Elsevier

Crop Protection

Volume 21, Issue 10, December 2002, Pages 921-928
Crop Protection

Use of UV reflective mulch to delay the colonization and reduce the severity of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) infestations in cucurbits

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(02)00067-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Effectiveness of UV reflective plastic mulch for the management of silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) was evaluated in selected cucurbits. The reflective mulch repelled silverleaf whitefly adults in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Reduced colonization by B. argentifolii adults resulted in reduced populations of nymphs and a delay and reduction in the incidence of silverleaf in pumpkin and zucchini squash. Reflective mulch was as effective in reducing nymphal B. argentifolii populations as was a pre-plant soil application of imidacloprid. Zucchini squash, pumpkin and cucumber yields were significantly higher in plants grown over reflective mulch than in those grown over unmulched soil. Zucchini squash yields from plants grown over reflective mulch also were higher than from plants grown in plots receiving a pre-plant application of imidacloprid. This study confirmed that UV reflective plastic mulch can be used to manage B. argentifolii and the mulches give protection equal to that provided by imidacloprid.

Introduction

Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) is a serious pest of cucurbits including zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), cucumber (C. sativus L.), and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne). Whitefly management through chemical application has not been particularly effective (Denholm et al., 1996; Horowitz and Ishaaya, 1996) and B. argentifolii has the potential to rapidly develop resistance to all classes of insecticides (Horowitz and Ishaaya, 1996; Denholm et al., 1996; Prabhaker et al., 1998; Elbert and Nauen, 2000). While some success in reducing whitefly densities with predators and parasitoids has been reported in protected culture (Hoddle and Van Driesche, 1999; Liu and Stansly, 1999) there are few examples of effective field level biological control in vegetable cropping systems (Heinz, 1996; Hoelmer, 1996).

UV reflective mulches have been used successfully to reduce and delay the buildup of aphids and the incidence of aphid-borne virus diseases in many vegetable crops by reducing the incidence of alate aphids alighting on the plants (Chalfant et al., 1977; Conway et al., 1989; Brown et al., 1993; Summers et al., 1995). Results of the effectiveness of reflective mulches in repelling whiteflies, however, have been mixed. Webb and Linda (1992), while finding fewer alate aphids on squash plants grown over white mulches than on plants grown over bare soil, found no differences in the number of adult B. tabaci (Gennadius) on plants grown over either surface. Powell and Stoffella (1993) reported that numbers of B. tabaci collected on yellow sticky traps placed above squash and tomato plants were not reduced in plants growing over polyethylene mulches coated with reflective aluminum paint compared to those growing over non-UV reflective, black polyethylene. They also found no significant differences in the percentage of squash plants presenting silverleaf symptoms or in the percentage of tomato fruit showing irregular ripening symptoms, both of which are induced by nymphal whitefly feeding, between plants grown over UV reflective mulch and those grown over the non-UV reflective, black polyethylene. Edelstein et al. (1991), however, found reflective mulches to be effective in reducing the incidence of squash silverleaf in Israel. Schuster and Kring (1988) reported reductions in B. tabaci populations on tomatoes grown over aluminum reflective mulches compared to those grown over bare soil. Csizinszky et al. (1997) found more immature B. argentifolii on tomato plants grown over white and black polyethylene than on plants grown over aluminum or yellow mulches. They did not compare whitefly populations from plants grown over these mulches to those found on plants grown over bare soil.

Here, we report the results of studies conducted to determine the efficacy of UV reflective mulches in delaying and reducing population increases of B. argentifolii in pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini squash and their efficiency in delaying the onset of squash silverleaf in pumpkin and zucchini squash. We also compared the effectiveness of reflective mulch in managing B. argentifolii in zucchini squash with pre-plant soil-injected imidacloprid.

Section snippets

General

Raised planting beds were formed with a tractor drawn bed shaper-tiller (B.W. Implement Co., Buttonwillow, CA). The distance between bed centers was 76 cm for zucchini squash, 102 cm for cucumber and 152 cm for pumpkin. Plots were three beds wide×7.6 m long. Each plot was separated from adjacent plots by 4.6 m of bare soil on all sides. Bensulide herbicide (Gowan Co., Yuma, AZ) at 5.6 kg (AI)/ha, was applied to the beds in 189 l of water per ha with an FMC hydraulic sprayer, Model DP20 3PT (FMC,

Adult response to UV reflective mulch

Adult response was similar for all mulch types and plants growing over the reflective mulches had significantly fewer (P<0.05) adults per leaf than did those growing over unmulched soil (Table 1). Mulch type did not appear to influence adult density. Similar numbers of individuals were found on both the highly reflective metalized mulches (Colorup and Sonoco RF) and the gray appearing AEP film.

Nymphal populations

Reductions in adult populations and delays in adult colonization attributable to the reflective

Discussion

Reflective mulches reflect short-wave UV light which repels incoming alate aphids (Gibson and Rice, 1989). Other Homoptera appear to respond in a similar manner. The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) may also be repelled by short-wave light (Todd et al., 1990; Summers and Stapleton, 2002). Aluminum foil, which reflects UV light, significantly reduced the numbers of adult aster leafhoppers, Macrosteles fascifrons (Stål), on carrots (Setiawan and Ragsdale, 1987) and adult

Acknowledgements

We thank A. Newton, S. Mallek, R. Gill, R. Smith, J. Chevalier, H. Chevalier and F. Leal for technical assistance. Ray Yokomi and Beth Grafton-Cardwell kindly read the manuscript, significantly improving it with their careful and thoughtful review. We are grateful to Lois Strole for editorial assistance. We thank AEP Industries, Specialty Ag and Sonoco for providing the plastic mulches. Novartis provided the seed of ‘Revenue’ squash. Bayer Corp. provided the imidacloprid. Portions of this

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