The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of systemicinsecticides applied by chemigation or foliar application for controlof Blueberry Stem Gall Wasp (BSGW). Treatments were madeto a mature ‘Liberty’ cultivar planting in Nunica, MI. Bushes inthe planting had vigorous growth and lead canes 5–6 ft high. Fourreplicates of each insecticide treatment and the untreated controlplots were used, each five bushes long and one row wide ata 10′ × 3′ ft spacing. Soil applications were made using a modifieddrip irrigation system that was placed adjacent to the existingemitters (18 inch spacing) on both sides of the row, matching theemitters to ensure that the product contacted the roots of bushes.Insecticide treatments were delivered through the experimental irrigationsystem using a CO2 pressurized system and the drip tapewas flushed though with additional water until no liquid was left inthe tubes. Once all treatments were complete, the existing irrigationsystem was run to apply 1 inch of irrigation to further ensure thatthe treatments contacted the root zone. A foliar applied Moventotreatment was also applied twice after bloom using a CO2-poweredbackpack sprayer operating at 55 PSI in a volume of water equivalentto 100 gallons per acre, using a single head boom and a TeeJet8003VS spray nozzle. The spray solutions were applied to both sidesof the plots, and this treatment included R-11 as a penetrant to ensurethe insecticide moved into the plant tissues.
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