Next Article in Journal
Diversity and Phylogenetic Analyses of Bacterial Symbionts in Three Whitefly Species from Southeast Europe
Next Article in Special Issue
Can Flowering Greencover Crops Promote Biological Control in German Vineyards?
Previous Article in Journal
The Heartrate Reaction to Acute Stress in Horned Passalus Beetles (Odontotaenius disjunctus) is Negatively Affected by a Naturally-Occurring Nematode Parasite
Previous Article in Special Issue
Review of Ecologically-Based Pest Management in California Vineyards
Review

Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management

Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Plantes et Systèmes de Culture Horticoles (PSH), Avignon, 228 Route de l’Aérodrome, Domaine St Paul, Site Agroparc, CS 40 509, F84914, 84140 Avignon CEDEX 9, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editors: Alberto Pozzebon, Carlo Duso, Gregory M. Loeb and Geoff M. Gurr
Insects 2017, 8(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040112
Received: 31 July 2017 / Revised: 4 October 2017 / Accepted: 17 October 2017 / Published: 20 October 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arthropod Pest Control in Orchards and Vineyards)
A potential strategy for controlling pests is through the use of “companion plants” within a crop system. This strategy has been used in several trials to fight against a major crop insect pest: the aphid. We reviewed the literature to highlight the major mechanisms by which a companion plant may act. Trials carried out under laboratory or field conditions revealed that companion plants operate through several mechanisms. A companion plant may be associated with a target crop for various reasons. Firstly, it can attract aphids and draw them away from their host plants. Secondly, it can alter the recognition of the host plant. This effect is mostly attributed to companion plant volatiles since they disturb the aphid host plant location, and additionally they may react chemically and physiologically with the host plant, making it an unsuitable host for aphids. Thirdly, it can attract natural enemies by providing shelter and food resources. In this review, the feasibility of using companion plants is discussed. We conclude that many factors need to be taken into account for a successful companion plant strategy. For the best long-term results, companion plant strategies have to be combined with other alternative approaches against aphids. View Full-Text
Keywords: aphid; companion plant; intercropping; trap plant; natural enemies; repellent; volatiles aphid; companion plant; intercropping; trap plant; natural enemies; repellent; volatiles
Show Figures

Figure 1

MDPI and ACS Style

Ben-Issa, R.; Gomez, L.; Gautier, H. Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management. Insects 2017, 8, 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040112

AMA Style

Ben-Issa R, Gomez L, Gautier H. Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management. Insects. 2017; 8(4):112. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040112

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ben-Issa, Refka, Laurent Gomez, and Hélène Gautier. 2017. "Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management" Insects 8, no. 4: 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects8040112

Find Other Styles
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Access Map by Country/Region

1
Back to TopTop