Evaluating mustard and arugula volatiles and refuge plants for sustainable control of insect pests

Authors: Legaspi, Jesusa; Miller, Neil; KANGA, LAMBERT - Florida A & M University; HASEEB, MUHAMMAD - Florida A & M University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Whiteflies and aphids are important insect pests in vegetable crops. To mitigate the use of chemical insecticides, “push-pull” strategies can be used as components of sustainable or cultural pest management. We conducted laboratory olfactometer or odor detecting tests to measure the effects of arugula (Eruca sativa cv. Nemat), and 2 mustard variety plants, Brassica juncea cv. Caliente 19 and giant red mustard, as whitefly repellents. Preliminary results showed that mustard and arugula plants are promising repellent plants against the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, comprising a potential “push” component. Preliminary analysis of a field study on annual ornamental plants, sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima, intercropped with kale (Brassica oleracea) revealed the most abundant predatory hoverflies to be Toxomerus marginatus, followed by Allograpta oblique, Eupeodes americanus, Ocyptamus fuscipennis, Toxomerus geminatus, Toxomerus boscii, and Pseudodoros clavata. Hoverflies are important generalist predators of aphids such as the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. “Push-pull” strategies can be complemented with natural enemy refuges as cultural management techniques in farmscaping towards sustainable management of whiteflies and aphids.