Abstract
The effects of intercropping on the distribution of pests were analysed in a cropping system composed of rows of sweet peppers alternating with rows of tomatoes in a 80 m2 glasshouse. The levels of populations of Myzus persicae, Tetranychus urticae and Frankliniella occidentalis and their predators or parasitoids were compared among the rows. Significant differences in pest, predator and parasitoid density were observed. This was partially attributed to differences in plant suitability influencing the predator-prey balance. Moreover, highly significant differences in pest density were recorded among the rows of the vegetable species which favoured high pest outbreaks. This effect was probably due to negative effects caused by the other plant species on the dispersion of the pest. In fact, glandular trichomes heavily entrapped aphids on tomatoes, which probably greatly affected the pest dispersal in the crop. On the other hand, the fact that spider mites were maintained on the sweet pepper plants at very low levels by predatory mites was certainly a factor which contributed to the low spread of the pest in the crop. These results lead to the conclusion that such intercropping seems to locally limit pest outbreaks, and thus may reduce the amount of biological auxiliaries or pesticides needed to control them in comparison with monoculture.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Holt, R.D. and Hasseil, M.P. (1993) ‘Environmental heterogeneity and the stability of host-parasitoid interactions’, J. Anim. Ecol. 62, 89–100.
Horn, D.J. (1988) ‘Ecological approach to pest management’, Guilford Press, New York. 285 pp.
Kennedy, F.J.S., Rajamanickam, K. and Raveendran, T.S. (1990) ‘Effect of intercropping on insect pests of groundnut and their natural enemies’, J. Biol. Control 4, 63–64.
Nachman, G. (1988) ‘Regional persistence of locally unstable predator/prey populations’, Exp. Appl. Acarol. 5, 293–318.
Nachman, G. (1991) ‘An acarine predator-prey metapopulation system inhabiting greenhouse cucumbers’, Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 42, 285–303.
Nihoul, P. (1993a) ‘Controlling glasshouse climate influences the interaction between tomato glandular trichome, spider mite and predatory mite’, Crop Protection 12 (in press).
Nihoul, P. (1993b) ‘Have light intensity, temperature and photoperiod an effect on the entrapment of mites on glandular hairs of cultivated tomatoes?’, Exp. Appl. Acarol. (submitted for publication).
Risch, S.J. (1981) ‘Insect herbivore abundance in tropical monoculture and polycultures; an experimental test of two hypothesis’, Ecology 62, 1325–1340.
Van de Vrie, M., McMurtry, J.A. and Huffaker, C.B. (1972) ‘Ecology of tetranychid mites and their natural enemies: a review. III Biology, ecology, and pests status, and host-plant relations of tetranychids’, Hilgardia 41, 343–432.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nihoul, P., Hance, T. (1994). Implications of Intercropping (Sweet Pepper - Tomato) for the Biological Control of Pests in Glasshouses. In: Struik, P.C., Vredenberg, W.J., Renkema, J.A., Parlevliet, J.E. (eds) Plant Production on the Threshold of a New Century. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 61. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1158-4_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1158-4_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4505-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1158-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive