Utilisation of Quassia in organic fruit growing

Jutta Kienzle

• Research in R & D for strategies in organic fruit growing in Germany

• Coach of a network of fruit growers, consultants and researchers for further development of the production system of organic fruit growing

Foerdergemeinschaft Oekologischer Obstbau e.V.

Quassia ex Quassia amara or Picrasma excelsa

Common as • Bitter agent used for flavouring of

beverages and bakery ware

• Ingredient of several cosmetics Used in healing e.g. for the cure of dermal diseases (rosacea)

Traditional use of Quassia in organic fruit growing

Essential use as a part of strategies

• for the control of sawflies of pome fruit and stone fruit

• sometimes for the reduction of aphid population In hop growing it is essential for aphid control Sometimes it is used for the control of sucking insects in ornamentals

Legal situation in Germany: Until 2012: In Germany Quassia extract was listed as a substance for on farm preparation according to § 6 a of the Plant Protection Act (PflSchG) enacted until 14.2.2012 Kind of national regulation similar to the “basic substance idea”

Research with Quassia in organic fruit growing

In 2000 in Germany and other European countries there was great incertainity about • the application date of Quassia for apple sawfly control

• the concentration neccessary for a sufficient efficacy Research project BOEL

BBA Darmstadt, University of Hohenheim, DLR Rheinpfalz, OEON e.V., Jork for field and laboratory trials

Trifolio-M for analysis of active ingredients

Active ingredient and quantitative analysis

First important finding The main active ingredient is Quassin! Quassin is used as leading analytical substance for the definition of Quassia extracts as flavourings → There were existing methods for quantitative analysis that could be used! → Quassia extracts could be defined by the content of Quassin as it was already common for the use as food ingredient In all our trials extracts with defined content of Quassin were used. The concentration of the extract is defined by the content of Quassin

Best application date:

„egg maturity“

opaque hyaline Eyes of the larva visible

larva hatching primary infestation secondary infestation

Effect of Quassin (alcohol preparation of pure Quassin) on the hatching of the eggs of apple sawfly

The egg mortality seems not really relevant for the efficacy of Quassia, the larva hatches after application

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Effect of Quassin (alcohol preparation of pure Quassin) on the entrance of the neonate larvae of

apple sawfly in the fruit

Quassin has an effect on the entrance of the larva in the fruit We never tried to distinguish between antifeedant or insecticidal

activity!

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Best application date for apples

Quassin does not arrive at receptacle (blossom closed)

Quassin on the receptacle when larva

hatches

Larva hatches before application

too early right too late

Sawfly

Blossom Blossom fades

?Quassin does not reach the receptacle

Control of the central blossom!

Best application date for pear

Larva hatch often before the blossom is ending!! Visual control indispensable

Fotos Künzel

Blossom closed

Full blossom

End of blossom

Blossom closed

Full blossom End of blossom

500 l/ha u. mKh

250 l/ha u. mKh

125 l/ha u. mKh

Effect of application technique on the efficacy of the treatment: How much of the solution applied arrives where we need it: Different amounts of water per ha

Locality Year Quassin g/ha Efficacy of the treatment in %

Infested fruits on 100 clusters in control

Primary infestation Primary infestation Lake Con stance I

2002 8 66,3 43,0

12 80,2

Lake Con stance II

2002 8 81,8 33,0

12 87,9 Lake Con stance III

2002 8 65,7 105,0

12 73,3 Ahrweiler

2002 6 84 9,5

12 92,1 Jork

2002 6 30,4 34,5

12 37,7 Lake Con stance

2003 4 92,9 70,5

12 97,2

Jork

2003 4 90,7 64,0 6 81,3

Efficacy of Quassia in fruit protection from sawfly infestation

No negative side effects on A. mali are to be expected

No negative side effects even on Forficula auricularia, Aphidius

rhopalosiphi und Coccinella septempunctata!

Side effects of Quassin (active ingredient) and Quassia-extract on Aphelinus mali

Results of H. Vogt and P. Ternes, JKI Dossenheim

Thesis Primary infestation secondaryinfestation

Plot 2 1 2 1

Infestation in control 65 11.67 67 12.0Quassiaextract 12 g Quassin/ha1. application date

81.5 74.3 88.1 92.3

NeemAzal-T/S 20 g AZA/ha

+ Quassia. 12 g Quassin/ 1. appl. date

89.2 77.1 83.6 84.6

NeemAzal-T/S 20 g AZA/ha 33.8 -31.4 67.2 61.5

Primary (21.5.) and secondary sawfly infestation (31.5.) in both plots Efficacy ABBOTT (Infested fruits for 50 clusters)

Comparison of the efficacy of Quassia and NeemAzal-TS on apple sawfly

Combination!

Strategy recommended in the last years Splitting of the application of NeemAzal-T/S for the control of the rosy apple aphid • 1st application at red bud stage 1 l/ha and m tree height

• 2nd application of NeemAzal-T/S at the end of blossom 1 l/ha and m

tree height Combine 2nd application with Quassia 3-6 g Quassin/ha and m tree height = 6-12 g Quassin per ha

Future of Quassia and legal situation Quassia is a very selective product and shows activities only on few insect species Exactly for this reason it is essential as part of a sustainable strategy for organic fruit growers and hop growers The cost of Quassia is much higher and the efficacy and the reliability of the efficacy is much lower than that of synthetic products The application is difficult, you must „catch the very right application date“ Not really interesting for IPM „Minor use“, no company would invest in bringing Quassia on the market Basic substance regulation makes it possible that growers as interested party can apply for the permission to use a product that is available for other purposes and has only a very small market as PPP, if this „minor use“ is essential

Thank you for your attention and for the invitation!