GC-Mite™ Research

GC-Mite™

GC-Mite on Fruits and Vegetables
Plant Protection Research Institute, ARC, Egypt

The tetranychid Mites are plant feeders of considerable economic importance, attacking fruit and vegetable crops. They usually feed on the leaves injuring the epidermis and resulting in blotching stippling or bronzing and sometimes accompanied by leaf fall. Some of the species are most specific, but the majority of is polyphagous and has a wide range of hosts. Severe mites feeding result in economic reduction in the quality and quantity of crop production.

Continuous use of acute acaricides has caused serious suppression in natural enemies’ population, residual contamination of human foods, mammalian toxicity, and pollution of the environment. Therefore, new approaches in pest control, particularly use of natural plant extracts have received recently a considerable attention. Many trials all over the world have succeeded by the use of plant extracts in controlling mite pests on different hosts, such as the studies of *Abo-El Ghar et al.,* 1986, Amer et al., 1988** and 1989, Diemetry et al., 1983 and Mansour et al., 1983.

GC-Mite is an organic miticide is recommended for the control of various mites on ornamental and agronomic crops. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the product against some key mite species on economic fruit and vegetable crops in Egypt .

1. ON FRUIT TREES
Materials and Methods:
Location:	Dakahlia Governorate (The Delta)
Host Plants:	Apple, Peach and Citrus trees
Pest Species:	Teranychus urticae Koch
	Panonychus californicus (Banks)
	Phyilocoptruta oleivora

Procedure:
Five experiments were carried out during the year 2001. Two were conducted on apple and peach trees against all the motile stages of Tetranychus urticae. Two were carried out on peach and apple trees against the motile stages of Panonychus ulmi. These mite species are phytophagus attacking apple and peach trees causing serious damage to the leaves, reducing the quantity of the product. One experiment was conducted against the Citrus Scarlet Mite, Brevipalpus californicus (Banks) on citrus trees. Primary test was carried out against the Citrus Rust Mite, Phyilocoptruta oleiovora Ashmed. This mite pest is considered one of the major pests on citrus fruit. A complete randomized block design with four replicates (three trees / replicate) was used.

Tested Chemicals:
GC-Mite 1% natural product (oils)
Ortus 5% SC. Fenpyroximate
Weekly samples consisted of 80 leaves from each treatment. (20 leaves / replicate), were collected randomly. Four samples after spraying and one sample as pre-count just before spraying. In case of citrus, 80 fruits (20 fruits per replicate) were inspected Leaves and fruits were inspected using stereo-microscope carefully, living motile stages were counted and recorded. All sprays were applied by using a motor sprayer of 100 L. of water. Percentage of reduction was calculated according to the equation of Henderson and Tiliton (1955).

Results and Discussion:
Efficiency of the natural product GC-Mite was tested at the concentration 1% against motile stages of T. urticae and P. ulmi on apple and peach trees and against B. californicus on citrus trees, comparing with the commercial compound Ortus 5% SC at the concentration 500 cc /100 L. of water.

Revealed data in Table 1 showed that the two former compounds reduced the population of motile stages of T. urticae on apple trees with an average of 85.48 and 91.89%, respectively. Data in Table 2 indicated that sprays with both the GC-Mite and the Ortus against the motile stages of T. urticae on peach trees gave significant reduction in the population reached 86.17 and 92.12%, respectively. Data in Table 3 revealed that sprays with both the GC-Mite and the Ortus against the motile stages of P. ulmi on apple trees caused mortality percentages reached 83.51 and 91.2%, respectively. Data in Table 4 showed that the GC-Mite and Ortus sprays against the motile stages of P. ulmi on peach trees gave percentages of mortality reached 83.99 and 91.3%, respectively. Data in Tables 5, 6, and 7 indicated that when the GC-Mite and Ortus were sprayed against the Citrus False Mite, B. californicus on citrus trees, they caused reduction percentages averaged 88.23 and 91.36%, respectively.

Remark: In case of using GC-Mite against the Citrus Rust Mite, it exhibited very low effect, averaged less than 50%. Therefore, it is not recommended to be used against the Citrus Rust Mite.

Table 1. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch. on Apple Trees Compared with the Commercial Miticide, Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	1688	208	84.9	264	86.05	298	84.34	275	83.58	84.48
Ortus	50 cc	1931	142	92.8	159	92.66	184	91.55	181	9.55	91.89
Control	-	1884	1924	-	2112	-	2124	-	1869	-	-

Table 2. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch. on Peach Trees Compared with the Commercial Miticide, Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	1389	198	87.31	262	86.12	200	86.45	268	84.78	86.17
Ortus	50 cc	1402	108	93.14	132	93.07	121	91.20	159	91.05	92.12
Control	-	1284	1442	-	1745	-	1364	-	1628	-	-

Table 3. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Panonychus ulmi Koch. on Apple Trees Compared with the Commercial Miticide Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	1462	224	84.18	228	84.25	239	83.10	243	82.50	83.51
Ortus	50 cc	1259	88	92.8	99	92.1	118	90.3	126	89.5	91.2
Control	-	1224	1186	-	1212	-	1184	-	1163	-	-

Table 4. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Panonychus ulmi Koch. on Peach Trees Compared with the Commercial Miticide Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	948	131	84.96	130	84.16	164	83.70	166	83.15	83.99
Ortus	50 cc	988	67	92.6	74	91.4	79	91.9	111	89.2	91.3
Control	-	1141	1049	-	988	-	1211	-	1186	-	-

Table 5. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Brevipalpus californicus on Citrus Fruits Compared with the Commercial Miticide Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	1237	163	87.0	149	88.1	156	88.62	171	87.68	87.97
Ortus	50 cc	1284	102	92.45	108	91.68	120	91.56	131	90.90	91.65
Control	-	1165	1228	-	1179	-	1291	-	1307	-	-

Table 6. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Brevipalpus californicus on Citrus Leaves Compared with the Commercial Miticide Ortus 5% SC in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Leaves and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	657	81	88.4	89	88.31	75	89.73	83	87.58	88.50
Ortus	50 cc	713	53	93.0	67	91.88	73	90.78	82	88.69	91.08
Control	-	682	725	-	790	-	758	-	694	-	-

Table 7. Average Percentage of Reduction in the Motile Stages of Brevipalpus californicus on Treated Fruits and Leaves of Citrus trees in Egypt , Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Average % of Reduction		% Reduction
Treatment	Rate of Application	Fruits	Leaves	% Reduction
GC-Mite	1%	87.97	88.50	88.23
Ortus 5% SC	50 cc	91.65	91.08	91.36


1. ON VEGETABLES
*GC-Mite Against Trips tabaci* on Cucumber**

Materials and Methods
Location:	Dakahlia Governorate (The Delta)
Host Plant:	Cucumber
Pest Species:	Thrips tabaci

Procedure:
An experiment was conducted on cucumber infested with the thrips species, Thrips tabaci, which is considered a serious pest in the early season. A complete randomize block design with four replicates was conducted. Each plot was about (2 x 5 m2). GC-Mite was applied with the rate of 1%. Size of samples was 40 leaves for treatment. Samples were inspected using stereo-microscope. Four samples were taken after 24 hours as initial kill, and then after 3, 5, and 7 days. Percent of reduction was calculated according to the equation of Henderson and Tiliton (1955).

Results and Discussion:
Data presented in Table 8 indicated that when the GC-Mite was sprayed at the rate of 1% against Thrips tabaci on cucumber caused a reduction reached 79.89% after 24 hours of spray. While it averaged 70.93% after 3, 5, and 7 days from spray. Therefore, the product can be used successfully for controlling the thrips.

Table 8. Effectof GC-Mite on Thrips tabaci on Cucumber in Egypt , year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 40 Leaves	No. and % Reduction After Spray								% Initial Reduction	% Reduction
			Initial 24 Hrs		3 days		5 days		7 days
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	530	108	79.89	125	77.47	168	70.16	212	65.16	79.86	70.93
Control	-	594	602	-	622	-	631	-	682	-		-

1- Accepted Level of Natural Products = Initial 70% and Residual 50%

GC-Mite Against Mites on Vegetables
Materials and Methods
Location:	Dakahlia Governorate (The Delta)
Host Plants:	Cucumber, Squash, Beans (Phasulas Valgaris)
Pest Species:	Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae

Procedure
Three experiments were carried out against all the motile stages of Tetranychus urticae, which considers the major mite species attacking vegetable crops. Design of the experiment was a complete randomized block with four replicates for each treatment (4 x 5 m).

Tested Chemicals
GC-Mite : Natural product with the rate of 1 %. Ortus 5 % SC: 50 cc / 100 L. water. Proget: Propargite 72 % I00 cc/100 L. water. Vertimic Abamaliu A& B C 1.8 % E with the rate of 40 cc/100 L. water.

Weekly samples were collected randomly after spraying. A pre-count was taken just before spraying and then four samples after spraying, 80 inches were inspected each treatment. Number of living mite was recorded by using a stereomicroscope. Percentages of reduction were calculated according to Henderson and Tilton (1955).

Results and Discussion
Data summarized in Table 9 indicated that when GC-Mite and Ortus were sprayed against T. urticae on cucumber, percentages of reduction in the population of the motile stages averaged 85.70 and 92.40%, respectively. Respective percentages, when GC-Mite and propagate 72% EC were applied (Table 10) against the same species on squash, gave 84.75 and 93.13% reduction in the population of the mite, respectively. Data in Table 11 revealed that the natural product GC-Mite and Vertimic 1.8% EC, when applied against T. urticae on Phasulus vulgaris, gave percentages of reduction in the level of infestations averaged 87.59 and 93.22%, respectively.

Conclusion
The natural production GC-Mite can be used safely and successfully for the control of the mite species, Tetranychus urticae on the fruit trees; peach, apple, citrus, as well as on the vegetable crops cucumber, squash, and beans. The same product can be also recommended against the mite species, Panonychus ulmi on citrus. Therefore, GC-Mite can be recommended to be used in IPM programs against mites for its safety on the environment.

Table 9. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Tetranychus urticaeon Cucumber Compared with the Commercial Miticide Ortus 5% SC in Egypt, Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Square Inches and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	645	101	85.46	110	85.09	99	86.26	106	86.20	85.70
Ortus 5% SC	50 cc	632	56	91.77	61	91.57	52	92.64	48	93.62	92.40
Control	-	622	670	-	712	-	695	-	741	-	-

Table 10. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Tetranychus urticae on Squash Compared with Prorogate 72% EC in Egypt, Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Square Inches and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	711	122	85.07	136	84.88	152	84.60	187	84.48	84.75
Ortus 5% SC	50 cc	688	53	93.29	60	93.11	65	93.19	82	92.96	93.13
Control	-	691	788	-	871	-	954	-	1163	-	-

Table 11. Effect of GC-Mite on the Motile Stages of Tetranychus urticae on Beans Compared with Vertimic 1.8% EC in Egypt, Year 2001.

Treatment	Rate of Application	Pre-count/ 80 Leaves	No. of Motile Stages/80 Square Inches and % Reduction After Treatments								% Reduction
			One Week		Two Weeks		Three Weeks		Four Weeks
			No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
GC-Mite	1%	431	54	87.62	52	87.96	57	87.46	53	87.31	87.59
Ortus 5% SC	50 cc	417	28	93.37	24	94.26	30	93.18	32	92.09	93.22
Control	-	724	429	-	425	-	447	-	411	-	-

Recommendation

It is noteworthy to mention that according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt , acceptance of natural and/or organic products for implementation, requires a threshold promotion level of product’s efficiency (measured by percentage of reduction in the pest population at the recommended and economic dose of the product given by the producer). This level is 70% reduction in case of the plant extracts and natural products.

Accordingly, obtained results revealed that the natural acaricides GC-Mite 1% exceeded the threshold promotion level (70%) in most of the tested cases, particularly against the most important and serious Spider Mite, T. urticae on fruit and vegetable crops and the Citrus Flat Mite, B. californicus on both citrus leaves and fruits and failed in the third evaluation of the Citrus Rust Mite, P. oleivora on citrus leaves and fruits.

References

Abo-El-Ghar, G.E.; A.E. El-Sheikh and A.A. Osman , (1986). Toxicity of some plant extracts of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acarina: Tetranychidae) in Egypt . Minoufia J. Agric. Res., 11: 1003-1010.

Amer, A.A.; M.K.H. El-Shemy and A.A. Farag , (1988). Acaricidal action of turnip plant on some biological aspects of Tetranychus urticae Koch. Bull. Zool. Soc. Egypt , 36: 5-10.

Amer, A.A.; A.S. Reda and N.Z. Diemetry , (1989). Activity of Abrus precatorius L. extracts against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acarina: Tetranychidae). Acarologia, 30: 209-215.

Diemetry, N.Z.; S. El-Gengaihis, A.S. Reda and S.A. Amer , (1988). Toxicity of some compounds isolated from Abrus precatorius L. seeds toward the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Bull. Zool. Soc. Egypt, 36: 121-132.

Mansour, F.A. and K.R.S. Ascher , (1983). Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernel extracts from different solvents on the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Phytoparasitica. 11: 177-185.