Plant Sensitivity

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE

Managing Plant Sensitivity To M-Pede® Insecticide Applications

M-Pede Insecticide meets the fundamental needs of today's pest control professional. It is an effective insecticide and miticide and yet it is low in toxicity to nontarget organisms and the environment. It can be applied to a wide range of edible and ornamental plants without plant injury. M-Pede can be applied alone for quick knockdown of pests, or tank mixed to synergize or enhance the activity of other insecticides and miticides. M-Pede's cost-effectiveness and its minimal worker reentry restrictions offer managers peace of mind. M-Pede works and yet less can go wrong when you use it.

Formulation and Active Ingredients: M-Pede contains potassium salts of fatty acids which are extracted from plant and/or animal sources. Fatty acids occur naturally in many biological systems and are a common part of our daily diet. M-Pede's inert ingredients are a combination of water and ethanol. M-Pede is readily biodegradable and will not persist in the environment.

Mode of Action: M-Pede is a contact insecticide and miticide which causes rapid death of susceptible, soft bodied insects and mites by disrupting their waxy cuticle and cell membranes. M-Pede is active only while in solution and must contact the target pests to be effective. M-Pede's mode of action is different from that of most other insecticides, so it can be a useful resistance management tool.

Plant Sensitivity: The sensitivity of plants to pesticides can be affected by several factors which include cultivar variability, plant vigor, air temperature, sun light intensity, relative humidity, spray concentration, spray additives, pH of spray mixtures, delivery volume as well as the timing, and the number and frequency of applications. Marginal leaf burn, chlorosis, necrotic spots, needle tip burn, leaf scorch and premature leaf drop are symptoms which can develop on sensitive plants when M-Pede or other pesticides are applied under certain conditions.

M-Pede can be applied to a wide range of plants without phytotoxicity. However, the incidence of plant injury has increased when M-Pede has been applied under the following conditions:

Plants were stressed, such as under hot (> 90 F), humid and/or drought conditions.

More than 3 sequential, weekly applications were made on sensitive plants such as poinsettia and cucumber.

The pH of the final spray mixture was below 8.0. However, the sensitivity of plants will vary. For example, cotton and tomatoes are much less sensitive than cucumbers to reduced pH M-Pede spray mixtures.

The application of high spray volumes, or applications during slow drying conditions that resulted in prolonged spray contact with fruit caused marking of apples, pears and grapes.

Tender new foliage was present on evergreen trees.

Use Guidelines For M-Pede Insecticide

Do not apply M-Pede to the following plants which are known to be very sensitive:

horse chestnut  gardenia         Japanese maple   mountain ash    
bleeding heart  jade plant       lantana          sweetpeas       
Crown of                                                          
Thorns                                                            

Applications of M-Pede to the flowers of the following plants may result in injury:

African violet  chrysanthemum   lily            salvia          
ageratum        dahlia          marigold        snapdragon      
azalea          geranium        pansy           vinca           
begonia         impatiens       petunia         zinnia          

Reports indicate that the following plants can be sensitive to M-Pede applications; especially after multiple applications are made. Test first before making large scale applications.

bald cypress    cucurbits       impatiens       poinsettias           
begonia         delicate ferns  ivies           narrow leaf           
                                                evergreens            
camellias       fuschias        palms           schefflera            
chrysanthemum   grape ivy       peppers         some succulents       

If wilting occurs within a few hours of application, rinse with clean water spray.

M-Pede may result in removal of glaucous bloom from spruces.

Field experience indicates that use of M-Pede in tank mix combinations with various foliar nutrients, spreader stickers, penetrators, alkaline based chelating agents such as EDTA and pesticides containing sulfur or metallic ions (such as manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc.), Aliette and chlorothalonil may be physically incompatible and/or ultimately phytotoxic.

Evaluate the effect of this product alone or in combination with the desired companion product(s) on a few test plants prior to full scale applications when sensitivity of plant cultivars under local use conditions is unknown.

For additional information on applying M-Pede, obtain Mycogen technical sheets "Enhanced Activity with M-Pede Tank Mixes" and "Hard Water Testing".

This bulletin contains new or supplemental instructions for the use of this product which may not appear on the package label. Mycogen provides this use information in accordance with Section 2(ee) of FIFRA.

Always read and carefully follow all product labels.

The use of select fatty acids and their salts (including the ones in M-Pede) alone and/or in combination with certain insecticides and miticides is covered in one or more of the following U.S. patents: 4774234, 4870102, 5192546, 4826678, 4983591, 4904645, 5047424, 5030658, 5093124 and 4861762. M-Pede is a registered trademark of Mycogen Corporation. Aliette is a registered trademark of Rhone-Poulenc Ag Company.

EPA Reg. No. 53219-6 MYC.JJ#2151 6/93