Control of Diaphorina citri by applying clothianidin through a drip irrigation system

Objective  To study the control effect of clothianidin on citrus psyllid(Diaphorina citri) under drip irrigation, and provide a new way for controlling Huanglongbing (HLB) spread.

Method  An indoor simulation drip irrigation experiment was conducted for clothianidin. The distribution of clothianidin in soil and the content in citrus leaves were tested, and the clothianidin efficacy was studied under laboratory condition. The content of clothianidin in citrus leaves was detected and analyzed in field experiment.

Result  The control effect of single drip irrigation could be as long as four months in greenhouse. The migration distribution of clothianidin was a semicircle with a drop head as a starting point in soil, and the control effects of D. citri were more than 80% when clothianidin contents of citrus leaves were greater than 0.64 mg·kg^–1. Under field condition, the contents of clothianidin in upper leaves were also greater than 0.64 mg·kg^–1 from 7 to 63 days after applying clothianidin.

Conclusion  Clothianidin application through a drip irrigation system exhibits excellent efficacy against citrus psyllid, which provides an effective measure for prevention and control of HLB.