Garlic oil significantly reduced TPP nymph populations.
Tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) (TPP) is a vector for Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), a bacterium responsible for causing zebra chip (ZC), a mottled browning discolouration of cooked potato crisps.
Organic gardeners have long relied on garlic as part of their pest-control arsenal. Garlic contains sulphur, which, besides being toxic to pests, is also an antibacterial and antifungal agent. BioRepel® (JH Biotech, Inc.) is a natural insect repellent made from garlic oil (10% garlic oil).
BioRepel® has been reported to repel several plant insect pests including aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies and thrips.
A field trial, conducted at Pukekohe to determine the effects of foliar applications of BioRepel® garlic oil on TPP nymphs in potato foliage, found that garlic oil significantly reduced TPP nymph populations. Copyright © 2013 New Zealand Plant Protection Society (Inc.).
