Efficacy of Mineral Oil-Insecticide Mixtures for Protection of Potato Tubers Against PVY and PVM

The impact of a dozen mixtures of the most commonly applied aphicides: Mospilan 20 SP (acetamiprid), Pirimor 500 (pirimicarb) and Karate Zeon 050 CS (lambda-cyhalothrin), combined with the mineral oil Sunspray 850 EC, was researched in field conditions to assess their effectiveness in limiting potato tuber PVY, PVM and PLRV infection. In spite of the greatest reduction in the number of aphids occurring following application of Mospilan 20 SP, this treatment was not as effective in limiting PVY infection as, for example, applying Sunspray 850 EC mineral oil. Mineral oil, when used on its own or in a mixture with Pirimor 500 WG, was found to be the most effective measure for limiting PVY infection (the incidence of tubers infested with PVY was reduced by 64 % relative to control, i.e. no protection). A slightly weaker effect was observed in the case of a combination of the mineral oil with full doses of Karate Zeon 050 CS with a half of a dose of Mospilan 20 SP insecticide, however only for protection against PVY. A similar trend was observed for PVM even though a significant difference was only observed for Sunspray 850EC + Pirimor 500WG. In conclusion, the application of insecticide mixtures with mineral oil in protecting against PVY infection is not always as effective as the application of the oil itself only. Addition of the insecticide may sometimes improve the efficacy of protection, however, due to the extra costs involved, not always does it have to be economical.