Using Protector Plants to Reduce the Incidence of Papaya Ringspot Virus-Watermelon Strain in Zucchini

Growth and yield of zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepoL.) as influenced by a sunn hemp living mulch

“…At the Upper Marlboro site, dry biomass was 23% higher in SH plots compared to BG plots; however, there was no corresponding increase in marketable yields in SH compared BG plots. Excess nitrogen has been shown to prolong vegetative growth, leading to larger more vigorous plants (Wittwer et al 1947;Huett 1989;Wang & Li 2004;Eifediyi & Remision 2010), but this might hinder fruit production in zucchini crops (Manandhar & Hooks 2011). Additionally, excess nitrogen may delay flower maturation leading to poor fruit production despite vigorous vegetative growth (Ruiz & Romero 1998).…”

“…Immediately after transplanting, sunn hemp was manually cut using hand shears to a height of 45 cm and thereafter every 2 weeks to prevent excessive shading of zucchini plants. The cut foliage was placed in the intra-row spacing between zucchini plants to function as a surface mulch (Manandhar & Hooks 2011;Wang et al 2011). …”

“…Companion plants have been shown to reduce pest populations and damage by functioning as physical barriers, camouflaging host plants and deterring pest colonization (Hooks et al 1998;Boucher & Durgy 2004;Frank & Liburd 2005;Cavanagh et al 2009;Manandhar et al 2009). Additionally, several studies have shown that the companion planting tactic can be effectively used to delay the onset of insect caused plant diseases and phytotoxemias in cucurbit crops (Frank & Liburd 2005;Nyoike et al 2008;Manandhar & Hooks 2011). Although companion plants have been found to reduce the occurrence of insect, disease and weed pests within cropping systems, they can compete with, and subsequently reduce, crop yields, thus making their use less practical (Vandermeer 1989;Walters & Young 2008;Hooks et al 2013a).…”

“…Incorporation of nitrogen-rich sunn hemp biomass can function as an organic fertilizer for cash crops. When used as a companion living mulch, sunn hemp can function to reduce insect pest populations and associated crop damage and increase beneficial organisms within the plant canopy and soil Manandhar & Hooks 2011;. However, because living mulches are maintained as living ground cover throughout the primary crop's growth cycle, the main concern is competition between the living mulch and the primary crop (Hartwig & Ammon 2002).…”

An evaluation of insectary plants for management of insect pests in a hydroponic cropping system

“…that are known to parasitize ICW eggs (Lundgren et al, 2002). Among flowering cover crops adapted to tropical climates, sunn hemp, Crotalaria juncea L., has been shown to aid in insect pest suppression in Hawaii (Manandhar and Hooks, 2011). Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, produces a proliferation of small flowers that attract hoverflies and parasitoid wasps (Bugg and Dutcher, 1989;Bugg and Ellis, 1990;Hogg et al, 2011;Platt et al, 1999;Pickett et al, 1996).…”