Do Tomatoes Love Basil but Hate Brussels Sprouts? Competition and Land-Use Efficiency of Popularly Recommended and Discouraged Crop Mixtures in Biointensive Agriculture Systems

Bomford, Michael K.

doi:10.1080/10440040902835001

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…acephala). However, the mechanisms through which companions protect the target are not well understood [183]. Many studies have suggested that chemical properties in the plant can repel insects [94], while others have suggested that companion plants are considered chemically neutral [66].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Planting and Insect Pest Control

Parker¹,

Snyder²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2013

Weed and Pest Control - Conventional and New Challenges

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Planting and Insect Pest Control

Parker¹,

Snyder²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2013

Weed and Pest Control - Conventional and New Challenges

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“…This resulted in eight treatment combinations (Figure ), each of which was replicated over four trials between July and November 2016 with three cage replicates per trial (n = 12 total replicates per treatment). Basil was used due to its aromatic properties and because it is often cited as a beneficial companion plant with tomato to reduce pest incidence; nevertheless, strong empirical evidence to explain the benefits of basil in this association is scarce, and thus, evidence is largely anecdotal (Bomford, ). MeSA was used for several reasons.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constitutive exposure to the volatile methyl salicylate reduces per‐capita foraging efficiency of a generalist predator to learned prey associations

Vidal‐Gomez

Rodriguez‐Saona

Kaplan

2018

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Understanding the factors that influence the ability of predators to find and kill herbivores is central to enhancing their impact on prey populations, but few studies have tested the impact of these factors on predation rates in realistic foraging environments. Using the tri‐trophic system consisting of tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae), hornworm caterpillars, Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), and the predaceous stink bug Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), we measured the effects of associative learning and plant volatile camouflage on predator behavior and foraging efficiency in field enclosures. To do so, we compared experienced vs. naive individuals under varying environmental contexts. Experienced predators were those with prior exposure to induced volatiles from the tomato–caterpillar association, whereas naive predators had not experienced tomato, only prey (caterpillars). We varied their environmental foraging matrix using either (1) tomato surrounded by basil (Ocimum basilicum L.; Lamiaceae) or (2) tomato exposed to the synthetic volatile, methyl salicylate (MeSA). We found that (1) experienced predators were more efficient than naive predators, capturing 28% more prey; (2) the tomato–basil combination did not affect predator–prey interactions; and (3) constitutive emission of synthetic MeSA caused a 22% reduction in P. maculiventris predation rate. These differences corresponded with distinct shifts in predator foraging; for example, experienced individuals were less stationary and exhibited unique behaviors such as stylet extension. Taken together, these results suggest that it is possible to improve the function of generalist predators in suppressing prey by coupling odors with food. However, constitutive emission of volatiles to attract natural enemies may ultimately camouflage neighboring plants, reducing the benefits of orientation to learned stimuli such as induced volatiles.

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“…Intercropping basil with tomatoes in Brazil resulted in significantly higher crop yields, higher than when intercropping with other aromatic companion plants (Carvalho et al 2009). Furthermore, basil does not compete with the crops in terms of growth and nutrient use (Kuepper and Dodson 2001;Bomford 2004Bomford , 2009. It is, therefore, an efficient biocontrol plant, i.e.…”

Section: Please Scroll Down For Articlementioning

confidence: 97%

Testing basil as banker plant in IPM greenhouse tomato crops

Bresch¹,

Poncet²,

Suay-Cortez³

et al. 2015

International Journal of Pest Management

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In order to reduce the use of pesticides, banker plants may be added to crop systems. They can improve the presence of predatory arthropods by offering shelter or alternative food. In the present study, we analyzed basil as banker plant in a greenhouse IPM tomato crop system testing different plant combinations in monocultures vs. dicultures. We measured the influence of the presence of basil on the reduction of pest number, predator population stability, plant health and crop yield. Significantly fewer pests were present in dicultures when basil was present, but the number of predators, crop yield and leaf health was not statistically different between plant combinations. Under the given conditions, basil could not be categorized as an efficient banker plant for Macrolophus pygmaeus.

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Do Tomatoes Love Basil but Hate Brussels Sprouts? Competition and Land-Use Efficiency of Popularly Recommended and Discouraged Crop Mixtures in Biointensive Agriculture Systems

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

Companion Planting and Insect Pest Control

Companion Planting and Insect Pest Control

Constitutive exposure to the volatile methyl salicylate reduces per‐capita foraging efficiency of a generalist predator to learned prey associations

Testing basil as banker plant in IPM greenhouse tomato crops

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