Effect of transparent mulch on insect populations, virus diseases, soil temperature, and yield of cantaloup in a tropical region

Abstract

(1995) Effect of transparent mulch on insect populations, virus diseases, soil temperature, and yield of cantaloup in a tropical region, New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 23:2, 199-204, DOI: 10.1080/01140671.1995.9513887 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/01140671.1995.9513887 New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1995, Vol. 23: 199-204 Abstract Transparent polyethylene mulch was tested for its efficacy in reducing insect populations, virus diseases, and increasing soil temperature and yield of cantaloup (Cucumis melo L.) in a tropical region. Transparent mulch reduced whitefly populations, aphids caught in yellow traps, and virus incidence, with respect to bare soil (control). Also, soil temperatures in the morning, midday, and afternoon were significantly increased in the transparent mulch. Cantaloup fruit yield was positively influenced by the mulched plot. The export-and national-quality fruit yield was 11-fold and two-fold higher, respectively in the mulched plot in relation to control. Total yield in the transparent mulch was 31.2 t/ha, whereas that in bare soil was 6.9 t.

Effect of polyethylene mulch colour on aphid populations, soil temperature, fruit quality, and yield of watermelon under tropical conditions

“…These results are similar to those reported with black, white, and clear polyethylene mulch (Farias-Larios et al 1994b;Orozco-Santos et al 1995;Teasdale & Abdul-Baki 1995). Soil temperatures would be expected to be different between the clear, black, or white mulches (Decoteau et al 1989), perhaps a combination of the light spectrum reflected and the soil temperature conservation played a role in yield response of watermelon.…”

“…That fewer aphids was counted in the traps on clear mulched plots compared to other mulches and bare soil agrees with earlier reports on the insect-repellent characteristic of this polyethylene film (Jones 1991;Kring & Schuster 1992;Orozco et al 1994;Orozco-Santos et al 1995). Therefore, clear mulch may be useful for watermelon production where aphids are a problem because they might induce a direct damage by the feeding behaviour (Jones 1991) and also they could be vectors of viruses during the growing season (Brown et al 1993;Summers et al 1995).…”

“…This plastic film has a reflective effect and reduces the incidence of virus diseases by confusing aphids (Brown et al 1993;Orozco-Santos et al 1995). The mode of action of the clear mulch is probably the result of high reflectance of UV light (Kring & Schuster 1992), which confuses incoming winged aphids and reduces the incidence of their alighting on plants (Summers et al 1995).…”

Management of Air-Borne Viruses by “Optical Barriers” in Protected Agriculture and Open-Field Crops

“…Antignus, unpublished). Transparent polyethylene mulches reduced both whitefly and aphid populations and virus incidence (Orozco-Santos, Perez-Zamora, & Lopez-Arriaga, 1995). Similar protective effects against whiteflies, aphids, and their vectored viruses were reported later by others (Csizinszky, Schuster, & Kring, 1995;Summers, Mitchell, & Stapleton, 2005;Suwwan, Akkawi, Al-Musa, & Mansour, 1988).…”

Control of Cucurbit Viruses

“…5.1A), white (Abd-Rabou & Simmons, 2012), yellow (Antignus, 2000), or silver (Abou-Jawdah et al, 2000;Stapleton & Summers, 2002). Increase in yields compared to bare soil can be considerable; for instance, the yield of export quality melon was increased by up to 450% in melon mulched with transparent polyethylene (Orozco-Santos et al, 1995). Despite the benefits of reflective mulches, which also include weed management, soil warming, and water preservation, the cost and difficulty of disposing used material have limited their use in some regions, while in others it became a common practice.…”