Published on 04/12/2025
Words: Syngenta Crop Protection NZ
The trial was conducted in Pukekohe at Te Ahikawariki – Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence (VICE).
Eurofins Kalyx was contracted to assess each of the treatments for plant vigour and key brassica pests: diamondback moth, white butterfly, soybean looper, aphids, greenhouse whitefly and onion thrips.
Cabbage (cv. Lambada) was selected due to commercial relevance and extended crop cycle, allowing for robust pest assessments.
Transplants were sourced from three different North Island nurseries to compare different commercial applications of Durivo.
A hand treated application of Durivo was also made at the label rate for comparison.
Key findings included:
• All Durivo treatments provided effective diamond back moth control until 26 days after application (DAA). Efficacy had declined by 33 DAA.
• All Durivo treatments provided control of aphid nymphs at 26 DAA. The sharp drop in aphid incidence in the untreated control at 33 DAA was likely due to a significant rain event (26 mm) three days prior.
• All Durivo treatments exhibited higher vigour scores at both assessment timings, compared to the untreated control. All Durivo treatments were comparable for diamond back moth larvae and aphid nymph incidence along with plant vigour.
This gives growers confidence in their use of Durivo as a seedling tray drench.
The control of diamond back moth from Durivo for up to four weeks gives seedlings time to establish before other control options are required.
And during high diamond back moth pressure periods, such as summer, the application of Durivo offers growers peace of mind that pests will be controlled during that initial four-week period after planting.
Best use recommendations:
• Apply to leafy vegetables and leafy brassicas at 15 ml/1000 seedlings, and vegetable brassicas require a rate of 25ml/1000 seedlings.
• Use correctly calibrated equipment to apply as a seedling tray drench and ensure Durivo is washed into the root ball.
• If seedlings require watering following the Durivo application, take care to avoid leaching the product from cells which reduce the duration of control.
• For resistance management against DBM, do not follow a Durivo application with another Group 28 product on that crop.
Durivo (Group 4A, Group 28) is a broad spectrum, systemic insecticide for the control of key insect pests in leafy vegetables, brassica leafy vegetables and vegetable brassicas.
Applied as a seedling tray drench prior to transplanting, Durivo is readily taken up by the roots of the transplants and rapidly translocated throughout the plant, to give lasting protection and an ‘energy boost’ right from the start.
The Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence research and demonstration farm has been set up on the Balle Bros property in Pukekohe.
This site is also the home of the Plant and Food Research offices and facilities and the Lighter Touch demonstration site.