Use of Emulsified Pure Oils for Control of Insects and Diseases of Cacti and Succulents Jerald E. Wheeler Plant Patholo

1. Use of Emulsified Pure Oils for Control of Insects and Diseases of Cacti and Succulents Jerald E. Wheeler Plant Pathologist Tucson, Arizona

2. World’s First Oil Well • Year: 1859 • Titusville, Pennsylvania • Valued for high quality lamp oil • Oil provided better light for reading than candles

3. Petroleum Oil Medical Use “Squibb Mineral Oil” “intestinal lubricant” “Odorless-Tasteless-Crystal Clear” “DOSE: 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls at bedtime”

4. Petroleum Oils Uses Natural Gas C1-C4 Straight Run Gasoline Kerosene C11-C14 Heating Oil C14-C25 Lubrication oil (branched, side chains) Waxes (little branching or side chains) Pesticidal Oil C20-C25 (C23) Asphalt

5. Petroleum Oil Chemistry Hydrocarbons = chains of carbon & hydrogen Straight and branched hydrocarbons Saturated-only single bonds Unsaturated-double and triple bonds Ring molecules: saturated and unsaturated Aromatics: Ring structures with double bonds

6. Highly Refined Petroleum Oils White Oils Food Grade Oils Baby Oils Medicinal Oils Pesticides

7. Many Names for Petroleum Oils Agricultural Oil Horticultural Oil Crop Oil Banana Oil Mineral Oil Dormant Oil Citrus Oil Spray Oil Petroleum Spray Oils Summer Oils

8. Many Vegetable Oils Oils from Major Crops Soybean Corn Cottonseed Canola Citrus Oil Confusing!

9. Essential Oils (Fragrance/Taste) Mouthwash, Toothpaste (Antiseptic/Flavor) Oil of Wintergreen (methyl salicylate) Thyme (extract = thymol) Eucalyptol (Eucalyptusglobulus) Peppermint Others Clove (extract = eugenol) Cedar wood Oregano Lavender

10. Pesticidal Activity Petroleum oils generally provide better control of insects, mites and plant diseases than oil derived today from plants. Petroleum oils are from ancient remains zooplankton and algae.

11. Petroleum Oils: Characteristics • Lighter than water • Will not mix with water without emulsifier (polar vs. non-polar) • Emulsifier-a molecule with one end that loves • water and the other end loves oil • Emulsifiers: 1-3% by weight • Emulsifiers facilitate uniform applications

12. Petroleum Oil Chemistry Toxicity to Plants = Phytotoxicity Reduction of phytotoxicity is a result of reactions of double and triple bonds with oxygen. Purification is removal of double and triple bonds.

13. Environmental Fate Petroleum oils as well as other plant oils are degraded by soil-borne bacteria. Example: Bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas

14. Uses of Emulsified Petroleum Oils • Insect and Mite Control • 2. Disease Control (black & yellow Sigatoka, greasy spot, powdery mildews, foliar fungal pathogens etc. • 3. Inhibition of virus transmission by insect vectors • 4. As an adjuvant: improve pesticide efficacy.

15. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses Large Markets Worldwide Dormant Oil Sprays for Insect Control almonds, apricots, apples, cherries, peaches, pears plums, pecans, walnuts etc.

16. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses • Large Markets Worldwide • Bananas/Pineapples • Control of foliar black sigatoka in bananas • ~ 30% of cost of banana production • Insect control in pineapples

17. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses Large Markets Worldwide Citrus Control of insects, mites and a foliar disease called greasy spot.

18. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses “Large Markets” Worldwide??? Cacti and Succulents Control of insects, mites and diseases.

19. Petroleum Oil Basics • Purity or Unsulfonated Residue % • Mid-Boiling Point (Av. Molecular Size) • Paraffinic and Naphthenic Content • Range = Refinement (narrow vs. broad)

20. Petroleum Oil Purity • Purity or Unsulfonated Residue % • Purity is about removing double and triple bonds. • Yellow Clear • High Purity > 99.5%

21. Mid-Boiling Point Temperatures at 10 mm Hg vacuum Often stated as oil weight: light vs. heavy Related as Fahrenheit (+ or – 8 0F) Market: 415, 435*, 440*, 455*, 470 0F * most common Carbons: 19-24

22. Mid-Boiling Point Too light = poor pesticidal activity Too heavy = phytotoxicity? Some studies show that pure heavier oils are more effective. Heavier oils are not on market.

23. Paraffinic versus Naphthenic Paraffinic-chains and branched chains Naphthenic-ring structures Paraffinic content---60% plus More pesticidal activity Less phytotoxicity

24. Oil Range Range is difference in degrees F between the 10% distillation point and 90% distillation point. Wider ranges indicates less uniformity. Narrow range oils are considered to have less then 80 degrees F between the 10% and 90% distillation points.

25. Oil Range Much of the oil research is old and not done with highly purified oils. Range is of less significance if the oil is highly purified. Highly purified = 99.5% purity or greater.

26. Oil Labels • May not provide: • Purity (Unsulfonated Residue) • Mid-boiling Point • Paraffinic Content • Range • The % petroleum oil, %paraffinic oil & % petroleum distillates are not helpful.

27. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses • Insect and Mite Control • 2. Disease Control (black & yellow Sigatoka, greasy spot, powdery mildews, foliar fungal pathogens etc. • 3. Inhibition of virus transmission by insect vectors • 4. As an adjuvant: improve pesticide efficacy.

28. Actions of Emulsified Petroleum Oils Sprays • Contact (insects, mites and fungi) • Suffocation • Soluble in tissues • Inhibits biological processes • Reduces recognition of host • Gums up mouth parts (insects and mites) • Film reduces mobility • Repellent • Coats eggs • Stops or reduces feeding

29. Action of Emulsified Petroleum Oils Sprays • Modify insect and mite behavior • A) Less recognition e.g. whiteflies • B) Decrease in attack e.g. leaf miners • Repellent to some pest, e.g. whiteflies • Kill eggs • Reduce population growth: less eggs laid

30. Emulsified Oil Uses for Cacti and Succulents Problem Control _ Powdery Mildew Yes Cochineal Scale & Other Scales Yes Mealy Bugs Yes Spider Mites Yes White flies Yes Western Flower Thrips Suppression Slugs & Snails No Leaf Cutter Bees No Sciarid Flies Maybe Caterpillars eggs Some Weevils No

31. Repellency on adult whitefly colonization of chrysanthemum as measured by residual activity of mineral oil Water Oil Water Oil Water Oil A d u l t s 166.8 0.8 110.2 2.2 130.6 4.8 _ 0 Days 3 days 11 days

32. Repellent effect of mineral oil on adult whitefly colonization and oviposition of chrysanthemum Number of Adults/Eggs Insect Water 1% Oil 2% Oil Adults 488.6 32.8 27.6 Eggs 162 0.6 0.2

33. Repellent activity of mineral oil on two spotted spider mite colonization* Treatment Eggs Mites Water 72.2 27.8 2% Oil 9.4 2.6 *Mites were given a choice between water treated and mineral oil treated leaves on the same plant.

34. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses Control of Foliar Fungal Pathogens Alone and with Fungicides Powdery mildews Downy mildews Rusts Botrytis Cercospora

35. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Uses Control of Insect Transmission of Plant Viruses Principal Insects: Whiteflies, Aphids, Psyllids Cucurbit viruses Okra viruses Tomato viruses Etc.

36. Emulsified Petroleum Oils Modes of Action Suffocation or oxygen deprivation of insects and fungi Prevent virus transmission by filling mouth parts of insects Reduce attachment of fungal spores to plant surfaces

37. Emulsified Petroleum Oils No known disease or insect resistance because of the mode of action.

38. Mode of Action on Plant Feeding Insects • As An Insecticide— • Two Modes of Action • Suffocation • Behavior Modification Insects Typically Controlled/Suppressed : Aphid, Mites (including Pacific, Willamette, European Red, Twospotted,) Mealybug, Scale, Leafhopper, Thrips, Whitefly, JMS/Organic Stylet-Oil —The Premiere White Oils Giving Growers A Clear Choice

39. TECHNICAL WHITE PARAFFINIC OIL Technical Paraffinic Oil is a food grade white mineral oil, which is a non-restricted item. Contains paraffin additives. Not for use as a lubricant. Flashpoint is above 345 degrees F. 4423 5th PL SW PH: 772-562-8770 Vero Beach, FL 32968 FAX: 772-562-7202

40. JMS Stylet Oil • Most common rate: 1% volume to volume • Rate range 0.5-3% v/v • Read label!

41. JMS Stylet Oil • 30 years of research and use • Organic Registration • OMRI Certified • Available at CPS, Tucson

42. Application Danger • Phytoxicity • Oil is dirty-contains double and triple bonds. Need high UR value • Applied when too hot, not over 90oF • Wrong rate: not over 1.5% V/V in AZ

43. Thank you Questions

44. Effect of mineral oil on feeding and oviposition on leaf miner (Liriomyza trifloii) on chrysanthemums under choice conditions* Treatment Feeding Punctures Eggs Laid Water 946.8 22.64 2% Oil 1.4 0.04 4% Oil 0.8 0.02 *Leafminers were given a choice to choose between water treated and mineral oil treated leaves.

45. Purity or Unsulfonated Residue • Purity: Less Phytotoxic Molecules • Aromatics: rings with double bonded • Linear molecules with double/triple bonds • Unsaturated molecules = phytotoxicity

46. Purity or Unsulfonated Residue Molecules: Aromatics Double & triple bonds Not been shown to increase insect, mite of disease control.

47. Purity or Unsulfonated Residue Measurement of aromatics and double/triple bonded molecules: Sulfuric acid added to oil or solvent- treated oil Residue = sulfonated portion Unsulfonated residue % = UR % UR % = pure single bonded oil molecules

48. High Purity or Unsulfonated Residue • Severe Hydrocracking • High temp. and pressure – appropriate molecular length • 2. Hydroisomeration • Changes straight chains to branched

49. High Purity or Unsulfonated Residue 3. Deep Hydrogenation Changes double and triple bonds to single bonds-saturation 4. Final refining Produces fractions used in sprays

50. Mid-Boiling Point Mid-boiling point = 50% distillation point Temperature at which 50% of the oil distills. Reflects: molecular size composition