<![CDATA[Abstract. Al-Tikriti MM, Al-Kalash AJM. 2026. Field efficacy of flupyradifurone and acetamiprid with potassium silicate against waxy colonies of woolly apple aphid in Iraqi apple orchards. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100238. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100238. This study evaluated the field efficacy of flupyradifurone, Sivanto Prime (200 g/L SL), and acetamiprid, Nestor (20% SP), applied alone or with potassium silicate (Barkid), in reducing visible waxy colonies of woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann, on the apple cultivars Ibrahimi and Sharabi in Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq. The experiment was conducted at one site during a single growing season using a randomized complete block design, with three independent experimental units per treatment within each cultivar. Each experimental unit consisted of two adjacent trees. Colony counts were recorded before treatment and at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after treatment. Post-treatment data were analyzed separately for each cultivar using a repeated-measures REML model that included insecticide, potassium silicate, time, and their interactions. The response variable was the number of visible waxy colonies; it was not a direct measure of aphid mortality or live aphid abundance. A significant three-way interaction was detected in Ibrahimi (F₆,₃₅.₄ = 27.69, P < 0.001) and Sharabi (F₆,₃₇.₉ = 20.89, P < 0.001), indicating that colony responses varied with insecticide, silicate application, and assessment time. Sivanto + potassium silicate produced the lowest numerical mean colony counts at all assessment times in both cultivars. After adjustment for multiple comparisons using the Holm method, the additional effect of silicate with Sivanto remained significant only at 14 days in Sharabi, with a difference of 3.25 colonies (95% confidence interval: 1.47-5.03; adjusted P = 0.009). The corresponding difference in Ibrahimi was 4.13 colonies and was not significant after adjustment (adjusted P = 0.069). Adding potassium silicate to acetamiprid did not produce a significant difference after adjustment at any assessment time. Potassium silicate alone was also associated with a clear decline in colony counts. These findings provide preliminary field evidence specific to the site and season studied and support further trials across multiple sites and seasons, with greater independent replication, before generalizing the practical value of potassium silicate.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
