Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection (2013) 120, 122-130

Sergej Gulidov and Hans-Michael Poehling (2013)
Control of aphids and whiteflies on Brussels sprouts by means of UV-absorbing plastic films
Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 120 (3), 122-130
Abstract: Use of UV-absorbing films has recently developed into a promising tool to control insect pests under greenhouse conditions. UV-absorbing films that significantly reduce transmission of UV-A and UV-B natural solar radiation can interfere with vision of herbivorous insects. The exclusion of UV from natural sunlight hampers flight initiation, dispersal, host finding and establishment, hence affects the population build-up. To study the effects of UV-absorbing films on population dynamics of Aleyrodes proletella and Brevicoryne brassicae , eight "walk-in" tunnels covered either with UV-absorbing or UV-transmitting films were constructed. In each tunnel, 49 Brussels sprouts seedlings were planted. Densities of the pest insects and their parasitation rates were determined on ten randomly chosen plants per tunnel two times per week. UV-absorbing materials significantly reduced the population densities of A. proletella and B. brassicae . Parasitation rates of the pests were not reduced under UV-deficient conditions. The results indicate that UV-absorbing films can be a very powerful tool to control pests in Brassica crops.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Hans-Michael Poehling

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Brevicoryne brassicae	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Germany
	Aleyrodes proletella	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Germany