Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Disease Control with UV-Blocking Plastic Covers in Commercial Plastichouses of Southern Spain

F. Monci, S. Garca-Andrs, F. Snchez, E. Moriones La Mayora Experimental Station (CSIC) 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Mlaga, Spain E. Esp, A. Salmern Repsol-YPF Embajadores 183 28045 Madrid, Spain

Keywords: Bemisia tabaci, whitefly, Frankliniella occidentalis, thrips, pest management, ultraviolet light. Abstract The yellow leaf curl disease of tomato (TYLCD) is the main limiting factor to production of tomato in the south of Spain. The causing agents of this disease are a complex of virus species of the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) that in nature are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Two species have been reported in Spain, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV). Control of TYLCD in protected crops of southern Spain is difficult during the warm season (June to November) because of the high disease pressure present under the low technology plastic houses normally used. After more than 50 years of research, only tomato cultivars partially resistant to TYLCD are commercially available which do not completely satisfy market demands in Spain. In addition, the low effectiveness of the insecticides used to control the insect vector to levels in which TYLCD incidence is reduced, makes necessary the search for alternative strategies for the control of this disease. The use of photo-selective plastic covers blocking ultraviolet light (UV) has been proposed as a good method for TYLCD control due to the interference with B. tabaci vision that results in reductions of TYLCD incidence higher than 50%. However, no data are available on the effectiveness of this control strategy in the low technology plastic houses typical of southern Spain ("parral" type) in which large lateral windows are completely open most of the time. Several field trials were performed during the 1999/2000 and 2001/2002 agricultural seasons in commercial plastic houses of Mlaga (southern Spain). In each trial, tomato crops grown under plastic houses covered with standard UV-transparent film or with a photo-selective UV-blocking plastic film developed by Repsol YPF were monitored. Our results showed a clear reduction of the levels of B. tabaci population numbers as well as of the incidence of TYLCD under the cover that filtered UV light. This resulted in a significant yield increase of tomato crops under photo-selective UV-blocking plastic film cover. INTRODUCTION Plastic materials have contributed notably to the development of Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) and therefore to the introduction of alternative methods for reduction in the use of chemicals. Some examples are the use of physical barriers such as the so called "antivirus" nets (Neal 1992; Bell and Baker 2000), the use of reflective mulches (Greenough et al. 1990; Kring and Schuster 1992) or the development of ultraviolet light (UV)-blocking covers. Field studies carried out in the 90s in Israel reported significant reductions in whitefly, aphid, and thrips infestations in vegetable crops grown under closed tunnels covered with UV-blocking plastic films when compared with UV-non-absorbing plastics (Antignus et al. 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001). The effect of different UV-absorbing plastics on whitefly and thrips populations in small plastic houses open on the sides was also studied for ornamental crops in California (Costa and Robb 1999; Costa et al. 2002) and for vegetable crops in Spain (Gonzlez et al. 2001). However, as far as we know, data are not available on the performance of these UV-blocking films for virus disease control in the low technology plastic houses typical
Proc. XXVI IHC Protected Cultivation 2002 Ed. A.D. Papadopoulos Acta Hort. 633, ISHS 2004 Publication supported by Can. Int. Dev. Agency (CIDA)

537

of southern Spain ("parral" type) in which large lateral windows are completely open most of the time. This paper deals with the work carried out on the use of UV-blocking plastic house covers for the cultivation of tomatoes in these kinds of plastic houses. We have evaluated their effect on the populations of the sweet-potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci and the Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis, WFT) and on the incidence of the yellow leaf curl disease of tomato (TYLCD), a viral disease caused by a complex of virus species (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) transmitted by B. tabaci (Moriones and Navas-Castillo, 2000). MATERIALS AND METHODS Field trials experimental design Trials were conducted in commercial-like parral type plastic houses at the La Mayora Experimental Station (Mlaga, Southern Spain). Two trials were carried out. In the first trial, during the 1999/2000 agricultural season, 784 tomato plants (cv. Rambo,) were transplanted in two plastic houses (32 m wide, 50 m long, 2.5-4 m high) during late September 1999. In the second trial, during the 2001/2002 agricultural season, 500 tomato plants (cv. Rambo,) were transplanted in two plastic houses (16 m wide, 50 m long, 2.5-3 m high) during late September 2001. In both trials, tomato crops were monitored from September through February (fall to winter). In each trial, one plastic house was covered with standard UV-transparent film, and the other with a photo-selective UV-blocking plastic film (see below). These plastic houses have large open lateral windows along their longest sides (approximately 1 m high) to allow air circulation following the typical production practices of that area. Natural B. tabaci and WFT infestation and TYLCD infection were monitored weekly in these plasti houses. Plants were treated weekly for B. tabaci control using specific insecticides and were also subjected to preventive applications of insecticides, miticides and fungicides at various stages during the trial following normal practices of the area. At the end of February the tomato plants were pinched out above the youngest flower cluster for fruit ripening. Fruit set was ensured by weekly treatment with hormonal growth regulators (4-CPA, ETISA, Nufarm) during flowering. Plastics tested The UV-absorbing film (UV-blocking film) tested was CA-2131P (Repsol YPF) and the UV-non-asorbing film (reference film) was 2704FM (Repsol YPF), both 200 micrometers thick. Light transmittance spectrum of these films was analyzed using a UVVIS spectrophotometer model UV-3101PC (Shimadzu, Japan) in the laboratory and a UV-VIS portable spectroradiometer model LI-1800 (Li-Cor, USA) in the field. Insect populations In each plastic house, insect populations were monitored on 6 yellow (for B. tabaci) and 6 blue (for WFT, only during 1999-2000) sticky traps (10x10 cm) regularly distributed within each plastic house avoiding border effect. Similarly, insect populations were also monitored in 5 yellow and 5 blue sticky traps located close to windows. Additionally, B. tabaci adults were also monitored weekly on plants by counting the number of adults present in 9 leaflets per plant in 10 randomly selected plants avoiding borders and in 3 plants close to the windows. The number of B. tabaci adults per leaflet was calculated in each sampled plant. TYLCD incidence The incidence of TYLCD was monitored weekly in the plants of each plastic house (excluding the two border rows) by visual inspection. Plant characteristics and yield Before pinching out plants, the following data were recorded from all the plants

538

in each plastic house: plant height from ground level to the top, number of flowers, number of set fruits. The commercial and non-commercial tomatoes were collected and weighted. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA; SAS Institute 1990). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Plastics tested Both CA-2131P and 2704FM are mono-layer LDPE films with mineral infrared absorbers. 2704FM is transparent in the UV range of the solar spectrum, while CA-2131P efficiently absorbs all radiation between 300 and 370 nm (Fig. 1). Due to migration of organic UV absorbers, the UV transmission rises with time along the agricultural season, but the radiation between 300 and 350 nm measured under the UV-blocking film was never higher than 1% of the radiation measured outdoors. Therefore, a significant UVblocking effect was caused by CA-2131P. Effect of covers on B. tabaci and WFT populations Similar results were obtained in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 for B. tabaci populations. Lower populations of adult B. tabaci individuals were detected under the UV-blocking plastic films measured either on sticky yellow traps or on plants. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2 for the 1999-2000 season, higher levels of B. tabaci were observed under the normal plastic cover. This is especially notable for data obtained on plants at periods of peak trap catch, in which there were about 50% more whiteflies present under the reference film than under the UV-blocking film. Therefore, a lower presence of B. tabaci was observed under the UV-blocking film. A similar trend was observed for measures obtained in traps or plants present near the windows of the plastic houses (Fig. 3) which may indicate that the photo-selective UV-blocking films reduced the entrance of B. tabaci through the windows. The population of F. occidentalis was very low during the period studied, but with a trend to rise in the final part of the experiment under the reference film (January 2000). No such increase was observed under the UV-blocking films (Fig. 4) suggesting that these plastic films can also reduce efficiently the WFT populations present in this type of plastic houses. Effect of covers on TYLCD A significant lower incidence of TYLCD was detected in the tomato crops grown under the UV-blocking plastic films. Thus, in both trials, at 18 weeks after planting, 7080% of the plants grown under the reference film were affected by TYLCD, whereas, under the UV-blocking film, only 30-50% of the plants were infected. Therefore, UVblocking films in addition to reducing B. tabaci populations showed to be an effective tool to reduce TYLCD incidence in this low technology plastic houses, characteristic of Southern Spain, that maintain large free open windows during most of the growing period. Effect of covers on plant characteristics and yield During the 1999/2000 and the 2000/2001 trials similar yield trends were obtained showing a better performance of plants under the UV-blocking films. Thus, as exemplified in Table 1 for 1999/2000, plants were higher, had more flower clusters per plant and more set fruits. These resulted in a significant increase (37% increase) in commercial fruit yield per plant (Table 2). Since in previous trials with no TYLCD infection, no differences were observed in the plant development under these two plastic covers, these differences were attributed to the different TYLCD incidences observed.

539

Therefore, UV-blocking plastics appear as an effective tool to reduce yield losses caused by TYLCD in protected tomato crops. Literature Cted Antignus, Y., Mor, N., Joseph, R.B., Lapidot, M. and Cohen, S. 1996. Ultraviolet absorbing plastic sheets protect crops from insect pests and from virus diseases vectored by insects. Environ. Entomol. 25:919-924. Antignus, Y., Cohen, S., Mor, N., Masika, Y. and Lapidot, M. 1996. The effects of UVblocking greenhouse covers on insects and insect-borne virus diseases. Plasticulture. 112:15-20. Antignus, Y., Lapidot, M., Hadar, D., Messika, Y. and Cohen, S. 1998. Ultravioletabsorbing screens serve as optical barriers to protect crops from virus and insect pests. J. Econ. Entomol. 91: 1401-1405. Antignus, Y. 2000. Manipulation of wavelength-dependent behavior of insects: an IPM tool to impede insects and restrict epidemics of insect-borne viruses. Virus Res. 71: 213-220. Antignus, Y., Nestel, D., Cohen, S., Lapidot, M. 2001. Ultraviolet-deficient greenhouse environment affects whitefly attraction and flight-behavior. Environ. Entomol. 30(2): 394-399. Bell, M.L. and Baker, J.R. 2000. Comparison of greenhouse screening materials for excluding whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 93: 800-804. Costa, H. S. and Robb, K.L. 1999. Effects of ultraviolet-absorbing greenhouse plastic film on flight behavior of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: thripidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 557-562. Costa, H.S., Robb, K.L. and Wilen, C.A. 2002. Field trials measuring the effects of ultraviolet-absorbing greenhouse films on insect populations. J. Econ. Entomol. 95: 113-120. Gonzlez, A., Rodrguez, R., Ban, S., Franco, J.A. and Fernndez, J.A. 2001. The influence of photoselective plastic films as greenhouse cover on sweet pepper yield and on insect pest levels. Acta Hort. 559:233-238. Greenough, D.R., Black, L.L. and Bond, W.P. 1990. Aluminium-surfaced mulch: an approach to the control of tomato spotted wilt virus in solanaceous crops. Plant Dis.. 74: 805-808. Kring, J.B. and Schuster, D.J. 1992. Management of insects on pepper and tomato with UV reflective mulches. Fla. Entomol. 75: 119-129. Moriones, E., and Navas-Castillo, J. (2000). Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, an emerging virus complex causing epidemics worldwide. Virus Res. 71: 123-134. Neal, K. 1992. Screen pest out, reduce chemical use. Greenhouse Manager. April 11: 54. SAS Institute 1990. Users guide, version 6. SAS Institute, Cary, NC.

540

Tables Table 1. Plant characteristics in the 1999-2000 trial measured before the plants were pinched out above the uppest flower cluster at the end of February 2000. Number of flower clusters per plant 6.32 a 7.42 b Number of set fruits per plant 3.85 a 5.25 b Height (cm) 114.1 a 137.2 b

Reference film UV-blocking film Values with different letter in the same column are significantly different at p=0.05 Table 2. Fruit yield in the 1999-2000 trial Commercial production Number of Fresh weight fruits per plant (g/plant) Non-commercial production Number of Fresh weight fruits per plant (g/plant)

Reference 26.62 a 2569 a 0.68 a 44 a film UV-blocking 30.03 b 3520 b 0.34 b 25 b film Values with different letter in the same column are significantly different at p=0.05

Figures

1,6 spectral irradiance (W/m ) 1,4 1,2 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0,0 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100
2

Outdoors Reference film UV-blocking film

wavelength (nm)

Fig. 1. UV-VIS spectrum of the plastics tested

541

350 mean number of insects per trap

mean number of insects per leaf

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 5 10 weeks after planting 15

Reference film UV-blocking film

1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0

Reference film UV-blocking film

On trap

On plant

20

10 weeks after planting

15

20

Fig. 2. Mean number of adult Bemisia tabaci individuals captured per yellow sticky trap (left) and per leaflet (right) in the central zone of the plastichouse during 19992000.

350 mean number of insects per trap 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 5 10 weeks after planting 15 20 Reference film
mean number of insects per leaf

2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0 0 5 10 we e ks afte r planting 15 20

Reference film UV-blocking film

UV-blocking film

On trap

On plant

Fig. 3. Mean number of adult Bemisia tabaci individuals captured per yellow sticky trap (left) and per leaflet (right) in the border zone of the plastichouse during 1999/2000.

10 mean number of insects per trap 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 weeks after planting 15 20

On trap

Reference film UV-blocking film

Fig. 4. Mean number of Frankliniella occidentalis adults captured per blue sticky trap during 1999/2000.

542