The biological product DiPel DF has been granted new SOLAs for use as a horticultural insecticide in a number of crops including grapes, apricots, plums, kiwifruit and protected blueberries.

The approvals come after its approval for the control of caterpillars in outdoor cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries, raspberries, protected tomatoes, protected cucumbers, protected peppers, outdoor ornamentals, protected ornamentals and amenity vegetation.

Containing insecticidal crystal proteins and spores from the naturally-occurring micro-organism Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki, DiPel DF is used for the control of damaging caterpillar pests and is applied in in the same way as a conventional insecticide, mixing the recommended dose rate with sufficient water to give good coverage of the target crop.

For these new SOLAs DiPel DF is applied with a conventional hydraulic sprayer, including air assisted hydraulic and orchard sprayers, at a maximum individual dose of 0.75 kg of product per hectare in a minimum of 1000 litres of water per hectare. The minimum interval between applications is seven days.

Growers need to obtain a copy of the notice of approval to use Dipel DF in outdoor and protected grapes, apricot, plum, kiwi fruit, olive, chestnut, walnut, hazelnut (including cob nut and filbert), quince and protected blueberries via the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) web site, ADAS offices or NFU. The SOLA reference number for Dipel DF is 2882 of 2010.

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