Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 23838

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
World Vegetable Center, Flagship Program on Safe and Sustainable Value Chains, Tainan 74151, Taiwan
Interests: insect–plant interactions; chemical ecology; biological control; vegetable integrated pest management; monitoring and management of invasive pest species
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vegetables are an important component to diversify cropping systems as well as diets. The profits from unit area are several fold higher in vegetable production than in cereal production, while profits per labor-day are also higher. Vegetables also provide more employment per unit area than cereals. In addition, they are an important source of micronutrients, especially vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Thus, they have the potential to alleviate poverty and malnutrition. However, the productivity of vegetable crops is severely limited by abiotic as well as biotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses, the pests and diseases play a predominant role and they can lead to complete crop failure, unless timely control measures are initiated. In an attempt to produce blemish-free vegetables, farmers quite often heavily rely on the use of chemical pesticides, which not only escalates the production costs but also leads to adverse impacts on human and environmental health. Hence, it has become imperative to develop and promote integrated pest management (IPM) strategies as an alternative to the harmful chemical pesticides in vegetable production. Hence, this Special Issue will focus on recent advances in vegetable IPM, including successful IPM programs in different parts of the world.

Dr. Srinivasan Ramasamy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • vegetable IPM
  • host plant resistance
  • insect pheromones
  • biological control
  • bio-pesticides
  • insecticide resistance management

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 164 KiB  
Editorial
Implementation of Integrated Pest Management Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems
by Srinivasan Ramasamy
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111175 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1280
Abstract
Vegetable crops play an important role in diversifying cropping systems and improving nutrition [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

20 pages, 954 KiB  
Article
Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Management Practices of False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in Smallholder Capsicum sp. Cropping Systems in Kenya
by Emmanuel M. Onamu, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Isaac M. Nyangau, John H. Nderitu, Muo Kasina, Dorah C. Kilalo and Allan N. Mweke
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040331 - 28 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2220
Abstract
False codling moth (FCM) Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is currently the main pest of phytosanitary concern in international trade, causing rejection and decline of horticultural produce from Kenya exported to the European Union (EU). Overreliance on synthetic insecticides to control this pest [...] Read more.
False codling moth (FCM) Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is currently the main pest of phytosanitary concern in international trade, causing rejection and decline of horticultural produce from Kenya exported to the European Union (EU). Overreliance on synthetic insecticides to control this pest is ineffective and unsustainable in the long run, whereas continuous use of pesticides results in high levels of residues in the produce. To gather farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices used by smallholder farmers to manage this pest, a field survey was carried out in 10 Capsicum sp. (Solanales: Solanaceae)-producing counties in Kenya. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions involving 108 individual farmers, 20 key informants, and 10 focus group discussions. The majority of the respondents (83.33%) were aware of the FCM infesting Capsicum sp. About three quarters of the farmers (76.85%) reported yield losses and unmarketable quality of FCM-infested Capsicum sp. Most farmers interviewed (99.07%) used insecticides as a management tool. In contrast, only 39.81% of the farmers applied integrated pest management strategies including use of biological control agents and intercropping with repellent plants to control this pest. The results show that FCM is perceived as a significant threat to the horticultural industry of Kenya. Training needs for smallholder farmers and key informants to avoid overreliance on synthetic chemical pesticides and to maintain export goals to the EU where identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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16 pages, 2769 KiB  
Article
If Only You Could Catch Me—Catch Me If You Can: Monitoring Aphids in Protected Cucumber Cultivations by Means of Sticky Traps
by Christine Dieckhoff and Rainer Meyhöfer
Horticulturae 2023, 9(5), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9050571 - 11 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2364
Abstract
Aphids are important pests in many greenhouse and field crops. For plant protection, early detection of relevant species and reliable assessment of population development throughout the season is mandatory to address countermeasures in time. In practice, coloured sticky cards or pan traps are [...] Read more.
Aphids are important pests in many greenhouse and field crops. For plant protection, early detection of relevant species and reliable assessment of population development throughout the season is mandatory to address countermeasures in time. In practice, coloured sticky cards or pan traps are frequently used as monitoring tools, but as well as the flight activity of focal insects, many other factors influence reliable interpretation of trapping data. Since monitoring data have been more and more integrated into automated decision support systems, soundness of insect count data and interpretation of results needs to be reviewed in more detail. Therefore, we investigated the applicability of yellow sticky traps for monitoring of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii in greenhouse cucumber crop. In separate greenhouse chambers, we infested cucumber plants with Aphis gossypii and installed several yellow sticky traps. Insects were counted on the plants and sticky traps on a weekly basis and number of insects were correlated. Our results indicate mismatches between trap catches and aphid population density especially early in the season, which most likely is related to immigration of winged aphids into the greenhouse. The following population build-up of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii on the cucumber plants correlated quite well with counts of alate cotton aphids on the sticky traps. In conclusion, trapping of winged aphids provides valuable information for integrated pest control in the greenhouse. Nevertheless, to avoid wrong interpretation the taxonomic identity of trapped aphids has to be confirmed at all times. Results are further discussed in the context of factors influencing aphid wing development and attraction to yellow sticky traps. Potential strategies to optimize aphid monitoring with coloured sticky traps are proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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14 pages, 478 KiB  
Article
Intraspecific and Interstage Similarities in Host-Plant Preference in the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)
by Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez and David G. Heckel
Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010039 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2676
Abstract
The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important insect pest of cruciferous crops. Understanding its preference patterns can lead to more efficient management methods, such as trap crops. Several strains of P. xylostella were used to test whether there were [...] Read more.
The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important insect pest of cruciferous crops. Understanding its preference patterns can lead to more efficient management methods, such as trap crops. Several strains of P. xylostella were used to test whether there were differences in oviposition preference in a four-choice setting, on abaxial versus adaxial leaf surfaces in 28 different plant species, and on substrates with different concentrations of sinigrin (allylglucosinolate). Additionally, the larval preference of P. xylostella was studied with 17 plant species of known glucosinolate content that were compared to Arabidopsis thaliana L. in two-choice tests. Our research shows that the diet on which P. xylostella has fed hardly affects multiple-choice host-plant preference, abaxial and adaxial oviposition preference, or oviposition response to pure glucosinolates. Our study also shows that glucosinolate content affects larval preference, which together with the known correlation between glucosinolate content and P. xylostella oviposition, indicates that crops with high glucosinolate content could be more susceptible to damage by P. xylostella than crops with low glucosinolate content. These findings are discussed in regards to their significance in the management of P. xylostella. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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9 pages, 2361 KiB  
Article
Survey of Viruses Infecting Tomato, Cucumber and Mung Bean in Tajikistan
by Yuan-Li Chan, Nurali Saidov, Li-Mei Lee, Fu-Hsun Kuo, Su-Ling Shih and Lawrence Kenyon
Horticulturae 2022, 8(6), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8060505 - 6 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3227
Abstract
Viral diseases are major constraints to tomato, cucumber and mung bean production in most areas where these crops are grown. To identify the viruses on the crops in Tajikistan, a field survey was conducted in 2019. Samples of cucumber, mung bean and tomato [...] Read more.
Viral diseases are major constraints to tomato, cucumber and mung bean production in most areas where these crops are grown. To identify the viruses on the crops in Tajikistan, a field survey was conducted in 2019. Samples of cucumber, mung bean and tomato with virus-like symptoms were collected and the viruses present were diagnosed by RT-PCR and PCR. Across all the samples, a very high proportion of the samples were infected with viruses from the genera Cucumovirus and Potyvirus. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV; Cucumovirus) was very common in the collected samples of the three crops. As for Potyvirus, Potato virus Y (PVY) was detected in the collected tomato samples, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) was identified in the collected cucumber samples, and Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) was detected in 53% of the mung bean samples. Over 68% of the collected samples were infected with two or more viruses, suggesting that mixed infections are common for the three crops. Due to the results that the most identified viruses for the three crops are transmitted by aphids, the management of aphids is extremely important for the production of tomato, cucumber and mung bean in Tajikistan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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19 pages, 2538 KiB  
Article
Combining Cultural Tactics and Insecticides for the Management of the Sweetpotato Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, and Viruses in Yellow Squash
by Angela Gabrielle LaTora, Clarence Bagayao Codod, Saioa Legarrea, Bhabesh Dutta, Robert C. Kemerait, Jr., Scott Adkins, William Turechek, Timothy Coolong, Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva and Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan
Horticulturae 2022, 8(4), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8040341 - 17 Apr 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4304
Abstract
The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the complex of viruses it transmits are major limiting factors to squash production in the southeastern United States. At this time, insecticides are extensively relied upon for the management of whiteflies and, indirectly, [...] Read more.
The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the complex of viruses it transmits are major limiting factors to squash production in the southeastern United States. At this time, insecticides are extensively relied upon for the management of whiteflies and, indirectly, whitefly-transmitted viruses. The development of a multi-faceted, integrated pest management (IPM) program is needed to increase the sustainability and profitability of squash production. Experiments in 2018 and 2019 evaluated the effects of insect exclusion netting (IEN) in combination with selected pesticides on whitefly population dynamics and virus incidence in greenhouse-grown squash seedlings. Field experiments from 2018 to 2021 evaluated the effects of mulch type (UV-reflective mulch, live mulch, and white plastic mulch), row covers, and insecticides on whitefly population dynamics, silver leaf disorder (SSL) intensity, virus symptom severity, and marketable yield. IEN significantly reduced whiteflies and virus incidence on squash seedlings in the greenhouse study. In the field mulch study, lower whitefly abundance and SSL intensity, as well as reduced virus symptom severity, were observed in plots with reflective mulch compared with white plastic or live mulch. In the insecticide/row cover study, whitefly abundance, SSL intensity, and virus symptom severity were lowest in the row cover and cyantraniliprole- and flupyradifurone-treated plots. Field plots with row covers and those with UV-reflective mulch consistently produced the greatest marketable yields. These findings demonstrate that growers can reduce whitefly and virus pressure and preserve yields in squash production in the southeastern United States by combining cultural and chemical tactics, including row covers, UV-reflective mulch, and select insecticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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15 pages, 1458 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Bio-Pesticides against the South American Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in India
by Priyakshi Buragohain, Dilip Kumar Saikia, Paola Sotelo-Cardona and Ramasamy Srinivasan
Horticulturae 2021, 7(9), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7090325 - 18 Sep 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5775
Abstract
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most economically important pests of tomato worldwide. Despite its global importance, the management of this oligophagous pest has still been a challenging task, due to its high capability to develop resistance against synthetic insecticides. [...] Read more.
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most economically important pests of tomato worldwide. Despite its global importance, the management of this oligophagous pest has still been a challenging task, due to its high capability to develop resistance against synthetic insecticides. Given the limited studies on the effectiveness of different bio-pesticides in India, the objective of this research was to determine the pathogenicity of different commercial formulations of Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis, and neem (Azadirachtin), against T. absoluta, under laboratory and field conditions. For the Bacillus thuringiensis formulations, Green Larvicide® and Delfin® recorded an LC50 of 4.10 × 10⁹ CFU/mL and 8.06 × 106 spores/mg, respectively, while for the B. bassiana formulations, Green Beauveria® and BB Power® were 4.473 × 107 spores/mL and 1.367 × 107 CFU/g, respectively. Furthermore, the results showed high susceptibility to both the commercial neem formulations with Ecotin®, recording an LC50 of 91.866 ppm, and Econeem Plus® recording 212.676 ppm. The results from the field conditions at different locations of Andhra Pradesh, India, showed significant differences (p < 0.001) for leaf and fruit infestation among the interaction effect of treatments and locations. Bio-pesticides, especially neem and B. thuringiensis formulations, reduced T. absoluta infestation similarly to the chemical treatment, without affecting the yield. Therefore, bio-pesticides can be considered as safe alternatives to synthetic pesticides, for the management of T. absoluta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Implementation of IPM Measures in Vegetable Cropping Systems)
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