Bulletin of Entomological Research (2002) 92, 61-70

T. Kalule and D.J. Wright (2002)
Tritrophic interactions between cabbage cultivars with different resistance and fertilizer levels, cruciferous aphids and parasitoids under field conditions
Bulletin of Entomological Research 92 (1), 61-70
Abstract: Tritrophic interactions involving cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitatacultivars ± fertilizer, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and the parasitoids Diaeretiella rapae (M'cIntosh) and Aphidius sp. were conducted in 1998 and 1999. Brevicorne brassicaewas the dominant aphid species on all cultivars ± fertilizer, except for some treatments in late season 1998. Ruby Ball (red-leaved with antixenosis factors for B. brassicae alates) ± fertilizer was consistently less colonized by aphids in early stages of plant growth, although only significantly so compared with Derby Day (green-leaved, susceptible to aphids) without fertilizer for B. brassicae and Minicole (green-leaved with antibiosis factors for B. brassicae) with fertilizer for M. persicae. In early 1999, only B. brassicae was present and no significant differences between cultivars were seen. In the mid to late season 1998, the highest aphid infestations were usually found on Derby Day, although only significantly so for B. brassicae, in some treatments. In 1999, higher aphid infestations were observed on Derby Day in mid to late season and some significant differences were found for M. persicae as well as for B. brassicae. In both years, Ruby Ball had the greatest mummy:aphid ratios early season, with no consistent difference between the other cultivars. Later in the season, mummy:aphid ratios were generally highest on Minicole. Parasitism differed in seasonal occurrence and relative abundance. Diaeretiella rapae mummies were found earlier than Aphidius sp. There was evidence of a beneficial interaction between the degree of plant resistance and biological control in early to mid season.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Denis J. Wright

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
	Brevicoryne brassicae	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Diaeretiella rapae (parasitoid)	Myzus persicae
Diaeretiella rapae (parasitoid)	Brevicoryne brassicae