Color preference of insect pests of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) | |
| Author | Prom Visal |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-07-11 |
| Subject(s) | Kale 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-07-11 |
| Abstract | Chinese kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, is one of the popular vegetable crops grown in Asia. Potential production of this crop is usually hampered by the presence of insect pests, which is usually managed with the heavy use of pesticides. This study was conducted to explore the color preference of insect pests and natural enemies in order to reduce the level of pest infestation and avoid application of insecticides in Chinese kale production. Nine different colors (viz. black, blue, dark green, light green, orange, purple, red, white and yellow) in terms of cards coated with colorless sticky glue for retaining insects landing on them with a control (without any color cards) were tested for Chinese kale in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications from December 2006 to January 2007. Insects attracted on cards were identified and counted. Common cutworms, aphids and flea beetles were pests of Chinese kale. Common cutworm larvae were not attractive to any color of traps. Aphids and flea beetle were mostly attracted by yellow, light green, dark green and orange traps. Thrips also captured mostly on yellow and orange sticky traps although they were not pests in Chinese kale. Color preference of leafhopper was- unclear. Rove beetle was attracted to red, black and purple traps. Yellow, light green, dark green and orange were the colors preferred by ladybird beetles and egg parasitic wasps. The color cards did not effect on attraction of lacewings and spiders. Control plots were severely damaged by common cutworm larvae compared to plots having color cards. Yield in plots associated with purple color was the highest (15.47 t/ha) when compared to other color cards and the control. Red and purple colors had the lowest crop damage around 35%, which is of 23% reduction compared to control. These findings indicate that color sensitivity of insects could be effectively used in the integrated pest management programs for the control of insect pests in Chinese kale |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-07-11 |
| 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) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Amararatne Yakupitiyage; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | SWEDEN (Sida); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |