Abstract
Greencover crops are widely recommended to provide predators and parasitoids with floral resources for improved pest control. We studied parasitism and predation of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) eggs and pupae as well as predatory mite abundances in an experimental vineyard with either one or two sowings of greencover crops compared to spontaneous vegetation. The co-occurrence between greencover flowering time and parasitoid activity differed greatly between the two study years. Parasitism was much higher when flowering and parasitoid activity coincided. While egg predation was enhanced by greencover crops, there were no significant benefits of greencover crops on parasitism of L. botrana eggs or pupae. Predatory mites did not show an as strong increase on grapevines in greencover crop plots as egg predation. Overall, our study demonstrates only limited pest control benefits of greencover crops. Given the strong within- and between year variation in natural enemy activity, studies across multiple years will be necessary to adequately describe the role of greencover crops for pest management and to identify the main predators of L. botrana eggs.
Highlights
Simplified agroecosystems often lack vital resources for beneficial organisms such as predatory arthropods, with negative consequences for pest regulation
Silvestri [7] already showed in 1912 that planting cabbage within the vineyard rows enhanced the parasitism rate of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) in vineyards by providing an alternative host species for the pupal parasitoid Dibrachys affinis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) as this species has more generations per year than L. botrana and needs alternative host species to survive within the vineyard
L. botrana pupal parasitoids were active outside the flowering of overlap with the flowering time of the greencover crops
Summary
Simplified agroecosystems often lack vital resources for beneficial organisms such as predatory arthropods, with negative consequences for pest regulation. The activity of functionally important arthropods can be enhanced through the integration of floral resources into farming systems [1,2,3]. Flowering plants may enhance pest species and compete for water with crops, challenging their viability as a pest control option in viticulture [4]. Parasitoids and predators can play an important role in the regulation of vineyard pests. Adult parasitoids may be limited within the landscape or the vineyard by the availability of adequate food resources [5] or alternative hosts that enable natural enemies to switch between the target pest and other non pest-species [6]. Silvestri [7] already showed in 1912 that planting cabbage within the vineyard rows enhanced the parasitism rate of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) in vineyards by providing an alternative host species for the pupal parasitoid Dibrachys affinis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) as this species has more generations per year than L. botrana and needs alternative host species to survive within the vineyard
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
