Work

Banker plants promote functional biodiversity and decrease populations of the cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: In this study, potential banker plant systems against the cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were developed under controlled conditions. The two most promising banker plant systems, that is, the parasitoid Encarsia tricolor Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) either with Aleyrodes lonicerae Walker on European columbine (columbine system) or with Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on Hokkaido squash (pumpkin system), were further evaluated in the field. Although the pumpkin system produced three times more parasitoids than the columbine system, both banker plants led to an 1.5‐fold increase in A. proletella parasitism rates. However, only the pumpkin system increased the abundance of syrphid larvae on cabbage by 61.5% and reduced A. proletella populations on average by 4.4%–25.8% depending on the respective assessment date. In conclusion, the pumpkin system revealed to be a promising (supplementary) control measure against A. proletella. Options for further improvement and standardization of the pumpkin system as well as a potential implementation in cabbage production are discussed.

Source: Journal of Applied Entomology

DOI: 10.1111/jen.12831

Authors: Sebastian Laurenz, Rainer Meyhöfer

Institution: Leibniz University Hannover

Language: English

Topic: Insect-Plant Interactions and Control

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,600