New approaches to control cucumber infestation with insects and mites with emphasis on the production and horticulture characteristics under greenhouse conditions.

M. F.A. Hegab 1, Fahima H. Ayoub2, Badran A.B1., and Mona I. Ammar1

Abstract

The effect of different programs (foliar spray of some aromatic oils, extracts and intercropping plants with cucumber) against two insect pests, the whitefly (Bemisiatabaci (Genm)) egg and nymphal stages, thrips (Thripstabaci) and the spider mite (TetranychusurticaeKoch) eggs andmovable stages were studied. Also the cucumber horticultural characteristics, yield under the greenhouse and the tested programs conditions were evaluated. Experiments were carried out in a clay soil at Kaha Research Farm, Kalubia, Egypt, during two successive seasons of 2014and 2015. The obtained results indicated a positive effect of all the investigated treatments in reducing infestation of the studied insect and mite pests then the control and it may be dividing them into groups between them to show significant differences during the first and second experimental seasons Concerning the effect of the tested treatments on horticultural characteristics of cucumber plant, Data showed that T5 (basil oil spray) and T3 (citronella oil spray) followed with T6 (geranium oil) and T7(camphor oil) led to increase the cucumber growth, physical fruit characteristics, chemical leave contents, early and total yield compared with other treatments during the two studied seasons

Key words

cucumber, whitefly, thrips, spider mite, aromatic oils, extracts and intercropping, horticultural characteristics, number of fruit and total yield