An evaluation of insectary plants for management of insect pests in a hydroponic cropping system

Publication date: December 2015 Source:Biological Control, Volume 91 Author(s): Jane Tavares, Koon-Hui Wang, Cerruti R.R. Hooks Eleven plants were evaluated for their potential to serve as insectary plants and attract beneficial arthropods. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) and dill (Anethum graveolens) attracted more numerous and diverse beneficial arthropods among the plants evaluated. However, the flowering period of dill was too short and cilantro did not grow well in hydroponic system, thus buckwheat was chosen for further evaluation as part of an insectary plant system (IPS). The overall goal was to evaluate non-chemical based arthropod pest management methods for hydroponic crops. The IPS treatment consisted of the vegetable and buckwheat planted within holes of the hydroponic box, along with an attached wasp nesting block and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) on the ground on one side of the box to attract different predatory arthropods and parasitoids. Metallic board was included as another potential non-chemical pest management tactic. These two methods were compared to an untreated control for their abilities to reduce pest infestations on green onion (Allium cepa) and pak choi (Brassica rapa cv. Chinensis). The IPS failed to suppress thrips damage on green onion despite enhancing several natural enemies of arthropod pests and increasing green onion yield. However, caterpillar damage and aphid populations on pak choi were lower i...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research