The US EPA has established a tolerance exemption for the biofungicide, Trichoderma virens strain G-41, for all food commodities. The Agency proposed the approval of two products from biopesticide company BioWorks (Victor, New York) based on T virens strain G41 in December (Agrow No 631, p 21).

UK pest control company Exosect (Winchester, Hampshire) has received Spanish approval for its pheromone-based product, Exosex SPTab, for use in post-harvest storage and food manufacturing facilities. It will be exclusively distributed in the country by Spanish company Comercial Química Massó (Barcelona).

Researchers from the US University of Florida(UF - Gainesville) have discovered that the amino acid, methionine, is an effective insecticide against lime swallowtails (Papilio demoleus). The highly invasive butterfly originates from South-East Asia and has established populations in the Caribbean. The expectation is that the pest will eventually reach Florida, where it has the potential to pose a threat to citrus production. The researchers found that spraying methionine on food plant leaves ...

The US EPA proposes to register two salicylic acid-based seed treatments from the US company, Loveland Products (Greeley, Colorado). Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring plant hormone that induces systemic acquired resistance to plant pathogens when applied to seed, the EPA notes. Loveland’s LPI 6194 Concentrate (salicylic acid 0.04% + indole-3-butyric acid 0.02% + chitosan 1%) is for use only by commercial seed treatment facilities and LPI 6194 RTU (salicylic acid 0.0067% + indole-3-butyric ...