Host location is a crucial step in the life cycle of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Diversified cropping systems have the potential to inhibit or interfere with host location processes to reduce the severity of aphid outbreaks. We altered the vegetation mix of a broccoli [Brassica oleracea var. italica (Plenck) (Brassicaceae)] cropping system by substituting broccoli with strips of potatoes [Solanum tuberosum (L.) (Solanaceae)], planting broccoli into a cereal rye [Secale cereale (L.) (Poaceae)] cover crop, or both. The probability of aphid infestation was significantly reduced by the presence of the cover crop, whereas strips of potatoes slightly increased initial numbers. The effectiveness of the cover crop treatments was primarily due to fewer alate aphids initially colonizing broccoli plants. Aphid parasitism by Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) did not explain the observed differences in the number of aphid colonies present in each treatment.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	cover crop, Aphididae, Diaeretiella rapae, Hymenoptera, strip crop, plant diversity, Brassica oleracea var. italica, Secale cereale, Solanum tuberosum, Braconidae, intercropping
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Horticultural production
Research Field:	Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Environmentally sustainable plant production
Objective Field:	Environmentally sustainable plant production not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Broad, S (Dr Shane Broad)
UTAS Author:	Lisson, SN (Dr Shaun Lisson)
UTAS Author:	Mendham, NJ (Dr Neville Mendham)
UTAS Author:	Corkrey, R (Dr Ross Corkrey)
ID Code:	51705
Year Published:	2008
Web of Science® Times Cited:	13
Deposited By:	Agricultural Science
Deposited On:	2008-08-01
Last Modified:	2015-03-02
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