Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate an eco-friendly crop protection system having less reliance on pesticides with an existing crop protection system adopted by farmers depending on frequent use of pesticides for management of whitefly-transmitted virus diseases of chilli. Further, quantification of defense-related enzymes in chilli leaf tissues and calculation of field use environmental impact quotient of pesticide use were done for the crop grown under the two systems. Field experiments were conducted at five locations, namely Kilinochchi, Mahailluppallama, Kundasale, Peradeniya and Rahangala using chilli cv. MI Green for two consecutive growth seasons to evaluate the two crop protection systems. Percentage incidence of chilli plants showing virus-like symptoms varied significantly by location, growth stage and the interaction effect between location x crop protection system in both seasons. Chilli leaf curl complex infestation and leaf deformation were the most prominent in the chilli plants showing virus-like symptoms. In general, there was no significant variation (P = 0.05) between the two crop protection systems on the activity of four defense enzymes tested (i.e. peroxidase, β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase) in chilli tissues. The eco-friendly system had lower environmental impact of pesticides compared to the existing crop protection system practiced by farmers in chilli fields. Multi-location trials for two growing seasons confirmed that the eco-friendly package tested is equally-capable as the existing crop protection system for the management of virus diseases in chilli in Sri Lanka with a lower environmental impact.
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