Management of Delia platura, through timed planting of Phaseolus vulgaris
LE3 .A278 2017
2017
Hillier, Kirk Blatt, Suzanne
Acadia University
Bachelor of Science
Honours
Biology
All Delia spp. larvae feed on the roots of crop plants and the tissues of germinating seeds causing plant death and crop loss. Management of this species through selectively timed planting of P. vulgaris is not well understood. Here, three experiments were conducted to observe the relationship between P. vulgaris and Delia spp. pests. In experiment 1,a field study evaluated bean planting date as a potential pest management practice, P. vulgaris, planted at two week intervals, showed 14 June planting date to have the highest plant survival and mean bean number per plant, as well as lowest damage ratings compared to other planting dates. Experiment 2, a choice experiment in growth chamber investigated D. platura female varietal preference during oviposition. Based on egg counts, no difference was found in female varietal preference, but a significantly larger number of eggs were laid at early phenological stages than later stages. Experiment 3 was a growth chamber study observing P. vulgaris response to D. platura infestation level attack. Two varieties of P. vulgaris were infested with D. platura at two phenological stages. Higher infestation levels resulted in higher damage ratings, but no difference was observed across damage ratings between varieties or phenological stages. Results in experiments 1 and 3 showed severely damaged plants survived and compensated for damage, growing up to six beans, providing evidence of P. vulgaris tolerance to D. platura and other Delia spp. attack.
The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.
https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1599