Articles
Using fore crops and their extracts to enhance the control of cockchafer grubs (Melolontha spp.) in organic strawberry plantations
Article number
1354_24
Pages
187 – 192
Language
English
Abstract
Fore crops could be utilized to support a holistic strategy for the reduction of the damage by root feeding grubs of Melolontha spp. in organic strawberry plantations.
Two independent trials were established to assess the effect of several plant species generally utilized as fore crops on grubs survival.
Species included Fagopyrum esculentum, Sinapis alba and their mixture, Tagetes spp., Zea mais, Sorghum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Lupinus albus, Trifolium repens and Fragaria × ananassa (as control). Plants were grown in 50-L pots (40 cm depth) and one month after the introduction of the grubs (10 specimens per pot at stadium L2-L3,) they were cut, minced and mixed with the soil (up to 5 cm depth). A month later S. alba resulted to be the most effective in reducing the number of survived grubs compared to other fore crops species in both experiments. F. esculentum reduced also the survival, though to a lesser extent, but the mortality was halved when the two plants were grown together.
The three graminaceous species, Tagetes spp. and the two leguminous species were not consistent in reducing the total number of survived larvae. Melolontha spp. larvae behaviour in the presence of plant extracts was tested on a dual-choice experiment.
Water and hydro-alcoholic extracts of F. esculentum, Calendula officinalis and Tagetes spp. were applied to the soil near strawberry plants and the behaviour of the grubs was compared to water application.
The feeding behaviour of the larvae was not affected by the application of extracts from Tagetes spp. and C. officinalis plants, while extracts of F. esculentum resulted to reduce the presence of grubs on the strawberry plants in the upper layer of the soil.
The results suggest that besides using S. alba and F. esculentum as a fore crop to reduce the risk of damage from Melolontha spp. larvae, a push-pull method using F. esculentum extracts could be considered within an integrated strategy for the control of cockchafer grubs in organic strawberry crops.
Two independent trials were established to assess the effect of several plant species generally utilized as fore crops on grubs survival.
Species included Fagopyrum esculentum, Sinapis alba and their mixture, Tagetes spp., Zea mais, Sorghum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Lupinus albus, Trifolium repens and Fragaria × ananassa (as control). Plants were grown in 50-L pots (40 cm depth) and one month after the introduction of the grubs (10 specimens per pot at stadium L2-L3,) they were cut, minced and mixed with the soil (up to 5 cm depth). A month later S. alba resulted to be the most effective in reducing the number of survived grubs compared to other fore crops species in both experiments. F. esculentum reduced also the survival, though to a lesser extent, but the mortality was halved when the two plants were grown together.
The three graminaceous species, Tagetes spp. and the two leguminous species were not consistent in reducing the total number of survived larvae. Melolontha spp. larvae behaviour in the presence of plant extracts was tested on a dual-choice experiment.
Water and hydro-alcoholic extracts of F. esculentum, Calendula officinalis and Tagetes spp. were applied to the soil near strawberry plants and the behaviour of the grubs was compared to water application.
The feeding behaviour of the larvae was not affected by the application of extracts from Tagetes spp. and C. officinalis plants, while extracts of F. esculentum resulted to reduce the presence of grubs on the strawberry plants in the upper layer of the soil.
The results suggest that besides using S. alba and F. esculentum as a fore crop to reduce the risk of damage from Melolontha spp. larvae, a push-pull method using F. esculentum extracts could be considered within an integrated strategy for the control of cockchafer grubs in organic strawberry crops.
Publication
Authors
M. Tartanus, E. Malusà
Keywords
botanical extract, Fagopyrum esculentum, larval behaviour, Sinapis alba
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