Use of row cover to protect cabbage from diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L.

Use of row cover to protect cabbage from diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L.

1990

REP.DBM-1825

Field studies were conducted to protect cabbage from diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella L., using row covers such as cheesecloth or nonwoven fabrics. To exclude DBM from cabbage before row covering, insecticides were sprayed in seedbed, and then row coveres were applied for the period from transplanting to harvesting. Both yield and head qualities of summer cabbage were comparable each other between conventional cultivation plot and row cover plot with less frequent pesticide application. Row covers also protected cabbage form other incent pests such as aphids and lepidopterous larvae. Row cover treatment procided an adequate DBM control with 1-2 time chemical application, reducing 70-90% pesticide application as compared with conventional spray of 8-10 times. Females of DBM oviposited on the surface of the row cover contacted with cabbage leaves, resulting in infestation of larvae on cabbage leaves. Hence we recomended row covering of no contact with cabbage leaves in order to avoid oviposition by DBM females, for example, using wire hoops for supporting row cover. Since daytime air temperature in row covers was about 3 degree C higher than that with no row covers, row cover promoted the growth of winter cabbage. [AS]

no.32:29-34, PROCEEDINGS OF THE KANSAI PLANT PROTECTION SOCIETY

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