Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems

1. Introduction

Vegetable crops play an important role in diversifying cropping systems and improving nutrition [1,2], presenting substantial employment and income opportunities for farmers compared to staple crops [3,4]. Nonetheless, the productivity of vegetable crops can be adversely affected by various abiotic and biotic stresses, with pests and diseases posing significant challenges. Hence, vegetable producers, including smallholders, predominantly rely on chemical pesticides [5,6,7], leading to unintended human and environmental health consequences. The widespread and indiscriminate use of pesticides in vegetable production systems globally underscores the need to develop, pilot, and scale sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Researchers worldwide are advancing IPM approaches that, while based on universal principles [8], are adapted to suit local practices. Effective IPM solutions require flexibility rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach, as they must align with diverse cropping systems, climatic conditions, and stakeholders’ varying skills, knowledge, and capacities [9]. Beyond availability, the accessibility, affordability, and desirability of IPM solutions for farmers are crucial factors that drive successful adoption, ultimately reducing pesticide misuse and overuse in vegetable production systems. This Special Issue of Horticulturae highlights recent advancements in vegetable IPM and showcases successful programs and studies from different regions worldwide. The six papers included in this Special Issue address potential opportunities and critical challenges in the sustainable management of pests and diseases in vegetable production systems.

2. An Overview of Published Articles

• The article by Buragohain et al. (Contribution 1) attempted to generate evidence and fundamental knowledge of suitable bio-pesticides that could be included as effective components in IPM packages to manage invasive Phthorimaea absoluta (also known as Tuta absoluta). The authors systematically evaluated commercially available bio-pesticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, Beauveria bassiana, and neem in laboratory conditions in India. Subsequently, the efficacy of selected bio-pesticides against invasive tomato leaf miners was assessed through farmer-participatory trials in different locations. This led to the sustainable management of this invasive pest and thus reduced the reliance on chemical pesticides.
• The second article by LaTora et al. (Contribution 2) evaluated the effects of insect exclusion netting (IEN) in combination with selected pesticides on whitefly population dynamics and virus incidence in greenhouse-grown yellow squash seedlings in 2018 and 2019. Field experiments from 2018 to 2021 evaluated the effects of various mulch types, row covers, and insecticides on whitefly population dynamics, silver leaf disorder (SSL) intensity, virus symptom severity, and marketable yield. The results demonstrated that a combination of cultural and chemical tactics, including row covers, UV-reflective mulch, and selected insecticides, can reduce whitefly and virus pressure and preserve yields in squash production in the southeastern United States, highlighting the potential of IPM strategies.
• A 2019 survey conducted in Tajikistan by Chan et al. (Contribution 3) identified various virus diseases affecting tomatoes, cucumbers, and mung beans, which is likely the first report on this topic from this region. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was the most common disease in all three crops. Potato virus Y (PVY) was detected in tomatoes, whereas the Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) was detected in cucumbers, and the Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) was detected in mung beans. Over two-thirds of the samples showed mixed infections, mostly transmitted by aphids, suggesting that managing aphids is extremely important.
• Badenes-Pérez and Heckel’s (Contribution 4) analysis of the host plant preferences of the diamondback moth (DBM), a cosmopolitan pest, has contributed to a deeper understanding of the DBM’s behavior in the context of its host plant chemical—glucosinolates. The study results highlighted that crops with high glucosinolate content could be more susceptible to DBM damage than crops with low glucosinolate content, providing better insights into its management.
• In greenhouses in Germany, Dieckhoff and Meyhöfer (Contribution 5) optimized the use of colored sticky traps for monitoring cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) in cucumber cultivation. It is interesting to note the mismatches between trap catches and aphid population density, especially early in the season, which are most likely related to the immigration of winged aphids into the greenhouse. However, the subsequent population build-up of the cotton aphid on the cucumber plants correlated quite well with counts of alate cotton aphids on the sticky traps. Thus, trapping winged aphids provides valuable information for integrated pest control in greenhouses.
• Finally, Onamu et al. (Contribution 6) examined farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices for managing the False Codling Moth (FCM, Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in Capsicum cropping systems in Kenya. More than 80 percent of the respondents knew of the FCM infesting Capsicum sp., and almost all the farmers used insecticides to manage the problem. Only 40% of the farmers applied IPM strategies, including using bio-control agents and intercropping with repellent plants to manage this pest. The authors also identified the training needs for smallholder farmers to reduce overreliance on synthetic chemical pesticides and to maintain export goals to the EU.

3. Conclusions

The articles compiled in this Special Issue provide sustainable alternatives to overreliance on chemical pesticides. They also stress the significance of integrated approaches considering specific crops, regional conditions, and pest pressures. Piloting, adapting, and scaling IPM strategies in the future will be beneficial, particularly within smallholder contexts where resource constraints and environmental vulnerabilities are most pronounced, especially with the changing climate. The continued development and piloting of climate-resilient IPM practices and efforts to improve farmer adoption through education and capacity sharing will be essential. As the demand for sustainable agricultural practices continues to grow, ongoing innovation and adaptation in vegetable IPM will be vital in enhancing the productivity, profitability, and environmental health of vegetable cropping systems globally.