ISHS Acta Horticulturae 481: International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics
THE INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN ON SEEDLESS CUCUMBER RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS |
| Authors: | D. Hunt, N. Carter, C. Drury |
| Keywords: | nitrogen, western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, cucumber, Cucumis sativus |
| Abstract:
Nitrogen fertilization of crop plants influences host selection by insect pests and their survival, growth, and reproduction rates. The goal of this study was to determine if greenhouse insect pests, such as the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, can be partially controlled through regulation of the nutrition of greenhouse cucumber, Cucumis sativus cv. Flamingo. A complete nutrient mixture without nitrogen was prepared and NH4NO3 was added to produce solutions containing 0, 50, 100, 200, or 400 ppm N. Pumps were used to feed each mixture from a barrel through drip lines. The five nitrogen concentrations were replicated over seven cucumber seedlings established in pots containing rockwool. Plants were maintained on the various treatments until analysis indicated that a range of foliar nitrogen concentrations had been obtained. At this point, western flower thrips adults were aspirated from colonies and caged onto individual leaves or whole plants. Western flower thrips showed higher preference and performance on cucumbers with intermediate concentrations of foliar nitrogen. Experiments are continuing in an effort to identify fertigation treatments that provide optimum plant growth and yield while reducing the incidence and severity of outbreaks of insect pests. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
