Alternative Ecological Products for Aphid Control on Plum

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Entomology
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Ecological farming is growing globally due to consumer demand for chemical-free produce.
• European farmers, particularly in Romania, are increasingly adopting ecological practices.
• Effective phytosanitary programs in ecological farming face challenges due to limited product options and efficacy data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ecological products for aphid control in plum orchards.
• To compare the performance of ecological treatments against conventional chemical insecticides.
• To identify sustainable aphid control solutions for ecological and conventional plum cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Field and laboratory testing of eight ecological products over three vegetative periods.
• Comparison of ecological products against five established chemical insecticides.
• Aphid mortality assessment at 24 and 48 hours post-application.

Main Results:

• Two ecological products, Ovipron Top and Prev-Am, demonstrated high efficacy in aphid control.
• Mortality rates exceeding 90% were achieved with Ovipron Top and Prev-Am.
• The effectiveness of these two ecological products was comparable to that of chemical insecticides.

Conclusions:

• Ovipron Top and Prev-Am are effective and viable alternatives for aphid control in plum cultivation.
• These ecological products can be integrated into both ecological and conventional pest management strategies.
• The findings support the adoption of sustainable phytosanitary solutions in agriculture.