Université Laval
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Valérie Fournier
Labrie, Geneviève, CRAM
Start: 2022-01-10
End: 2023-12-31

Project

Evaluation of two new biological control agents and a banker plant against green peach aphid in greenhouse peppers
Pepper Capsicum annuum (Solanales: Solanaceae) is the 4th most grown vegetable in Quebec greenhouses and is becoming increasingly popular. However, this crop is subject to several infections transmitted by a variety of arthropods, thus limiting production and yield. In greenhouse pepper crop, the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most present and problematic species. This is due to the fact that not only it attacks crops directly, but it can also vector more than 100 viruses to plants. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop a conservation biological control strategy against the green peach aphid in pepper greenhouses. To achieve this objective, two species of natural enemies native to Canada, namely Anystis baccarum (Trombidiformes: Anystidae) and the hoverfly Eupeodes americanus (Diptera: Syrphidae), and the banker plant consisting of sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) will be used and evaluated. To this end, there will be an assessment of the interactions between A. baccarum and E. americanus to determine whether intraguild predation is an important factor. Then, the analysis of the individual and combined performances of the two species of natural enemies in experimental cages will be carried out. Finally, in order to increase the conservation and establishment potential of these natural enemies in the greenhouse, the use of the banker plant will be evaluated. At the end of this project, a conservation biological control strategy against the green peach aphid will be developed in pepper greenhouses.