Petroleum Derived Spray Oils: An Ecofriendly Approach for the Management of European Red Mite, Panonychus Ulmi (Koch) on Apple – A Review

The apple industry is striving to reduce its dependence on conventional pesticides for pest and disease management and to implement integrated pest management (IPM). Petroleum derived spray oils (PDSOs) have potential as valuable tool in the apple IPM to replace some conventional pesticides. European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) is a serious pest of apple throughout the world. Control of European red mite has been a major challenge in commercial apple orchards due to rapid development of resistance against acaricides. The loss of effective synthetic acaricides through regulatory decisions and/or the development of resistance have resulted in a situation where petroleum derived oils appear to be the only available and effective option. Earlier, PDSOs have been considered to be the best pesticides available to control mites and other pests present on dormant fruit plants. However, recent technical advances in hydrogenation, hydro-cracking, and iso-dewaxing of petroleum oils have made these oils safer to plants’ more potent against insect-pests and their use extended its use to a variety of crops even during their active growth periods. Thus, these products could play an important role in the future IPM that rely less on commercial pesticides.