原版拟南芥规范种植手册

Several insects can cause substantial damage to or even kill Arabidopsis plants in the greenhouse and growth chambers. The main pests we have encountered are thrips, aphids and fungus gnats; other minor pests are whiteflies and spider mites.

Despite any precautions (avoiding transfer of insects from contaminated areas to growth space), even the most carefully managed growth spaces occasionally

become infested by pests. The best strategy for eliminating the infestation is

emptying the room, destroying all plants growing in the area (if possible),

thoroughly cleaning the room and heating the space to 40C for at least 24 hours to kill insect eggs and larvae.

An important aspect of insect control is detection and identification before

populations multiply. Traps (yellow cards with adhesive) are vital in this regard for catching winged insects. Fresh traps should be placed in greenhouse rooms and growth chambers frequently and monitored continuously. Always identify a pest before embarking on treatment.

Although chemical or biological treatments can reduce the population of insects, such remedies cannot make a room completely pest-free while allowing

Arabidopsis plants to survive.

Where local governmental regulations permit and infestation is highly probable, application of insecticide as a preventative measure can be very effective in

assuring plant health throughout growth. This helps to avoid heavy use of

chemicals that may be necessary after infestations have occurred. The following procedure may prevent infestation of thrips, aphids, fungus gnats and white flies.

1. Add 1.2 ml of "Enstar", 1.2 ml of "Tempo" and 1.2 ml of "Conserve" to 3 gal of water. Mix well. Spray lightly on rosettes prior to bolting stage - before

placement of any isolation devices for the plants.

2. "Marathon" (granular) can be added to the soil surface as per product label. However, applications for small plants can be made in the tray with water in cases where the pots are being sub-irrigated. This practice reduces risk of damage to the plants by the insecticide.

Listed below are the main pests and the possible insecticides used for their control once insects have been observed.

Thrips: these insects feed on developing buds and leaf primordia, visual

symptoms of damage are: brown spots in young leaves, withered inflorescence tips, crumpled and curled leaves, sterility and plant death. Effective pesticides to control thrips are "Conserve", "Mesurol", "Duraguard", or "Marathon".

Aphids: severe infestation can produce stunted plants or even plant death.

Insecticides like "Marathon", "Mesurol", "Duraguard" are useful.