Response of green peach aphids and other arthropods to garlic intercropped with tobacco

Response of green peach aphids and other arthropods to garlic intercropped with tobacco

2011

E03858

Te green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is an insect pest that causes extensive damage to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in China. Field trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Longyan in the Fujian Province (China) to evaluate the efects of garlic (Allium sativum L.) as a deterrent to green peach aphids and other arthropods when intercropped in fue-cured tobacco felds. Tis study demonstrated that green peach aphids were afected by intercropping garlic in tobacco felds during the 2 yr studied. Te appearance of green peach aphids in intercropped tobacco felds was delayed for approximately 7 d by the presence of garlic. Aphid abundance was reduced by 100% in intercropped felds compared with monocultures, especially when populations peaked (34.739.0% in 2008 and 42.047.2% in 2009). Other arthropod populations were not negatively afected by intercropping garlic. Species richness, diversity, and stability of the arthropod communities increased and the dominance concentration index decreased in the intercropped garlic felds. Te tobacco mosaic viruses (cucumber mosaic virus, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, and tobacco ring-spot virus) transmitted by green peach aphids were decreased by 9.6 to 42.4% in 2008 and by 22.1 to 27.9% in 2009 by intercropping garlic in fue-cured tobacco felds. Te net benefts of cropping fue-cured tobacco were also increased by 52.1 to 80.2% by intercropping garlic in the tobacco felds. Terefore, intercropping tobacco with garlic may be useful in deterring green peach aphids and in stabilizing arthropod communities in tobacco.

v.103(3):856-863, AGRONOMY JOURNAL

Research > Published Articles