Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402343
Research Project: Managing Invasive Weeds and Insect Pests Using Biologically-Based Methods

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Dual strategy: “push-pull” technology and companion planting in high tunnels

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: FAMU-CESTA-CBC Newsletter
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2023
Publication Date: 4/20/2023
Citation: Legaspi, J.C. 2023. Dual strategy: “push-pull” technology and companion planting in high tunnels. FAMU-CESTA-CBC Newsletter. 16:1-2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato whitefly, thrips and aphids are major pests of vegetable crops in the southeast U.S.A. and globally. We studied the “push-pull” technology to mitigate damage from these insect pests. This technology involved the use of repellent plants (push component) while trap crops or plant volatile products are used to trap whiteflies away from the target cash crop (pull component) and then eventually controlled using biological control agents. To complement the “push-pull” strategy, flowering companion plants are used to increase beneficial natural enemies (ex. predators and parasites) and evaluated for its efficacy to control the whiteflies. Plant products such as methyl salicylate (MESA) have been reported to attract natural enemies. In collaboration with Dr. Alejandro Bolques, FAMU-Cooperative Extension at FAMU Research and Extension Center, Quincy, FL, we evaluated the dual strategy of the combined use of “push-pull” technology and companion planting in tomatoes and leafy greens in a top-vented high tunnel. Repellent plants such as mustard, lemon grass, citronella, and society garlic were used as the “push” component. The “pull” component studies using green leaf volatiles are on-going. Preliminary laboratory evaluations of leaf acetate as a “pull” compound showed promising results. Companion plants included marigold, sweet alyssum and basil. In addition, MESA in the form of commercial “predalure” packets were placed inside the high tunnel. Preliminary results indicated a low population of whiteflies, thrips, and aphids throughout the cropping season. The main beneficial predators were big-eyed bug, minute pirate bug and whitefly parasites, Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. The dual use of the “push-pull” technology and companion planting are promising cultural control methods in an integrated pest management program to control insect pests in high tunnels.