Impact of the Integration of Medicinal and Aromatic Herbs Combined with Sticky Traps in the Protection of Potato Plants against Two Sucking Insect Pests

Abstract

Field studies were carried out during the summer season (2012) at Noubariya Province, EL-Beheera Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the efficacy of the integration between the sticky traps and medicinal plants in controlling two dangerous sucking insect pests (Bemisia tabaci and Empoasca discipiens) attacking potato plants causes direct damage and transmission of several viruses and hence high losses in the yield. Data of field observation showed that the abundance of leafhoppers, E. discipiens was recorded in the 1 st half of May on the leaves of both potato varieties (Spunta & Nikola), while B. tabaci acquired its peak in 2 nd half of May. The population of B. tabaci was highly active on potato plants (variety Spunta) while the lowest population was acquired on Nikola variety while the leafhopper, E. discipiens, which was more abundant on the leaves of Nikola variety surrounded by basil, mint or Marjoram herbs than with control plants. Both herbal plants (Marjoram and Mint) have repellent effect against B. tabaci in case of Spunta variety, while Mint plant was more effective against leafhopper insects on the leaves of Nikola variety than those were surrounded by Marjoram. Highly significant difference was recorded between the treatments and the control plant. The combined effects of the prevailing climatic factors (temperature and humidity) have a significant effect on the activity of E. discipiens and B. tabaci in the field of potato. It could be concluded that potato fields surrounded by medicinal and aromatic herbs gave more protection against infestation with E. discipiens and B. tabaci than those in control unit.