Articles
How the use of companion plants can improve the colonization of tomato crop by Macrolophus pygmaeus, in the context of soilless production?
Article number
1378_5
Pages
33 – 42
Language
English
Abstract
The mirid bug Macrolophus pygmaeus is the main natural enemy used in protected tomato crop.
This predatory bug attacks various pests including Trialeurodes vapourariorum. However, its establishment is a long process, and some pests may colonise the crop more rapidly, sometimes leading to protection failure.
Banker plant system in soil crops has demonstrated good ability to improve the establishment of M. pygmaeus. However, this method has not yet been transferred to soilless crops.
To identify banker plants that are favourable to the development of M. pygmaeus and adapted to soilless conditions, we conducted a screening of companion plants at laboratory scale.
We measured life cycle duration and adult body length of M. pygmaeus as a proxy of banker plant suitability.
Hence, we selected three plant species: Calendula officinalis, Ballota hirsuta, Geranium macrorrhizum. Then, in a 2-year greenhouse experiment, a strategy of pre-introduction of M. pygmaeus on the selected companion plants was evaluated, in comparison with a classical release strategy. M. pygmaeus was introduced on the banker plants 30 days before their introduction in the greenhouse.
Tomato plants were artificially infested with adult females of T. vapourariorum 15 and 10 days before the introduction of the companion plants in the greenhouse.
The results showed that the pre-introduction strategy with banker plants improved the establishment of the natural enemy in two ways.
Firstly, it allowed an earlier installation of M. pygmaeus on the crop and secondly, it contributed to increase the population of M. pygmaeus compared to the control strategy.
The species of the banker plant also influenced the establishment and population dynamics of M. pygmaeus. Indeed, marigold plants led to a higher peak population of the mirid bug.
However, whitefly control was not sufficient, but this could be due to excessive artificial infestation.
This predatory bug attacks various pests including Trialeurodes vapourariorum. However, its establishment is a long process, and some pests may colonise the crop more rapidly, sometimes leading to protection failure.
Banker plant system in soil crops has demonstrated good ability to improve the establishment of M. pygmaeus. However, this method has not yet been transferred to soilless crops.
To identify banker plants that are favourable to the development of M. pygmaeus and adapted to soilless conditions, we conducted a screening of companion plants at laboratory scale.
We measured life cycle duration and adult body length of M. pygmaeus as a proxy of banker plant suitability.
Hence, we selected three plant species: Calendula officinalis, Ballota hirsuta, Geranium macrorrhizum. Then, in a 2-year greenhouse experiment, a strategy of pre-introduction of M. pygmaeus on the selected companion plants was evaluated, in comparison with a classical release strategy. M. pygmaeus was introduced on the banker plants 30 days before their introduction in the greenhouse.
Tomato plants were artificially infested with adult females of T. vapourariorum 15 and 10 days before the introduction of the companion plants in the greenhouse.
The results showed that the pre-introduction strategy with banker plants improved the establishment of the natural enemy in two ways.
Firstly, it allowed an earlier installation of M. pygmaeus on the crop and secondly, it contributed to increase the population of M. pygmaeus compared to the control strategy.
The species of the banker plant also influenced the establishment and population dynamics of M. pygmaeus. Indeed, marigold plants led to a higher peak population of the mirid bug.
However, whitefly control was not sufficient, but this could be due to excessive artificial infestation.
Authors
B. Gard, A. Bardel, M. Diemer, M. Archinard
Keywords
biological control, functional biodiversity, predatory bug, banker plant
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