Enhanced and sustainable control of Myzus persicae by repellent plants in organic pepper and eggplant greenhouses

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Repellent plants (RPs), generally used to keep pests away from crops in integrated pest management, have been shown to reduce the need for synthetic insecticide sprays in various agroecosystems. However, few studies have evaluated the pest control efficiency of RPs over the entire growth period of crops. To evaluate the effect of RPs against Myzus persicae and explore the application and management modes of RPs in the field, we planted mint (Mentha haplocalyx), mung bean (Vigna radiata), celery (Apium graveolens) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) near the ventilation openings of commercial greenhouses.RESULTS: Five-month sampling results showed that mung bean and mint treatments significantly reduced M. persicae population levels over the entire growth period, whereas celery and coriander reduced aphid infestations during the main harvest period of eggplant. The four RP species showed the strongest repellence during their fast-growth periods. Mung bean and mint shortened the activity period of M. persicae in pepper by delaying the pest in reaching its peak activity. Celery and coriander reduced aphid density on eggplant during their main activity period. Mint, celery and coriander inhibited population growth in M. persicae in the laboratory, revealing the potential value of RPs in reducing M. persicae population levels in the field.CONCLUSION: Mint, mung bean, celery and coriander planted near ventilation openings could be used to control M. persicae infestations in commercial greenhouses. Early planting and timely replanting of RPs is a more effective, environmentally friendly and suitable method for organic pest control compared with chemical pesticides.

Ecological function of key volatiles in Vitex negundo infested by Aphis gossypii

“…A mixture of nonanal and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol can significantly attract the syrphid fly Paragus quadrifasciatus Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the field ( Yu et al., 2008 ), and the mixture of α-terpineole and 1,8-cineole repelled the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) ( Lima et al., 2009 ). In recent years, a growing body of literature has shown that volatiles of plant can attract natural enemies or/and repel pests in pest management programs ( Yao et al., 2021 ; Wang et al., 2022 ). That is, it is strategic to study the active substances that have attractive effects on H. axyridis and explore their mixed ratios for conservation biological control.…”

Plant volatiles mediate Aphis gossypii settling but not predator foraging in intercropped cotton

“…63 Such volatile and/or visual cues potentially also explain the reduced aphid infestation levels in eggplant intercropped with mung bean, mint, celery or coriander. 64 Meanwhile, companion plants often provide shelter and (food) resources to foraging natural enemies, 65 as observed when interplanting alyssum in broccoli. 66 The earlier processes routinely occur in sync: volatiles from molasses grass for example repel stemborers and concurrently attract parasitoids in cereal grains.…”

Optimizing the Use of Basil as a Functional Plant for the Biological Control of Aphids by Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in Greenhouses

“…In the process of crop production, we can cultivate functional plants in advance and select their best application period, including the vegetative and flowering stages, which can be applied during the whole crop production cycle. By selecting functional plants that also benefit natural enemies during their vegetative stages or that repel target pests [ 45 ], one can extend their contribution to non-chemical pest management. Overall, these synergisms should be actively pursued in order to maximize the potential of functional plants in biological control.…”