Jing Zhao1,2, Xiaojun Guo1, Xiaoling Tan1, Nicolas Desneux3, Lucia Zappala4, Fan Zhang1, Su Wang1. 1. Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, China. 2. Institute of Plant Diseases and Pests, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China. 3. INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research), University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, UMR 1355-7254 Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France. 4. Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The flower bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is widely used as a biocontrol agent against thrips and aphids infesting greenhouse vegetables in Asia. The survival and oviposition of such predators, as well as the biocontrol services they provide, may be enhanced by adding extra floral resources to the crops. In the present study we investigated the effects of the plant Calendula officinalis L., used as a floral resource, for promoting the control of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) by O. sauteri under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. RESULTS: Results showed that the presence of C. officinalis enhanced aphid and thrips suppression via an increased O. sauteri population growth. The predator populations responded positively to the addition of C. officinalis in the system, and they also varied as a function of the temperatures tested under laboratory conditions. In a similar way, predator populations varied among seasons, with the highest densities recorded in May in the greenhouse. CONCLUSION: C. officinalis can be used to increase available resources for natural enemies used in agricultural crops, notably in greenhouses. This study also provides evidence that increasing floral resources can enhance pest suppression provided by O. sauteri.
BACKGROUND: The flower bug Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is widely used as a biocontrol agent against thrips and aphids infesting greenhouse vegetables in Asia. The survival and oviposition of such predators, as well as the biocontrol services they provide, may be enhanced by adding extra floral resources to the crops. In the present study we investigated the effects of the plant Calendula officinalis L., used as a floral resource, for promoting the control of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) by O. sauteri under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. RESULTS: Results showed that the presence of C. officinalis enhanced aphid and thrips suppression via an increased O. sauteri population growth. The predator populations responded positively to the addition of C. officinalis in the system, and they also varied as a function of the temperatures tested under laboratory conditions. In a similar way, predator populations varied among seasons, with the highest densities recorded in May in the greenhouse. CONCLUSION:C. officinalis can be used to increase available resources for natural enemies used in agricultural crops, notably in greenhouses. This study also provides evidence that increasing floral resources can enhance pest suppression provided by O. sauteri.
Authors: Niall J A Conboy; Thomas McDaniel; Adam Ormerod; David George; Angharad M R Gatehouse; Ellie Wharton; Paul Donohoe; Rhiannon Curtis; Colin R Tosh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-03-01 Impact factor: 3.240