Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics
Onion thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i> Lindeman) is a major pest in organic onion production and effective integrated pest management strategies are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate combinations of semi-glossy (“Rossa di Milano” and B5336AxB5351C) and waxy (“Bradley”) onion cultivars w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/207 |
| _version_ | 1797416614676660224 |
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| author | Lindsy Iglesias Michael J. Havey Brian A. Nault |
| author_facet | Lindsy Iglesias Michael J. Havey Brian A. Nault |
| author_sort | Lindsy Iglesias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Onion thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i> Lindeman) is a major pest in organic onion production and effective integrated pest management strategies are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate combinations of semi-glossy (“Rossa di Milano” and B5336AxB5351C) and waxy (“Bradley”) onion cultivars with reflective mulch, with or without biopesticides (spinosad + neem oil tank mix), to manage <i>T. tabaci</i> in organic onion production. Thrips densities were assessed weekly and bulbs graded and weighed at harvest. Onions sprayed with spinosad + neem oil had fewer <i>T. tabaci</i> (adults: 74% (2019); larvae: 40% (2018), 84% (2019) and produced higher yields (13% (2018), 23% (2019)) than onions that were unsprayed, regardless of mulch type or onion cultivar. “Rossa di Milano” had relatively fewer adult and larval thrips populations compared with “Bradley” (21% (2018), 32% (2019)) and B5336AxB5351C. However, “Rossa di Milano” had the lowest marketable yield in both years. Reflective mulch reduced densities on certain dates in both years compared to white mulch, but the largest and most consistent reduction only occurred in 2019. Reflective mulch had no impact on bulb yield. While spinosad + neem oil reduced thrips numbers and increased yield alone, none of the treatment combinations were effective at suppressing populations of thrips. Future <i>T. tabaci</i> management in organic onions will require optimization of the available effective biopesticides. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5450fea406547c99e20c2a7a173fb0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5450fea406547c99e20c2a7a173fb0c2023-12-03T12:03:41ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-03-0112320710.3390/insects12030207Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM TacticsLindsy Iglesias0Michael J. Havey1Brian A. Nault2Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Cornell AgriTech, 15 Castle Creek Dr., Geneva, NY 14456, USAVegetable Crops Research Unit, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1575 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Entomology, Cornell University, Cornell AgriTech, 15 Castle Creek Dr., Geneva, NY 14456, USAOnion thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i> Lindeman) is a major pest in organic onion production and effective integrated pest management strategies are lacking. Our objective was to evaluate combinations of semi-glossy (“Rossa di Milano” and B5336AxB5351C) and waxy (“Bradley”) onion cultivars with reflective mulch, with or without biopesticides (spinosad + neem oil tank mix), to manage <i>T. tabaci</i> in organic onion production. Thrips densities were assessed weekly and bulbs graded and weighed at harvest. Onions sprayed with spinosad + neem oil had fewer <i>T. tabaci</i> (adults: 74% (2019); larvae: 40% (2018), 84% (2019) and produced higher yields (13% (2018), 23% (2019)) than onions that were unsprayed, regardless of mulch type or onion cultivar. “Rossa di Milano” had relatively fewer adult and larval thrips populations compared with “Bradley” (21% (2018), 32% (2019)) and B5336AxB5351C. However, “Rossa di Milano” had the lowest marketable yield in both years. Reflective mulch reduced densities on certain dates in both years compared to white mulch, but the largest and most consistent reduction only occurred in 2019. Reflective mulch had no impact on bulb yield. While spinosad + neem oil reduced thrips numbers and increased yield alone, none of the treatment combinations were effective at suppressing populations of thrips. Future <i>T. tabaci</i> management in organic onions will require optimization of the available effective biopesticides.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/207<i>Allium cepa</i> L.spinosadneem oilreflective mulchplant resistance |
| spellingShingle | Lindsy Iglesias Michael J. Havey Brian A. Nault Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics Insects <i>Allium cepa</i> L. spinosad neem oil reflective mulch plant resistance |
| title | Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics |
| title_full | Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics |
| title_fullStr | Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics |
| title_short | Management of Onion Thrips (<i>Thrips tabaci</i>) in Organic Onion Production Using Multiple IPM Tactics |
| title_sort | management of onion thrips i thrips tabaci i in organic onion production using multiple ipm tactics |
| topic | <i>Allium cepa</i> L. spinosad neem oil reflective mulch plant resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/3/207 |
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