TRANSLOCATION OF ACTIVE INGREDIENT USING THREE TRUNK INJECTION METHODS

Trunk injection is a way to treat many different insect and disease problems of ornamental trees, as well as nutrient deficiencies, in an efficient and environmentally friendly way. Injections of Azadirachtin solutions have been compared to water injections, to test their functionality and to find out the best method of application and their potential for uptake by the industry. Fifty-four ten years old Nettle tree (Celtis australis L.) were injected with three instruments – Arboprof^®, Arbocap^® and Arborjet^®– which operate at different injection pressures. The treatments contained either active ingredient or water, added with an organic dye. The tree trunks were cut after 2-5-72-96 hours after the injection, in a downwards direction until the colour was visible, and the length travelled by either treatments was recorded. The best method of trunk injection appeared to be Arborjet^®, but these preliminary results must be confirmed in adult trees (15 or 20 years old) and after longer translocation times.