The right banker plant for the right application: Comparison of three candidates for aphid biocontrol, barley (Hordeum vulgareL.), corn (Zea maysL.), and finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn)

Abstract

BACKGROUNDIn temperate regions, aphid biological control in greenhouses is mostly achieved by the regular release of biocontrol agents. Due to the rapid growth rate of the aphid population, biocontrol agents must be released frequently in order to be present before pest outbreaks and to act rapidly to prevent exceeding the economic threshold. Banker plants reduce these numerous releases by providing natural enemies with a high‐quality environment to develop and reproduce. Optimally, banker plants should be easy to produce, resistant to environmental conditions, provide a large amount of suitable alternative prey in order to produce a high number of biocontrol agents, and resist the herbivory pressure of the alternative prey. The present study aimed to compare the value of three banker plant candidates of the Poaceae family under laboratory and greenhouse conditions: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn), and corn (Zea mays L.).RESULTSOur results show that the three plants were suitable for different contexts. Finger millet yielded the biggest fresh plant biomass, supported the highest load of banker prey, and longer resisted aphid feeding than the other plant species. Corn was the cheapest to produce, and barley was the fastest to grow.CONCLUSIONSOverall, finger millet could be more fitted for long crop cycles, pests with rapid population growth rates, and voracious or fast‐reproducing biocontrol agents. Meanwhile, barley and corn may be better suited for rapid crop cycles, pests with slow population growth rates, and biocontrol agents that are not too voracious or have low reproductive rates.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effects of a Bank Plant on the Control of Rice Planthoppers: A Field Study

“…In addition, this strategy is more labor and cost-efficient than other biological control strategies [18,20]. Numerous studies have been conducted on bank plant systems, but most are focused on indoor or greenhouse conditions [11,21,22]. Large areas of field crops must account for additional influencing factors and feasibility, including variable and unstable environmental factors, compatibility of the bank plant system with the crop system, and benefits to farmers.…”