IPM in cabbage crops – first results of cabbage root fly control in the EU-project “PURE” in Germany

In 2012 the impact of different plant protection products on the cabbage root fly (Delia radicum (L.)) were investigated concerning their efficacy. Cauliflower plants were treated with spinosad (SpinTor® 12 ml/1000 plants), entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae 180.000 nematodes/plant in 50 ml H2O), lime nitrogen (PERLKA® 4.5-5 dt/ha) and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (Naturalis® 1 ml/plant in 50 ml H2O/plant). At harvest the number of pupae and larvae in the soil around roots was assessed and the root damage quantified. Furthermore the impact on the head weight was regarded. Among the different plant protection products tested, only spinosad showed pupae and larvae reducing properties and a slight trend towards lower root damage. However no influences of the different treatments on the mean head weight were found.