A comparative study of color sensitivity combined with opened and protected traps for insect pest management in Chinese kale (Brassica oleraceae L.) | |
| Author | Wickramaarachchi, Vindya Niroshini |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-09-12 |
| Subject(s) | Kale--Diseases and pests--Control Insect pests--Control |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Systems and Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-09-12 |
| Abstract | Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea L.) is a popular leafy vegetable in Asia. There is a heavy infestation of several insect pests in this crop. Frequent and excessive use of pesticides is a common practice, which disrupts the balance between the insect pests and natural enemies, reduces net income and promotes the contamination of vegetables with pesticides. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the feasibility of managing pests with a trap using their color sensitivity by way of glued color cards combined with opened and protected traps for enhancing the attraction of insect pests and conservation of natural enemies for enhancing non-pesticide based pest management and reducing pesticide use. Three colors as cards (viz. yellow, white and red) were tested alone, combined with and without glue, glued cards combined with and without + protective net, and a control (no color cards) in a complete randomized design with four replicates from December 2008 to February 2009. Insect pests and natural enemies attracted on each trap was identified and counted. Cabbage aphids, diamondback moths, stripped flea beetles and cluster caterpillars were the most common pests, while thrips, fungus gnats and leafhoppers were minor pest species in Chinese kale. Yellow color attracted a large number of cabbage aphids, diamondback moths, stripped flea beetles and leafhoppers as well as some natural enemies (i.e. lady beetle and lacewing). Hymenopterans were not attracted. The number of insect pests and natural enemies trapped on traditional opened sticky traps was higher compared to sticky traps with protective nets. The latter protected a large number of natural enemies. Trap with yellow-glued-protective mesh (YGP) had 86%, white-glued-protective mesh (WGP) 87% and red-glued-protective mesh (RGP) 78% compared to traditional sticky trap. Protected traps caught only 50% of the pests compared to traditional sticky trap. Control plots had the highest damaged on yield, while yellow, glue, protective mesh (YGP) had the lowest, the highest marketable yield was from yellow color with glue and no protective mesh (YGO). In addition red color too had the lowest number of insect captured and lower pest damage-as yellow cards. The findings revealed that color sensitivity of insects could be effectively used in color traps and sticky trap with a protective mesh was highly effective in protecting natural enemies compared to the traditional opened sticky trap, thus facilitating the incorporation in to IPM programs. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-09-12 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems (AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Yakupitiyage, Amararatne;Jayasuriya, Hemantha P.W. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Norway |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009 |