Development Of Pepper Plants Research Articles

Within-plant Larva Distribution of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on Bell Peppers 1

Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) larva distribution was dependent upon pepper plant development. During the initial 2–3 weeks of seedling growth, significantly greater mean numbers of larvae per leaf were noted on cotyledons. Afterwards, mature leaves had consistently greater mean numbers of larvae per leaf than newly emerged leaves. Plant stratification studies conducted after plants reached 75 mm in height indicated that mature leaves in the middle linear ⅓ of the plant supported significantly more L. trifolii larvae per leaf than leaves in other parts of the plant.