In Focus: Three Questions With John P. Koenig
January 1, 2009 1. Florida Grower (FLG): Tell us a little more about recent product registrations in Florida and what those products will do.
John Koenig: “Just recently, we have significantly expanded our insecticide portfolio for vegetable and specialty crops with the registration of three new products. All three products contain the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole (CTPR), which is a member of the diamide class of chemistry and represents a new mode of action for lepidiopteran pests. In addition to CTPR, each of the new products contains an additional active ingredient of a different mode of action that is intended to complement CTPR and broaden the spectrum of insect control.
“The first of these new products is Durivo, a soil-applied insecticide that is applied via drip chemigation to vegetable crops, and after being taken up by roots, moves systemically throughout the plant to control all of the key lepidopteran pests like beet armyworm, diamondback moth, and cabbage looper, as well as sucking or chewing insect pests like whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and flea beetles. Durivo will provide up to 40 days or more of broad-spectrum control, and provides the protection from within that allows vegetable crops to get off to a good start. We think Durivo will have an excellent fit in Florida tomatoes and cucurbit crops because of the overlapping pest populations that attack these crops, and because of the fact that many of the acres of these crops are on drip irrigation.
“The second new offering from Syngenta is Voliam Xpress, a foliar-applied insecticide that will provide very rapid knockdown as well as long-lasting control of key lepidopteran pests in vegetables. The formulation has been designed to provide robust performance on the most difficult worms like Plutella and Spodoptera. Although it will not control sucking pests like whiteflies and aphids, it will control other troublesome pests like beetle species and plant and stink bugs. Because Voliam Xpress does not contain a neonicitinoid component, it can be used over the top of neonicitinoid-based soil programs and represents a good rotational partner for insect resistance management programs. Voliam Xpress is a restricted-use pesticide, and, as with any Syngenta product, it is important to read and follow label instructions before buying or using the product.
“The third product is Voliam Flexi, which is currently registered in potatoes, pome fruit, stone fruit, and grapes. In potatoes, Voliam Flexi will provide broad-spectrum control of Colorado potato beetles, potato leafhoppers, aphids, and lepidopteran pests. Thus, Voliam Flexi is an excellent solution when multiple pest populations overlap or occur at the same time.”
2. FLG: Are you hearing any buzz from growers and consultants about any particular pests that are challenging to control in Florida?
Koenig: “In vegetables, I think whiteflies are always a concern, because of how devastating they can be, and the fact that they have a propensity to develop resistance to new materials quickly.
“In citrus, obviously, there is a lot of concern about the Asian citrus psyllid because it vectors the pathogen that causes citrus greening. Also, the citrus leafminer remains an important concern because it vectors the pathogen that vectors citrus canker.”
3. FLG: Outside of current products, what does your R&D pipeline look like in terms of future products for the state’s citrus and vegetable growers?
Koenig: “We have a very full and active R&D pipeline. For instance, in the next few years, we hope to introduce several new products that would provide new options for citrus psyllid and citrus leafminer control. We also have a number of new materials in early development which will have a fit in vegetables in the future.”
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