Control of Pepper Weevil on Pepper, 1985

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 12 Mar, 12 inches apart on 2.5 ft wide by 8 inches high beds of Eau Gallie fine sand covered with black polyethylene mulch. Plots consisted of 15 plants and treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were applied 22, 29 Apr, 6, 13, 21 and 28 May with a 2.5 gal hand-held CO2 powered sprayer which was operated at 40 psi and delivered 40-80 gal/acre (gallonage increased as the plants grew). Plots were harvested on 20 May and 4 Jun. In addition to fruit of marketable size on the plants, all fruit that had abscised from the plants and trapped in 1-inch high barriers surrounding each plot were collected. Each abscised fruit from the first harvest date and all harvested fruit were examined for pepper weevil feeding/oviposition scars on the outer surface, pepper weevil internal feeding damage and pepper weevil larvae, pupae and adults. Harvested fruit were also examined for stink bug and armyworm damage. The percentages of damaged and undamaged fruit were calculated and transformed arcsine (%) (.01) prior to analysis. Data are presented in the original scale.