Comparative study between biological and chemical control programs of certain sweet pepper pests in greenhouses

Abstract

Sweet pepper is an important vegetable crop in Egypt. It is cultivated for local consumption and exportation. The crop is attacked by a large number of pest species such as Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychu surticae Koch, and the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner). The present study was conducted on the sweet pepper cultivated in greenhouses, during the winter plantation 2016/17 in a commercial farm located at Berkash district, Giza Governorate, Egypt. Three control programs were practiced: the first used biological control agents (BC), the predators, Orius albidipennis (Reuter), Macrolophus caliginosus (Wagner), Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.), and the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault); the second was sprayed by the recommended chemical control program of the farm (CC); and the third was untreated as a control. Obtained results revealed that the BC program was the most significant one for controlling the complex of sweet pepper pests. Also, applying the BC program resulted to a high yield of sweet pepper production (35.06% increasing than the control).

Microbial-based biological treatments improved the nutritional, nutraceutical and functional properties of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

“…These results are in agreement with previous investigations, which showed that inoculation of green pepper seeds with B. amyloliquefaciens bacteria caused an increase in vitamin C, total phenols and antioxidant activity (Cisternas-Jamet et al, 2020). The results of another study showed that the use of biological agents could lead to a higher yield of sweet pepper (El Arnaouty et al, 2020). Higher concentration of micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu can increase the antioxidant activity within plant tissues as these essential elements are cofactors of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase.…”

Major Pests and Pest Management Strategies in the Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

“…Management strategies of greenhouse pests using chemicals were reported to result in several problems, such developments of resistance to chemicals by pests, and environmental and health problems are caused by those chemical pesticides [17]. The possibility of applying biological control programs to problems of greenhouse pests is highly recommended.…”

“…Biological control strategy such as releasing different predators and parasitoids was reported to be environmentally friendly production method of sweet pepper. Applying the biological control program resulted in a high yield of sweet pepper production (35.06%) compared with the control [17]. In this book chapter, various pest control methods are reviewed.…”

USE OF Orius laevigatus TO CONTROL Frankliniella occidentalis (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) POPULATION IN GREENHOUSE PEPPER

“…Controlling greenhouse pests by chemical pesticides results with many problems, such as development of resistance in pests and rising environmental and health concerns (Arnaouty et al, 2020). Indeed, greenhouse crops are harvested frequently, at short intervals, and thus intensive use of chemicals becomes questionable because of the possible contamination of products with chemical residues.…”

“…They will not completely eliminate pest problems but can reduce pest population, and damage to an acceptable level (under the economical threshold). Biological control generally requires more time than pesticides to bring a pest population under an acceptable control level (Arnaouty et al, 2020).…”