Associated cultivated plants in tomato cropping systems structure arthropod communities and increase theHelicoverpa armigeraregulation

Abstract

Cultivating plant mixtures is expected to provide a higher productivity and a better control of pests and diseases. The structure of the arthropod community is a major driver of the magnitude of natural pest regulations.With the aim of optimizing pest management, a study was carried out to determine the effect of the cropping system type (tomato mono-cropping vs. mixed-cropping) on the diversity and abundance of arthropods from three trophic groups (herbivores, omnivores, predators) and the abundance of Helicoverpa armigera. Therefore, the diversity of cultivated plants and arthropod communities was assessed within tomato fields from 30 farmer's fields randomly selected in South of Benin. Results showed that the arthropod abundance was significantly higher in mixed-cropping systems compared with mono-cropping systems, although the crop type did not alter significantly the arthropod diversity, evenness, and richness. At the level of taxa, the abundances of generalist predators including ants (Pheidole spp., and Paltothyreus tarsatus) and spiders (Araneus spp. and Erigone sp.) were significantly higher in mixed fields than in mono-crop fields. Then, the abundances of omnivore-predator trophic groups have a negative significant effect on the H. armigera abundance. This study allowed better understanding of how plant diversity associated to tomato fields structures arthropod's food webs to finally enhance the ecological management of H. armigera.

Percentage of importance indice-production unknown: loss and solution sources identification on system

“…(Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae), and bitterleaf Vernonia condensata Baker (Asterales: Asteraceae) (De Menezes et al, 2013;Pires et al, 2015;Silva et al, 2020;Gomes et al, 2023;Lima et al, 2024) 2020); on pastures and forests in Greece, and in A. auriculiformis saplings in a degraded area in Brazil, being directly correlated with Orthoptera (Zografou et al, 2017;Mota et al, 2023); in many agroecosystems in the USA (Landis et al, 2000) and Italy (Venturino et al, 2008); and in 12 agricultural landscapes in the low mountain ranges of Central Hesse (Germany) (Öberg et al, 2008). Moreover, ants can reduce defoliation and fruit-boring insect populations (e.g., Coleoptera and Lepidoptera) (Leite et al, 2012a;Gonthier et al, 2013;Fagundes et al, 2017, Dassou et al 2019) besides, they are bioindicators of the recovery of degraded areas (Sanchez, 2015). However, the numbers of Aleyrodidae and A. reticulatum were increased per numbers of Cephalotes sp.…”

Insects and spiders on Acacia mangium (Fabaceae) saplings as bioindicators for the recovery of tropical degraded areas

“…On the other hand, ants can reduce defoliation and fruit-boring insect populations (e.g. Coleoptera and Lepidoptera) on C. brasiliense trees (Leite et al, 2012b;Gonthier et al, 2013;Fagundes et al, 2017;Dassou et al, 2019) besides, being bioindicators of the recovery of degraded areas (Sanchez, 2015).…”

Arthropods as possible loss or solution sources on Acacia mangium (Fabales: Fabaceae) saplings

“…Spiders are important predators, as an example, on C. brasiliense trees and T. argentea (Leite et al, 2012;Carvalho et al, 2020); on pastures and forests (Zografou et al, 2017); in many agroecosystems in the USA (Landis et al, 2000) and Italy (Venturino et al, 2008); and in 12 agricultural landscapes in the low mountain ranges of Central Hesse (Germany) (Öberg et al, 2008). And, finally, ants can reduce defoliation and fruit-boring insect populations (e.g., Coleoptera and Lepidoptera) (Leite et al, 2012;Gonthier et al, 2013;Fagundes et al, 2017;Dassou et al, 2019). Besides, ants are bioindicators of the recovery of degraded areas (Sanchez, 2015).…”