and tactile recognition and thus preventing oviposition (Glenn et al, 1999;Bürgel et al, 2005). The results obtained here suggest that this is not the case with SWD and the coating formed by kaolin on blueberries did not affect the oviposition process and thus did not prevent egg laying.…”

Control of the Mexican bean weevil Zabrotes subfasciatus with kaolin

“…In addition, it has been referred as effective in the control of some plant pests such as aphids (COTTRELL et al, 2002), olive fruit flies (SAOUR & MAKEE, 2004) and pear psyllids (GLENN et al, 1999). Thus, the efficiency of kaolin (with or without neem oil), compared with diatomaceous earth, on Z. subfasciatus in common beans was studied in laboratory.…”

Elma Bahçelerinde Bazı Önemli Zararlılara Karşı Azadirachtin ve Kaolin Uygulamalarının Etkisi

“…Elma ve armutlarda yapılan çalışmalarda kaolinin armut psillidi (Cacopsylla prycola)'nin yumurta ve erginleri üzerine etkili olduğu ve bu etkinin istatistik olarak kontrol grubundan farklılık gösterdiği saptanmıştır [23]. Aynı araştırıcılar ikinoktalı kırmızıörümcek (T. urticae) ve turunçgil yeşil yaprakbiti (Aphis spiraecola) ile de yaptıkları çalışmalarda benzer sonuçları bulmuşlardır.…”