Controlling thrips in persimmons: focusing on Scirtothrips aurantii
Infection and damage caused by Scirtothrips aurantii on persimmons.
When discussing persimmons, the focus is on the Ribera del Xúquer region. According to data from the Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat Valenciana (Regional Valencian Government), the Valencia Region accounts for 90% of the total cultivated area in Spain, which represents around 14,000 hectares.
This figure is lower than the peak recorded in 2019, when almost 16,000 hectares were cultivated. Despite the cultivated area in the Valencia Region falling by 12.5% since then, the persimmon continues to be a strategic crop in one of the province of Valencia’s main agricultural areas.
The persimmon faces two major challenges: an increase in organic production (+8.4% in 2024) and a decrease in harvested production due to adverse weather (the DANA [Isolated Pressure at High Levels] and the floods that hit the province of Valencia in October 2024) and, in particular, pests.
In this context, and at a time when growers are losing active ingredients for pest and disease control, Seipasa has added persimmon to its biocontrol portfolio.
Pirecris is a bioinsecticide registered for use on persimmons to control Drosophila suzukii and thrips (Scirtothrips aurantii). Thrips, normally associated with citrus crops, has become one of the most dangerous pests due to its adverse effects on the fruit and the resulting losses.
Pirecris: control of Scirtothrips aurantii
Graph 1 shows the results of the trial developed by Seipasa in Valencia to evaluate the efficacy of Pirecris on thrips in persimmon. Two applications were made at an interval of 21 days. As the results show, fruit from trees treated with the Seipasa strategy had significantly lower pest incidence than fruit from trees treated with the farmer’s strategy, with a statistically significant difference.
Graph 1. Effectiveness of Pirecris on Scirtothrips aurantii in persimmons. Pest incidence.
As well as being effective in controlling the advance of this variety of thrips in persimmons, Pirecris also reduced pest infestation, resulting in a visual increase in crop yield, with more fruit distributed more evenly across the plot and faster colouring of the fruit.
Pirecris is a bioinsecticide developed from natural active ingredients that provide a powerful knock-down effect, quickly and safely controlling insect populations. In addition to its effectiveness, Pirecris leaves no residues on the fruit and has a very short safety period.
The key to Pirecris’s effectiveness lies in its unique, patented formulation. It ensures a balance between the PI and PII molecules that make up the active substance, providing maximum insecticidal efficacy with a lower dose of the active ingredient.
The micromolecules that comprise the formulation condense to form a stable, balanced network throughout the solution, ensuring comprehensive coverage of leaves and insects.
