Relative Efficacy Index (REI) for Biopesticides on Desert Produce

Abstract

Arizona’s desert vegetable producers, particularly in the organic sector, face mounting challenges in managing insect pests while meeting cosmetic and market standards. To address this, a Relative Efficacy Index (REI) was developed to evaluate the performance of biopesticides on key pests such as whiteflies, thrips, aphids, and Lepidopterous larvae under local desert conditions. Field trials revealed significant variation in efficacy among products, with Entrust and Entrust+M-Pede consistently ranking highest across pest groups. This REI serves as a practical decision-support tool for organic growers and PCAs, enabling more informed and effective biopesticide use in desert produce systems.