Pears ready to be harvested. Dow AgroSciences' Delegate will be used in the pome fruit sector worldwide. Photo: Linda DuBose

Dow AgroSciences has received its first global approval for the second-generation spinosyn insecticide, Delegate (spinetoram 25%), in New Zealand for use on pome fruit. The insecticide will be sold under the Delegate name in the pome fruit sector worldwide. It is being developed for use on fruit, nuts, grapevines and vegetables (Agrow No 491, p 17).

The rapid registration in New Zealand was the result of "excellent team work aligned with the industry's desire for newer, more environmentally compatible products for high-value market segments such as apples," Dow says. "The speed with which we received our registration is creating a lot of excitement in the marketplace over this new generation of pest control," adds Dow AgroSciences' global insecticides product manager, Don Kelley. Delegate offers "a new standard of performance and excellent environmental characteristics such as lower use rates and reduced environmental persistence", Mr Kelley says.

The water-dispersible granule formulation is recommended for use at 50 g ai/ha on apples in New Zealand. This is the lowest use rate that will be recommended for pome fruit, with typical rates in other countries being 75-100 g ai/ha, the company told Agrow. Spinetoram has a broader pest spectrum than Dow's established spinosyn insecticide, spinosad (Agrow ibid). It is particularly effective on pome fruit against codling moths (Cydia pomonella), which are not controlled by spinosad. Spinetoram provides pome fruit growers with another mode of action to control codling moths and other lepidopteran pests, Dow points out.

Spinetoram is undergoing an expedited review in the US as a reduced-risk pesticide. Joint reviews are being conducted in the US, Canada and Mexico. Dow hopes to receive approvals in the US and Canada during the third quarter of 2007. Dow has a co-development agreement with Sumitomo Chemical for the Japanese market, with introduction expected in 2010 (Agrow No 492, p 19). The company is unwilling to speculate on approval timings in other countries at this stage.

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