Post on 28-Mar-2023
• BS in Plant Protection (4 years)
• Plant Protection Engineer (2 years)
• Teaching Assistant U of NS (3.5 years)
• MS in Plant Pathology (3 years)
• PhD in Plant Pathology – research on
trunk injection in agriculture (4.5 years)
• Environmentally safe and precise way
to deliver pesticides
• Insensitive to weather
My background
Srdjan Acimovic, Bert Cregg, George Sundin
& John Wise
The Theory of Trunk-injection and Applications
in Control of Tree Diseases
(Cartoon by Marlene Cameron)
• Harnessing xylem transport
capacity
• Environmentally safer - no
compound losses
• What influences the
efficiency after injection?
Trunk Injection Basics
Soil - Plant - Atmosphere Continuum
- Good flow of water - transpiration stream -
Soil - High
Energy
Air- Low
Energy
Energy
gradient is
pull force:
Transpiration
Engine
Loblolly
pine
Ash
Transpiration
Absorption
Soil and Root System - Evaporative Demand -
G
ram
s o
f w
ater
Time
• Good soil moisture (soil type, irrigation)
• Daily water consumption (apple 50-60, forest 100-300 gal./day)
• Drought – do not inject
• Good root system – rootstock
• Well developed and displayed crown
• Transpiration engine capacity
http://www.carrobgrowers.co.uk
Tree - Rootstock & Scion - Engine Capacity -
Tree Trunk Anatomy
http://bio1152.nicerweb.com
• Xylem is target tissue
• Know xylem type in tree species
• Anatomy affects timing and spatial uniformity of
compound distribution in the canopy
Vessel elements building blocks of efficient
sap transport, besides tracheids
Conifers and Hardwoods
http://petrifiedwoodmuseum.org
http://www.studyblue.com
SOFTWOODS (Conifers)
HARDWOODS
Tracheids and resin canals
• Sunny - rainy (±wind)
• Mid to lower RH
• Mid to high
temperatures • Soil moisture
Weather Conditions - Good for Injection -
Atmosphere Conditions – Engine Gas Pedal
Vapor and temperature regulate transpiration intensity:
• Inject at lower relative air humidity (RH)
• Higher Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)
• Mid to higher temperatures (season)
Cartoon by Bert Cregg
50°F
68°F
86°F
Spatial Distribution - Injected Imidacloprid - Apple Tree Canopy -
• Spatial distribution varies in crown - efficiency?
• Quantify spatial distribution in crown
• 1 g imidacloprid per tree
• 1, 2, 4, 8 injection ports per trunk
• How and where injected imidacloprid moves?
The Plant and Pest We Treat
• Know pest lifestyle
• Know infestation pressure
• Problems in diagnostics
• Dose and time
• Healthy tree – good water
transport
• Affected crown parts obstruct
uptake (DED)
Pest lifestyle: Canopy, Wood or Roots? - Infection Pressure -
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
6/24/2014 7/28/2014 8/27/2014
Anth
racnose leaf
incid
ence (
%)
Sycamore Anthracnose
DI water control
Azoxystrobin
Azoxystrobin +Propiconazole
Propiconazole(3.75ml/trunkinch, 10%)
Control of apple scab with injected fungicides
• Optimize number of injections and timing for efficient
control
81.9 A
50.9 A
60.8 BC
22.8 CD
47.7 C
18.5 D
53.5 C
18.4 D
16.7 D
20.6 CD
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
5/4/2012Day 1
5/18/2012Day 15
5/4/2012Day 1
5/18/2012Day 15
6/14/2012Day 42
8/17/2012Day 106
Spurs Shoots
Ap
ple
sca
b in
cid
en
ce [
%] WTC PhJetL
PhJetH
Prophyt
SpraySTD*
WIC PhJet 2.59 ml/1” DFH PhJet 5.17 ml/1” DFH Prophyt 2.18 ml/ 1” DFH Spray EBDC
2012 Maximum configuration: 4 injections in spring
‘Red Delicious’
21
March
20
April
25
May
22
June
55.7 A 63.3 A
21.6 B
34.0 C
19.7 B
27.8 CD
15.0 B
21.3 DE
6.6 C
18.8 E
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
6/13/2013 7/3/2013 6/13/2013 7/3/2013 7/30/2013 8/26/2013
Spurs Shoots
Ap
ple
sca
b in
cid
en
ce [
%]
WTC Prophyt PhJetL PhJetH Spray STD
WIC Prophyt 2.18 ml/ 1” DFH PhJet 2.59 ml/1" DFH PhJet 5.17 ml/1" DFH Spray EBDC
2013 Maximum configuration: 4 injections in spring
‘Red Delicious’
72.2 A 54.0 A
15.5 E
20.0 D
47.8 CD
16.7 DE
39.3 D
14.3 E
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
5/1/2012Day 1
5/16/2012Day 16
5/1/2012Day 1
5/16/2012Day 16
6/13/2012Day 44
8/15/2012Day 107
Spurs Shoots
Ap
ple
sca
b in
cid
en
ce [
%]
2012 MAXIMUM CONFIGURATION: 4 INJECTIONS IN FALL + SPRING ‘Mac Spur’
WIC
Spray EBDC
PhJet 2.59 ml/1" DFH
PhJet 5.17 ml/1" DFH
15 October 2011 11 April 2012 11 May 2012 8 June 2012
72.2 A 54.0 A
59.8 B
30.3 B
52.5 BC
26.2 C
15.5 E
20.0 B
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
5/1/2012Day 1
5/16/2012Day 16
5/1/2012Day 1
5/16/2012Day 16
6/13/2012Day 44
8/15/2012Day 107
Spurs Shoots
Me
an a
pp
le s
cab
inci
de
nce
[%
]
2012 MAXIMUM CONFIGURATION: 4 INJECTIONS IN FALL + SPRING ‘Mac Spur’
WIC Alamo 8.3 ml/1" DFH Alamo 16.6 ml/1" DFH Spray EBDC
MINIMAL CONFIGURATION: 1-2 INJECTIONS IN FALL /+ SPRING 2013 – phosphites in apple scab control on ‘Mac Spur’ leaves (α=0.05)
88.3 A
94.4 A
69.5 C 70.5 D
47.4 DE 47.3 EF
65.8 C
49.7 E 63.4 C
36.9 FG
52.1 D
31.6 G
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6/17/2013 7/9/2013 6/17/2013 7/9/2013 7/30/2013 8/30/2013
Spurs Shoots
Ap
ple
sca
b in
cid
en
ce [
%]
WIC PJ Fall: 1 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh
PJ Fall+Spring: 2 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh PJ Spring: 1 x 5.17 ml/ 1" dfh
Agrifos spray: 9 x 1892.7 ml/ 0.405 ha PJ Spring+Spring: 2 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh
11 October 2012 21 April 2013 22 May 2013
95.5 A
77.9 B
68.0 B
33.8 C
35.5 C
28.9 C
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6/17/2013 7/9/2013 7/30/2013 8/30/2013
Ap
ple
sca
b in
cid
en
ce [
%]
WIC PJ Fall: 1 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh Agrifos spray: 9 x 1892.7 ml/ 0.405 ha PJ Fall+Spring: 2 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh PJ Spring: 1 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh PJ Spring+Spring: 2 x 5.17 ml/1" dfh
MINIMAL CONFIGURATION: 1-2 INJECTIONS IN FALL /+ SPRING 2013 – phosphites in apple scab control on ‘Mac Spur’ fruits (α=0.05)
Control of fire blight on apples with injected
compounds
• Performance in blossom and shoot blight control on ‘Gala’
apples
• Can injected plant resistance activators induce resistance?
• Can injection enhance the effect of plant resistance activators?
Controls Fire Blight on Apples
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
11 June 18 June 25 June
Blo
sso
m b
ligh
t in
cid
en
ce (
%)
Treatment Mean
WC 72.9 a
KS 49.8 c
Arbor-OTC 28.7 d
2013 B
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
11 June 18 June 25 June
Sho
ot
blig
ht
inci
de
nce
(%
) Treatment Mean
WC 68.5 a
KS 39.7 b
Arbor-OTC 26.9 c
2013
a
a a
a a
b b b
b b
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
5/21/2012 5/28/2012 6/4/2012 6/11/2012 6/18/2012
Sho
ot
blig
ht
seve
rity
(%
) WIC
OTC
a
a
a a a a
b b b b b b
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
6/10/2013 6/17/2013 6/24/2013 7/1/2013 7/8/2013 7/15/2013
Sho
ot
blig
ht
seve
rity
(%
) WIC
OTC
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
22 May2012
29 May2012
5 June2012
Blo
sso
m b
ligh
t in
cid
en
ce (
%)
WIC 47.2 a
ASM 1 27.3 bc
PH 20.8 c
SS 18.4 c
a a
a a
b
a
b
a
0
10
20
30
29 May2012
5 June2012
Sho
ot
blig
ht
inci
de
nce
(%
)
WIC
ASM 1
PH
SS
b
b
b
Erwinia amylovora
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
11 June2013
18 June2013
25 June2013
Blo
sso
m b
ligh
t in
cid
ence
(%
)
WIC 72.9 a
ASM 1 59.0 b
PH 54.6 bc
SS 51.8 c
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
11 June2013
18 June2013
25 June2013
Sh
oo
t b
ligh
t in
cid
en
ce (
%)
WIC 68.5 a
PH 52.5 b
ASM 1 50.0 bc
SS 43.5 c
Effect on Fire Blight on Apples
* -
*
*
*
-
*
*
*
-
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Non-injectednon-inoculated
Control
Actigard 3+3(2x0.34 g/tree)
Actigard 3(1x0.34 g/tree)
Phosphojet(2x22.5 ml/tree)
Water InjectedControl
(2x520 ml/tree)
Re
lati
ve g
en
e e
xpre
ssio
n
Treatment/ Dose
PR-1
PR-2
PR-8
Phosphojet Mode of Action - Induced Resistance - 31 May 2013 - gene expression -
Injection: 1 and 22 May
Mauget
pressurized
capsules
Wedgle
ChemJet
syringes
Tree IV
Bite
Quik-Jet
Air-Hydraulic
BRANDT
enTREE
Mauget
Injection Devices
Trunk Injection Technology Comparison
Treatments with Inspire Super® - apple scab:
QuikJet 7 ml/tree
ViperAH 7 ml/tree
Tree IV 7 ml/tree
Bite 7 ml/tree
ChemJet 7 ml/tree
Mauget 7 ml/tree
Wedgle 7 ml/tree
Inspire Super spray
EBDC standard spray
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
5/1/2012Day 1
5/17/2012Day 17
6/13/2012Day 45
8/16/2012Day 110
Shoots
Apple
scab incid
ence (
%)
Control WIC Bite QuikJet Mauget ViperAH ChemJet Wedgle TreeIV Spray STD* SprayS
Fungicide Effect on Leaf Apple Scab
Injection Port Closure With Callus Tissue
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
4/14/2012 7/20/2012 4/14/2013 7/20/2013 4/14/2012 7/20/2012 4/14/2013 7/20/2013
Horizontal Vertical
Siz
e [m
m]
Date / measurement
Blade (1 x 28 mm lenticular port)
3/8" Drill bit (9.5 mm) + Arborplug no. 4
3/8" Drill bit (9.5 mm)
11/64" Drill bit (4.4 mm)
Drilled Port Healing
- April to July 2012 -
Blade 3/8 Drill bit
Sealed 3/8
Drill bit 11/64 Drill bit
Pesticide Formulations for Injection
• Xylem compatible
• No penetrative or adhesive adjuvants
• Allow systemic movement of compound
• Allow good compound solubility in water
• Medium to low organic carbon-water partitioning
coefficient (Koc)
• Water solution pH around 7
• Few xylem compatible formulations available
• Compound translocation is time dependent
• Process of binding determined by Koc
• Reservoir effect for injected compound
Active Ingredient Koc Coefficient
Active ingredient Koc ml/g Water solubility
Propiconazole (Alamo) 1086 100-150 mg/L
Imidacloprid (Ima-Jet) 350 610 mg/L
Cyprodinil 1550 - 2030 13 mg/L
Oxytetracycline (Arbor-Biotic) 195 - 93317 >100 g/L
Streptomycin (Agri-Mycin) 10 100 g/L
Prohexadione-Ca 173 - 1428 174 mg/L
a
a a
a a
b b
b b b
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
5/21/2012 5/28/2012 6/4/2012 6/11/2012 6/18/2012
Sh
oo
t b
ligh
t se
ve
rity
[%
]
WIC
Arborbiotic
Arbor-OTC (Oxytetracycline)
- Controls Shoot Fire Blight -
2.52 ml water / 1” DFH
0.28 g / 1” DFH
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
5/21/2012(7 days)
5/28/2012(14 days)
6/4/2012(21 days)
6/11/2012(28 days)
6/18/2012(35 days)
Date/week unit in days
Sh
oo
t b
lig
ht
severi
ty (
%)
WIC (520 ml water/tree)
Apogee (11.23 g + 520 ml water/tree)
Apogee (Prohexadion-Ca) - No Control -
Conclusions
• Optimal number of injection ports (uniform)
• Devices largely similar in performance
• Tree IV slightly better
• Use needle or small drill-bit for small trunks
• Schedule injection according to pest cycle
• How much port wounds impair sap flow?
• Technology: no simultaneous injection of more trees?
Conclusions - Know your Device & Compound
• Use products formulated for injection
• Learn about Koc and water solubility
• Define time of compound movement and accumulation
• Use device that suits you best – $ and efficiency
Tree Fruit Pathology Lab
Applied Insecticide Toxicology Lab
Pesticide Analytical Lab
TNRC staff:
Hao lab
Schilder lab
Chilvers lab
Day lab
Beaudry lab
Sabbatini lab
A.L. Rogers Endowed Research Scholarship by Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program at MSU
Acknowledgements
Committee:
Dr. John Wise1
Dr. George Sundin2
Dr. Bert Cregg
Dr. Ray Hammerschmidt