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44th TWC, Tob. Work. Conf., 2010, abstr. 21

Rynaxypyr (Coragen®) insecticide performance in dark tobacco

PITT W.D.; BAILEY W.A.
University of Tennessee, Highland Rim Research & Education Center, Springfield, TN, USA

Coragen is a newly registered insecticide for tobacco, with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr). The mode of action is activation of insect ryanodine receptors (RyRs), thereby preventing muscle function and resulting in rapid cessation of feeding, paralysis, and death in susceptible Lepidoptera species. Experiments were conducted in 2009 at the West Farm of Murray State University in Murray, KY and at the University of Tennessee Highland Rim Research & Education Center in Springfield, TN to evaluate Coragen for control of hornworm and budworm compared to other registered tobacco insecticides. All experiments were randomized complete block design with 4 replications. In an experiment with standard foliar applications at 15 to 17 gal/A spray volume conducted at Murray and Springfield, Coragen was applied at 3.5 or 5.0 oz/A compared to local standard treatments of Orthene 97 or Belt SC. In another experiment conducted at Springfield, spray volumes of 17 or 57.4 gal/A were compared for Coragen at 3.5 or 5.0 oz/A, along with Belt SC applied at 3 oz/A at 17 gal/A spray volume. In a third experiment conducted at Springfield, Coragen was applied in simulated transplant water applications at 5.0 or 7.0 oz/A compared to Admire Pro at 3.0 oz/A. Excellent crop safety was observed from Coragen in all experiments. Coragen was at least comparable to Orthene 97 and Belt SC for hornworm and budworm control, but was not effective against aphids. Due to relatively low worm pressure in all trials, no effect was observed for high volume applications at 57.4 gal/A compared to standard spray volume of 17 gal/A, and length of residual control was difficult to determine.