Control of Thrips and the Pepper Weevil on Pepper, Spring 1987

Abstract

Abstract Transplants were set 26 Feb on 2.5-ft-wide by 8-inch-high beds of EauGallie fine sand covered with black polyethylene mulch. Plots consisted of 15 plants set in a single row on 12-inch centers. Each treatment was replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were applied 8, 15, 22, 29, 6, 14, 21, and 28 Apr and 3 Jun with a 2.5-gal hand-held CO2-pressured sprayer, which was operated at 40 psi and delivered 50-100 gal/acre (gallonage increased as the plants grew). On 7 May, the thrips were counted in 10 flowers from each plot. Marketable fruit were harvested and abscised fruit were collected on 18 May and 2 and 11 Jun and were examined for internal pepper weevil feeding damage. All abscised fruit were damaged internally by the pepper weevil; thus, counts of abscised fruit were combined with counts of harvested, internally damaged fruit. One, 2, 3, and 5 days after the last application, the numbers of adult weevils were counted during a 5-minute examination of flower and vegetative buds on each plot. The percentages of damaged and undamaged fruit were calculated, and analyses of variance were performed on all data