scholarly journals Biodiversity in and around Greenhouses: Benefits and Potential Risks for Pest Management

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Gerben J. Messelink ◽  
Jérôme Lambion ◽  
Arne Janssen ◽  
Paul C. J. van Rijn
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Important Benefit ◽  
Exotic Pests ◽  
Indigenous Natural Enemies ◽  
Stimulation Of

One of the ecosystem services of biodiversity is the contribution to pest control through conservation and stimulation of natural enemies. However, whether plant diversity around greenhouses is beneficial or a potential risk is heavily debated. In this review, we argue that most greenhouse pests in temperate climates are of exotic origin and infest greenhouses mainly through transportation of plant material. For indigenous pests, we discuss the potential ways in which plant diversity around greenhouses can facilitate or prevent pest migrations into greenhouses. As shown in several studies, an important benefit of increased plant diversity around greenhouses is the stimulation of indigenous natural enemies that migrate to greenhouses, where they suppress both indigenous and exotic pests. How this influx can be supported by specific plant communities, plant characteristics, and habitats while minimising risks of increasing greenhouse pest densities, virus transmission, or hyperparasitism needs further studies. It also requires a better understanding of the underlying processes that link biodiversity with pest management. Inside greenhouses, plant biodiversity can also support biological control. We summarise general methods that growers can use to enhance pest control with functional biodiversity and suggest that it is particularly important to study how biodiversity inside and outside greenhouses can be linked to enhancement of biological pest control with both released and naturally occurring species of natural enemies.

scholarly journals From Diverse Origins to Specific Targets: Role of Microorganisms in Indirect Pest Biological Control

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 533
Author(s):  
Frédéric Francis ◽  
Hans Jacquemyn ◽  
Frank Delvigne ◽  
Bart Lievens
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Defense ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Floral Nectar ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Pest Insects

Integrated pest management (IPM) is today a widely accepted pest management strategy to select and use the most efficient control tactics and at the same time reduce over-dependence on chemical insecticides and their potentially negative environmental effects. One of the main pillars of IPM is biological control. While biological control programs of pest insects commonly rely on natural enemies such as predatory insects, parasitoids and microbial pathogens, there is increasing evidence that plant, soil and insect microbiomes can also be exploited to enhance plant defense against herbivores. In this mini-review, we illustrate how microorganisms from diverse origins can contribute to plant fitness, functional traits and indirect defense responses against pest insects, and therefore be indirectly used to improve biological pest control practices. Microorganisms in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere have not only been shown to enhance plant growth and plant strength, but also promote plant defense against herbivores both above- and belowground by providing feeding deterrence or antibiosis. Also, herbivore associated molecular patterns may be induced by microorganisms that come from oral phytophagous insect secretions and elicit plant-specific responses to herbivore attacks. Furthermore, microorganisms that inhabit floral nectar and insect honeydew produce volatile organic compounds that attract beneficial insects like natural enemies, thereby providing indirect pest control. Given the multiple benefits of microorganisms to plants, we argue that future IPMs should consider and exploit the whole range of possibilities that microorganisms offer to enhance plant defense and increase attraction, fecundity and performance of natural enemies.

scholarly journals Intercropping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) with Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum) Reduces Major Pest Population Densities without Impacting Natural Enemy Populations

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Xiao-wei Li ◽  
Xin-xin Lu ◽  
Zhi-jun Zhang ◽  
Jun Huang ◽  
Jin-ming Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Pest Management ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Pest Population ◽  
Major Pest ◽  
Population Suppression

Intercropping of aromatic plants provides an environmentally benign route to reducing pest damage in agroecosystems. However, the effect of intercropping on natural enemies, another element which may be vital to the success of an integrated pest management approach, varies in different intercropping systems. Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), has been reported to be repellent to many insect species. In this study, the impact of sweet pepper/rosemary intercropping on pest population suppression was evaluated under greenhouse conditions and the effect of rosemary intercropping on natural enemy population dynamics was investigated. The results showed that intercropping rosemary with sweet pepper significantly reduced the population densities of three major pest species on sweet pepper, Frankliniella intonsa, Myzus persicae, and Bemisia tabaci, but did not affect the population densities of their natural enemies, the predatory bug, Orius sauteri, or parasitoid, Encarsia formosa. Significant pest population suppression with no adverse effect on released natural enemy populations in the sweet pepper/rosemary intercropping system suggests this could be an approach for integrated pest management of greenhouse-cultivated sweet pepper. Our results highlight the potential of the integration of alternative pest control strategies to optimize sustainable pest control.

scholarly journals The Promise of a Multi-Disciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach to Inform Insect Pest Management: Evidence From Wyoming Alfalfa

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randa Jabbour ◽  
Shiri Noy
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Insect Pest Management ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Insect Management

Pest management strategies involve a complex set of considerations, circumstances, and decision-making. Existing research suggests that farmers are reflexive and reflective in their management choices yet continue to employ curative rather than preventative strategies, and opt for chemical over biological solutions. In this piece, we detail work from a two-year, multidisciplinary, mixed-methods study of insect pest management strategies in alfalfa in Wyoming, integrating data from four focus groups, a statewide survey, and biological sampling of production fields. We outline how these different sources of data together contribute to a more complete understanding of the challenges and strategies employed by farmers, and specifically on biological pest control. We applied this approach across alfalfa hay and seed crop systems. Relatively few farmers acknowledged biological control in focus groups or surveys, yet biological exploration yielded abundant parasitism of common pest alfalfa weevil. On the other hand, parasitism of seed alfalfa pest Lygus was far less common and patchy across fields. It is only in integrating quantitative and qualitative, biological and social data that we are able to generate a more complete portrait of the challenges and opportunities of working with farmers to embrace a preventative paradigm. In doing so, we offer insights on possible barriers to the adoption of preventative insect management strategies and provide a case study of integrating social science and biophysical techniques to better understand opportunities to expand biological pest control in cropping systems.

Importance of intercropping for biodiversity conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-716
Author(s):  
M. Mala ◽  
M. M. I. Mollah ◽  
M. Baishnab
Keyword(s):  
Pest Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Crop Diversity ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Multiple Cropping ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Resource Concentration

Traditional there are two strategies to handle pest problems in crop production, either dependence on non-chemical agricultural practices (such as cultural, mechanical, biological practices etc.) or reliance on existing natural pest control mechanisms. Intercropping is a cultural non-chemical agricultural practice where two or more crops are grown on the same field in a year with different cropping patterns. In this multiple cropping system, biodiversity and pest suppression are increased. Biodiversity can restore the natural elements of agro ecosystem because almost all favorable elements of natural enemies are available in diversified agro ecosystem. Energy intensive modern technology in agriculture is one of the vital causes for loss of biodiversity. In intercropping system biological pest control method can be ensured with higher level of crop diversity instead of energy intensive agriculture. Intercropping provides different benefits on pest management with two available hypotheses or mechanism. One of the hypotheses is the ‘resource concentration hypothesis’ and another is the ‘natural enemies hypothesis’. Intercropping, directly and indirectly, influences to increase biodiversity which results in reduction of pest densities in crop fields. As a result, less expense for use of pesticide is required and finally higher yield also add some financial benefits. Intercropping system utilizes inherent ability of plant to protect pests. Therefore further knowledge about genotypic crop diversity, diversity of natural enemies, chemically-mediated mechanisms of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will be effective for further improvement of intercropping system for greater benefits.

scholarly journals CONTROL STIMULATION OF PHYTOCHROME ACTIVITY AND BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL FOR ENHANCED PLANT GROWTH IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 495c-495
Author(s):  
Dennis L. Wollard ◽  
Jacqueline Carlisi-Dunlop
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Trichogramma Pretiosum ◽  
Encarsia Formosa ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Greenhouse Tomato ◽  
Aphid Predators ◽  
Control Stimulation ◽  
Control Insect ◽  
Stimulation Of

The objectives of the greenhouse tomato industry are to optimize production while simultaneously abating the use of pesticides. A variety of mulch colors were evaluated to enhance production: black, white, yellow, red and no mulch. Black mulch yielded an average of 17.05 kg of marketable frui per plant. Yellow, red and white produced slightly less and the no mulch resulted in the least yield. Two greenhouses were used to evaluate two pest management programs. House One was established as the biological control where whitefly parasites – Encarsia formosa, aphid predators – Chrysopea carnea, thrips predators – Amblyseius mckenziei and worm predators – Trichogramma pretiosum were released at regular intervals within the greenhouse. House Two was established as the traditional control where pesticides such as Thiodan 50% WP, Malathion 57% EC and DDVP were utilized to control insect peats. There was a comparable economic return for both pest management programs where each yielded 23 kg for every $1.00 invested.

scholarly journals Beneficial Insects for Biological Pest Control in Greenhouse Cannabis Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Gerasimos GRAMMENOS ◽  
Varvara KOUNELI ◽  
Antonios MAVROEIDIS ◽  
Ioannis ROUSSIS ◽  
Ioanna KAKABOUKI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Visual Estimation ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Main Method ◽  
Beneficial Insects

A greenhouse cannabis cultivation took place in Agriculture university of Athens in order to quantify the efficiency of beneficial insects as a main method of pest management. Cannabis plants grown in two greenhouses and beneficial insects were released only in one greenhouse as a means to investigate the efficacy against pests by the comparison with the control greenhouse. Measurements included the visual estimation of infestation, the recording of pest species and populations, and the comparison of infestations and yields amongst greenhouses. Our results indicate that beneficial insects could control pest populations up to 100%. Even though the environmental conditions were not optimal and consecutive pest infestations were observed throughout the duration of our study, the beneficial insects successfully managed the pest populations. In conclusion, biological control with beneficial insects is a very effective method for pest management in greenhouse cannabis production.

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