Eco-based pest management of whiteflies in high tunnels

Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a major insect pest in horticultural crops in high tunnels. The use of “push-pull” technology and companion planting to enhance beneficial insects is a cultural control method which may mitigate damage by this insect pest. The “push” component involves the use of repellent plants to push away the pest and the “pull” component involves the use of trap plants or plant chemicals to attract the insect pest away from the target crop. Tomato and leafy green crops were grown in a top vented and screened high tunnel at the Florida A&M University Research and Extension Center, Quincy, Florida, USA. A strawberry crop was grown in other types of high tunnels during the same period. Potted repellent plants of citronella, lemon grass, and society garlic were intercropped with the tomato plants.  Potted repellent plants of mustard, arugula, and society garlic were intercropped with the leafy green and strawberry crops. Companion flowering plants, such as marigold, sweet alyssum and potted basil were placed on two sides of the length of the top vented high tunnel to attract beneficial insects. Potted basil and sweet alyssum/Coreopsis plants were on 4 corners of the high tunnel with a strawberry crop.Preliminary results indicate that sweetpotato whitefly densities were relatively low. The natural enemies collected were mainly whitefly parasites, Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. Results indicate that the combined use of “push-pull” technology and companion planting may be an eco-based pest management tool to suppress whiteflies in high tunnels.