Wetting and adhesion behavior on apple tree leaf surface by adding different surfactants.

• C12E5 and Triton X-100 had better wetting effects than other surfactants. • The incubation rate of CN decreased with increasing C12E5 or Triton X-100 content. • C12E5 or Triton X-100 improved the beta-cyfluthrin 3% EW against CN. This study was conducted to investigate the wetting behavior of different surfactant solutions on the leaf surfaces of apple during the fruit formation stage. Five surfactants, including C 12 E 5 , Tween-20, Triton X-100, DTAB, and SDS were evaluated in this study. The contact angle, surface tension, adhesion tension, work of adhesion, and solid-liquid interface tension of droplets on the leaf surface were determined by the drop method. The results showed that the nonionic surfactants C 12 E 5 and Triton X-100 had better wetting effects than other surfactants. Moreover, when the concentration of C 12 E 5 and Triton X-100 was 1 × 10−3 mol/L, the leaves reached a completely wet state. Toxicity measurement showed that the incubation rate of Carposina niponensis eggs decreased graduall y with increasing content of C 12 E 5 or Triton X-100. Additionally, field efficacy analysis showed that adding C 12 E 5 or Triton X-100 significantly improved the beta-cyfluthrin 3% water emulsion (EW) against C. niponensis. These results indicate that the surfactants C 12 E 5 and Triton X-100 can significantly improve pesticide application, which will be helpful for reducing pesticide use and developing new pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]