Effects of Mulching on the Spread of Aphid-Transmitted Watermelon Mosaic Virus to Summer Squash1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Alate aphid populations migrating into summer squash plantings between Feb. and May were reduced by 96 and 68% by aluminum and white plastic mulches, respectively. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), was predominant and comprised 92% of the 16 aphid species trapped. Watermelon mosaic virus was the only cucurbit virus recovered, and symptoms appeared in the field 3 weeks after peak aphid flights in Mar. Virus incidence increased rapidly and reached 90% in untreated plots by May. Aluminum and white plastic mulches reduced virus incidence by 94 and 77%, respectively, at peak fruit harvest in Apr. Mineral oil sprays significantly reduced virus spread early in the growing season, and weekly application of methyl demeton did not affect virus incidence. Aluminum and white plastic mulches increased total fruit yield by 43%. Yield responses were particularly evident during early production with 85 and 69% increases resulting from the aluminum and white plastic mulches, respectively.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: