The active ingredient of Agri-50E, developed in the USA by Cal-Agri Products, is hydrated propylene glycol alginate that penetrates and helps to disolve the protective cuticle of insects and pathogens that makes pests vulnerable to dessication and death. The result is a safe, cost effective pesticide that also controls many pests that are difficult to manage in vegetable and horticultural crops. Agri-50E is classified as a reduced-risk biocemical pesticide. In does not harm plants, it is non-toxic (exempt from food tolerances) and is environmentally safe. For this reason it is exempt from pesticide registration. It also fits well into IPM (integrated pest management) programs and can be used up to and including the day of harvest. The product, introduced in the USA in 2003, requires no special handling or storage.

To date, trials has shown that Agri -50E is effective against the nymphs and adults of many species of whitefly including: Bemisia tabaci, Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Aleyrodes spiraeoides. In greenhouse trials the nymphs of Bemisia tabaci were contolled to the extent of 80-100% with one application of Agr--50E. Nymphs generally stop feeding immediately after treatment and die within 12-36 hurs. The product is effective agianst all stages, including the particularly difficult to kill pupal stage but it is least effective against the eggs. Performance trials in the field demonstrate that Agri-50E is comparable to leading pesticides currently in use. In greenhouse conditions against whitefly populations, Agri-50E provides rapid control when compared to standard insecticides such as imidacloprid (Confidor) and Endosulfan. The results also show that long-term and economical control of whiteflies can be achieved by just one application of Agri-50E. Because it works by contact with the pests, it is essential to apply a good spray coverage of the crop to maximize control.

The product is also effective in the contro of a number of important aphid pests, including: Macrosiphoniella sanborni and Aphis gossypii. Very good control was achieved within 24-96 hours after application and consistent control was also maintained under warm and cool temperatures and under humid or dry conditions. The product will also control sscale insects and suppress spider mite, mealy bug and leaf-hopper. Agri-50E does not leave any visible or sticky deposits on the plants and there is no evidence that it encourages the growth of mouls and other fungi. Growers might initially try the product to quickly bring outbreaks of pests under control then followed by Encarsia or other appropriate beneficial in an IPM program. "Commercial Greenhouse Grower" and Cal-Agri Products. For further information contact Cal-Agri Products on Fax 001 310 8382484 or www.cal-agri.com. A nown stockist in Europe is Fargro (UK), Fax 004 1903 730737, E-mail: info@fargro.co.uk www.fargro.co.uk. Italian growers should first check-out potential Italian stockists.