Broccoli growth parameters and level of head infestations in simple and mixed plantings: Impact of increased flora diversification

Summary The impacts of interplanting broccoli, Brassica oleracea var. italica L., with chili pepper, Capsicum annuum L., or yellow sweetclover (YSC), Melilotus officinalis L., on broccoli growth parameters and levels of lepidopteran head infestations were studied during two field seasons (winter &am...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of applied biology 2001-06, Vol.138 (3), p.269-280
Main Authors: HOOKS, CERRUTI R R, JOHNSON, MARSHALL W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Artogeia rapae
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Brassica
Brassica oleracea
Capsicum annuum
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
intercrop
lepidopteran pests
Melilotus officinalis
oviposition behaviour
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Protozoa. Invertebrates
Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys
Trichoplusia ni
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Summary:Summary The impacts of interplanting broccoli, Brassica oleracea var. italica L., with chili pepper, Capsicum annuum L., or yellow sweetclover (YSC), Melilotus officinalis L., on broccoli growth parameters and levels of lepidopteran head infestations were studied during two field seasons (winter & summer). During both seasons, several broccoli growth characteristics (e.g. plant vertical area, whole plant biomass, etc.) were significantly reduced in broccoli‐YSC habitats. However, broccoli heads in broccoli‐YSC habitats did not differ significantly in size from other treatment habitats. Additionally, these heads contained the lowest mean lepidopteran contaminants per broccoli crown during the winter season. During this period, the average number of lepidopteran contaminants per broccoli head was more than twice that in monoculture and pepper intercropped broccoli than in broccoli‐YSC habitats. During the summer experiment, the average number of lepidopteran contaminants per broccoli head was greater in pepper intercropped broccoli than in both monoculture and YSC interplanted broccoli. Potential causes of broccoli growth differences and their relationship to lepidopteran ovipositional behavior are discussed.
ISSN:0003-4746
1744-7348
DOI:10.1111/j.1744-7348.2001.tb00112.x