Articles
Use of row cover on zucchini production to manage whitefly and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus
Article number
1378_27
Pages
195 – 202
Language
English
Abstract
Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and whitefly-transmitted viruses are critical in vegetable production in the southeastern US. Particularly, whitefly and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV) are a challenge to zucchini growers, who have been reporting intensive spraying programs as a tentative to suppress the insect.
Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of row cover to control whiteflies in combination with three irrigation volumes during the whitefly season in the southeastern USA. A two-factor experimental design of row cover (cover and no cover) and irrigation (1, 2, and 3 mm of water applied daily) treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications.
Row covers were placed at transplanting and removed at flowering when there was a significant reduction in the whitefly population between cover treatments.
The whitefly population was mainly minimal under the row cover treatment; consequently, there were no CuLCrV symptoms on plants under cover, but yellow and curling on plants in the no-cover treatment.
While row covers prevented the whitefly population in zucchini plants, there was a higher biomass accumulation by plants under row cover treatment than the no cover treatment, regardless of irrigation treatment.
Increasing irrigation volume daily applied reduced zucchini total yield, and the application of 2 mm of water per day allowed for a constant highest zucchini yield (11.03 and 10.50 Mg ha‑1 for the cover and no cover treatment, respectively). Overall, row covers early use may avoid the initial whiteflies outbreaks, and CuLCrV spreads.
While irrigation treatment had no impact on the whitefly population, irrigation management can impact the zucchini biomass accumulation and yield.
Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of row cover to control whiteflies in combination with three irrigation volumes during the whitefly season in the southeastern USA. A two-factor experimental design of row cover (cover and no cover) and irrigation (1, 2, and 3 mm of water applied daily) treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications.
Row covers were placed at transplanting and removed at flowering when there was a significant reduction in the whitefly population between cover treatments.
The whitefly population was mainly minimal under the row cover treatment; consequently, there were no CuLCrV symptoms on plants under cover, but yellow and curling on plants in the no-cover treatment.
While row covers prevented the whitefly population in zucchini plants, there was a higher biomass accumulation by plants under row cover treatment than the no cover treatment, regardless of irrigation treatment.
Increasing irrigation volume daily applied reduced zucchini total yield, and the application of 2 mm of water per day allowed for a constant highest zucchini yield (11.03 and 10.50 Mg ha‑1 for the cover and no cover treatment, respectively). Overall, row covers early use may avoid the initial whiteflies outbreaks, and CuLCrV spreads.
While irrigation treatment had no impact on the whitefly population, irrigation management can impact the zucchini biomass accumulation and yield.
Authors
T.R. da Silva, T. Coolong, A.M. Simmon, A.L.B.R. da Silva
Keywords
irrigation management, total yield, biomass accumulation
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