Abstract
Pollen beetles are key pests in oilseed rape (OSR) production. These beetles use visual and olfactory cues to locate their host plants at specific phenological stages, hence trap cropping may represent an alternative pest control strategy. In this study, a trap crop strategy for spring OSR was developed. To elaborate such a trap cropping system, a pest control measure that eradicates the attracted beetles in the trap crop before they migrate further into the main crop was included in the final trap cropping strategy. Testing yellow-flowering turnip rape and one yellow- and two cream-coloured flowering OSR cultivars as potential crops in different trap cropping strategies, we found that pollen beetles clearly preferred turnip rape over the cream-coloured and yellow OSR cultivars, and preferred the yellow OSR cultivar over the two cream-coloured cultivars. This behaviour was related to the plant growth stage and associated volatile and colour signals of the tested cultivars. Using turnip rape as a trap crop and testing kairomone- or insecticide-assisted trap cropping as the pest control strategy was as effective as compared with whole fields treated with a standard pesticide. Combining a turnip rape cultivar as trap crop with kairomone traps placed in the trap crop as a killing agent may enable renunciation of pesticides in spring OSR production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Highlights
Oilseed rape (OSR) Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae) is a key crop in arable systems in temperate regions, and its production has risen significantly over past decades.[1,2] In Europe, mostly winter oilseed rape (OSR) is cultivated, whereas in Norway, 87% of the OSR production is spring OSR, and only 13% is winter OSR
Volatile compounds were collected from oilseed rape plants in different phenological stages. a Mean release rates (%) per 100 g of fresh plant material are relative to the internal standard heptyl acetate (500 ng). b RT, retention time. c RI, Kovats retention index, DB-Wax. d Leaf (BBCH 29). e Bud (BBCH 52). f Flower (BBCH 65). g Compounds that were not verified by comparison with synthetic standards
The analyses showed dimethyl trisulphide in the bud stage of turnip rape and phenethyl isothiocyanate in the flowering stage of OSR cv
Summary
Oilseed rape (OSR) Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae) is a key crop in arable systems in temperate regions, and its production has risen significantly over past decades.[1,2] In Europe, mostly winter OSR is cultivated, whereas in Norway, 87% of the OSR production is spring OSR, and only 13% is winter OSR. Pollen beetles are key pests in oilseed rape (OSR) production. These beetles use visual and olfactory cues to locate their host plants at specific phenological stages, trap cropping may represent an alternative pest control strategy. A trap crop strategy for spring OSR was developed. To elaborate such a trap cropping system, a pest control measure that eradicates the attracted beetles in the trap crop before they migrate further into the main crop was included in the final trap cropping strategy
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