Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)) in cabbage on Prince Edward Island: observations on planting date and variety choice

Abstract

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)) can be a pest in organic onion production on Prince Edward Island. This study was to examine the effect of planting time and variety on infestation levels and damage by onion thrips on cabbage (Brassicae oleraceacapitala (L.)). A field site was planted with 2 main and 8 lesser varieties of cabbage over 4 planting dates. Some varieties were short season and harvested on July 31 with longer season varieties harvested on September 2. Blue sticky traps were used to capture thrips migrating into the field site from July 22–September 2. Traps were counted weekly and cabbage heads within the field site were visually surveyed for thrips. At harvest, heads were weighed and measured, thrips damage was assessed then the head was dissected and thrips counted on the first four layers of the head. Thrips exhibited a preference for Lennox over Bronco throughout the season although thrips populations were not high enough to effect economic damage in 2014. Planting date influenced cabbage head weight and size with later plantings yielding the largest heads. Use of planting date and variety to avoid thrips populations is discussed.

Influence of Planting Dates on the Population Density of the Main Insect Pests on Onion Crop in Kafr El-Shekh Region.

“…Onion plants are usually subject to infestation by different insect pests during their development stages like thrips Thrips tabaci Lind., the onion aphid Aphis gossypii Glov., the cotton leaf hopper Empoasca Lybica de Berg., the cotton white fly Bemisia tabaci Genn., and the serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii Burgess. Which caused yield losses (El-Sherif, 1971;Szwejda, 2005;Mahomoud, 2008 and Mahaffey;Cranszhaw, 2010;Ibrahim, 2010 andBlatt, 2015).…”

Genetic variation of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Thysanoptera Thripidae) populations in Lithuania and their link with host plants

“…Pol. Hortorum Cultus, 21(6), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.24326/asphc.2022.6.5 to the attacks of pests and diseases [Trdan et al 2008, Shelton et al 2008, Gombač and Trdan 2014, Blatt et al 2015.…”