Companion planting enhances pest suppression despite reducing parasitoid emergence

Saldanha, Alan V.; Gontijo, Lessando M.; Carvalho, Rayana M. R.; Vasconcelos, Cristina Jensen; Corrêa, Alberto Soares; Gandra, Robert L.R.

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2019.10.002

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Moreover, shallots are rich in saponins and flavonoids (Fattorusso et al 2002); the yellow shallot (used in this study) is documented to produce considerable quantities of the flavonoid quercetin (Fattorusso et al 2002;Swamy and Gowda 2006). Thus, controlling aphid populations via shallot companion planting can provide an ecologically sustainable insecticide-alternative in Brassica plantings, corroborating the mediated ecosystem services of companion planting (Mutiga et al 2010;Parker et al 2013;Debra and Misheck 2014;Pahla et al 2014;Saldanha et al 2019) and conferring on the target crop enhanced direct and indirect defence against the enemies of the crop (Shrivastava et al 2010). As such, shallots should be integral to the much-needed trend of affordable green pesticides (Mossa 2016) that provide applicable low-priced pest management solutions (e.g., Kuepper and Dodson 2001;Amarawardana et al 2007).…”

Section: Complex Biotic Stress Against the Aphid Pestsupporting

confidence: 73%

Host Availability, Repulsive Companion Planting, and Predation Interact and Shape How a Parthenogenetic Aphid Population Responds to a Stratified Ecological Challenge

Khudr¹,

Fliegner²,

Buzhdygan³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Phloem-feeding insects strive to offset the disadvantageous effects of stressors to sustain their offspring and survive. Adaptive responses to environmental stress are not well understood under complex influences of companion planting, natural enemies, and host gradient. In this study, under predation by lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), we survey the responses of green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reared on different densities of cabbage Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) to its shallot companion Allium cepa (L.) var. aggregatum G. Don (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae). Firstly, aphid aggregative abundance was strongly influenced by shallot perturbation, predator presence and changes in cabbage-host biomass, altering aphid phenotypic plasticity. Interestingly, the shallot and predation negative impacts can be of similar magnitudes. Secondly, changes in the cabbage-host availability and biomass, especially under predation, had a strong impact on aphid traits. Our study underscores the benefits of including shallots as crop-companions in augmenting pest control, but also suggests that the outcome of coupling companion planting with natural enemies is context-dependent and thus should be empirically applied. At the confluence of ecology and agronomy, this work provides insights on how manipulated functional biodiversity may function as an alternative strategy for pestilent herbivory management in model and green-house systems.

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Section: Complex Biotic Stress Against the Aphid Pestsupporting

confidence: 73%

Host Availability, Repulsive Companion Planting, and Predation Interact and Shape How a Parthenogenetic Aphid Population Responds to a Stratified Ecological Challenge

Khudr¹,

Fliegner²,

Buzhdygan³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…in winter-wheat crops (Hickman and Wratten, 1996) and increased specialist parasitoids and parasitoid oviposition when intercropping L. maritima in grape vineyards (Begum et al, 2004(Begum et al, , 2006. Intercropping collard greens with non-flowering parsley reduced aphid populations through recruitment of generalist predators but reduced specialist parasitoid emergence (Saldanha et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercropping With Peppermint Increases Ground Dwelling Insect and Pollinator Abundance and Decreases Drosophila suzukii in Fruit

Gowton¹,

Cabra-Arias²,

Carrillo³

2021

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Intercropping can be used to reduce pest insects within agricultural systems, e.g., through deterring pests directly or by increasing habitat for their natural enemies. For example, plant produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can deter or confuse host-finding by insects through olfactory disruption. Drosophila suzukii is an invasive fruit fly of agricultural concern as it can lay its eggs in both ripening and fresh fruits and, uses olfactory cues to identify its wide range of host plants. Peppermint plants (Mentha × piperita) produce high levels of VOCs while growing and may, therefore, be suitable as an intercrop to reduce D. suzukii infestations in the field, as peppermint essential oil VOCs have previously been shown to deter D. suzukii in olfactory trials. We conducted a field intercropping experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of peppermint plants compared to traditional ryegrass/clover mixes in reducing D. suzukii oviposition in the field, and the effect of peppermint intercrops on other invertebrates. In the field, we monitored sentinel fruit baits weekly for D. suzukii infestation. Additionally, we monitored intercropping effects on the invertebrate community through weekly pitfall trap collection and through a pollinator point survey. We monitored for local, farm level presence of D. suzukii through apple cider vinegar traps within crop fields and along hedgerows and found high abundance of D. suzukii (>3,000 individuals trapped). Peppermint intercrops had fewer D. suzukii emerge from fruit baits and supported greater beneficial insect abundance (predators and pollinators) compared to ryegrass/clover. However, levels of D. suzukii were low across both intercrop types. Overall, we found that peppermint intercrops could be a potential aromatic intercrop used to reduce D. suzukii adult emergence from fruit compared to conventional ryegrass/clover mixes, however this trial should be replicated over multiple growing seasons, geographic locations, and host fruits. Furthermore, further study should determine the effects of the intercrop on the focal crop of interest.

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“…This delay in the arrival of predators, observed in both seasons in comparison to S. frugiperda , may reduce the predators’ control efficiency when the maize is most susceptible to the pest. Thus, strategies to advance their arrival and retain the predators in the area should be adopted to improve the biological control of S. frugiperda in the first weeks of plant development [ 42 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Molecular Marker to Identify Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) DNA in Predators’ Gut Content

Maggio

Rossetti

Santos

et al. 2022

Insects

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Spodoptera frugiperda is a serious pest of maize and other crops worldwide. The integration of control tactics is recommended for S. frugiperda suppression because reports of insecticide and Btplant-resistance are frequent. Biological control agents would be an alternative to improve S. frugiperda control in agricultural areas. We constructed a species-specific molecular marker to detect S. frugiperda DNA in predators’ gut content and estimated the predation rates of ladybugs and earwigs on S. frugiperda in maize crops. Predators were sampled in Pirassununga, São Paulo state, Brazil, in 2020 and 2021. Using the species-specific molecular marker in laboratory conditions, we estimated the half-life time to detect S. frugiperda DNA in the gut contents of Hippodamia convergens as 6.16 h and Doru luteipes as 25.72 h. The weekly predation rate of S. frugiperda by predators in maize crop varied from 0 to 42.1% by ladybugs and from 0 to 9.2% by D. luteipes. Predation events on S. frugiperda by predators were more frequent during the maize reproductive stage. Our results confirmed that predators might contribute to S. frugiperda suppression in maize fields. However, further studies of prey–predator interactions and agricultural landscapes are essential for a better understanding of predator dynamics in crops.

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Companion planting enhances pest suppression despite reducing parasitoid emergence

Cited by 15 publications

References 53 publications

Host Availability, Repulsive Companion Planting, and Predation Interact and Shape How a Parthenogenetic Aphid Population Responds to a Stratified Ecological Challenge

Host Availability, Repulsive Companion Planting, and Predation Interact and Shape How a Parthenogenetic Aphid Population Responds to a Stratified Ecological Challenge

Intercropping With Peppermint Increases Ground Dwelling Insect and Pollinator Abundance and Decreases Drosophila suzukii in Fruit

A Molecular Marker to Identify Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) DNA in Predators’ Gut Content

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