Ecological selectivity of pesticides and pesticide application methods

Abstract: There has been a lot of emphasis over the years on the development and use of pesticides that are specific and/or physiologically selective. This is a property of the chemistry and mode of action of the pesticide and the physiological and biochemical attributes of organisms. However, there is also the potential to make pesticides more selective through their judicious use, based on critical selection, timing, dosage, placement and formulation of pesticides (which are often broad spectrum). This paper discusses approaches to increase the ecological selectivity of pesticides and pesticide application methods, in the context of Integrated Pest Management in Brassica crops. Topics covered include minimisation of the dose applied, controlled release and dropleg technologies and the impacts of seed treatments on non-target species.