Comparison of Perimeter Trap Crop Varieties: Effects on Herbivory, Pollination, and Yield in Butternut Squash

Abstract

Perimeter trap cropping (PTC) is a method of integrated pest management (IPM) in which the main crop is surrounded with a perimeter trap crop that is more attractive to pests. Blue Hubbard (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) is a highly effective trap crop for butternut squash (C. moschata Duch. ex Poir) attacked by striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum Fabricius), but its limited marketability may reduce adoption of PTC by growers. Research comparing border crop varieties is necessary to provide options for growers. Furthermore, pollinators are critical for cucurbit yield, and the effect of PTC on pollination to main crops is unknown. We examined the effect of five border treatments on herbivory, pollination, and yield in butternut squash and manipulated herbivory and pollination to compare their importance for main crop yield. Blue Hubbard, buttercup squash (C. maxima Duch.), and zucchini (C. pepo L.) were equally attractive to cucumber beetles. Border treatments did not affect butternut leaf damage, but butternut flowers had the fewest beetles when surrounded by Blue Hubbard or buttercup squash. Yield was highest in the Blue Hubbard and buttercup treatments, but this effect was not statistically significant. Native bees accounted for 87% of pollinator visits, and pollination did not limit yield. There was no evidence that border crops competed with the main crop for pollinators. Our results suggest that both buttercup squash and zucchini may be viable alternatives to Blue Hubbard as borders for the main crop of butternut squash. Thus, growers may have multiple border options that reduce pesticide use, effectively manage pests, and do not disturb mutualist interactions with pollinators.

Attracting mutualists and antagonists: Plant trait variation explains the distribution of specialist floral herbivores and pollinators on crops and wild gourds

“…Furthermore, no trait we measured explained leaf damage. It is possible that leaf damage, which was not consistent across years, was related to Table 1 . visitation data suggest that Cinderella ( C. maxima ) or Giant pumpkin ( C. pepo ) might also be good alternatives because they are highly attractive to beetles, but only in regions with abundant squash bees since these species may compete with the main crop for pollinators (but see Adler and Hazzard, 2009 ;Cavanagh et al, 2010 ). Although some species, like cucumber and cantaloupe, were attractive at the leaf but not the fl owering stage, we believe it is important to have a PTC that is attractive to beetles at the fl owering stage because of the potential for cucumber beetles to spread microbial diseases during pollen feeding as well as leaf feeding ( Sasu et al, 2010 ).…”

Complementarity and synergisms among ecosystem services supporting crop yield

“…The first 200 results of each search string were carefully reviewed on the presence of crop yield measurement and if an interaction between the regulating services was tested. We excluded three studies using insecticide as the main pest regulation treatment (Adler and Hazzard, 2009;Melathopoulos et al, 2014;Motzke et al, 2015), because this affects not only the pests, but also the natural enemies and pollinators. Moreover, as we focus on agricultural crops, we excluded one study concerning cut roses (Chow et al, 2009).…”

Trap crop diversity enhances crop yield

“…Plantings of highly-preferred host plants can arrest arriving pests and "trap them", indirectly protecting a less-attractive (to the pest), but economically-valuable, nearby crop species (Hokkanen, 1991;Shelton and Badenes-Perez, 2006). For example, surrounding economicallyvaluable cucumber (Cucurbita sativa), butternut squash (C. moschata) or watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) crops with squash (C. maxima) varieties highly attractive to pestiferous beetles and bugs can intercept and arrest the herbivores and thus largely restrict pest damage to the trap crop (Radin and Drummond, 1994;Pair, 1997;Adler and Hazzard, 2009;Dogramaci et al, 2004).…”