Peppers: Review of options for control of aphid pests

Benefits to Industry:

Benefits to growers

Growers of pepper crops will benefit from being provided with knowledge that may be incorporated into IPM programmes, together with key information on the biology of key aphid pests that may support practical implementation of controls. Potential new insecticides, biopesticides and/or biological controls may be highlighted through this project. Availability of these products may, however, require regulatory hurdles to be met (e.g. SOLA applications) or additional research specific to pepper crops. Results from this review will be presented at the Pepper Technology Group’s conference in October 2015. The project outputs will assist growers in controlling aphid pests more effectively within IPM programmes, which will help to minimise use of pesticides through effective integration with non-chemical controls. This in turn will reduce losses associated with these pests.

Benefits to other levy payers

Other levy payers such as researchers, consultants and suppliers of controls used against aphids in a range of crops will also benefit from the project outputs. Key aphid species affecting pepper crops include Myzus persicae (peach-potato aphid) and Aulacorthum solani (glasshouse-potato or foxglove aphid). In addition, crops may also be affected by Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) and Aphis gossypii (melon and cotton aphid). These four aphid species are major pests attacking a wide range of both protected and outdoor grown horticultural crops. As such this review will create a model, which will inform aphid control in other sectors. Indeed, although the focus of this review is aphid control in pepper crops, the review itself will draw on best practice in a range of crops where aphids are pests.

Benefits to consumers

Consumers will benefit from the continued successful implementation of IPM programmes in pepper crops. This continued success will ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the availability of high quality produce; achieved with the minimal use of insecticides.

Benefits to the environment

Minimising the use of chemical pesticides through the use of effective IPM programmes will reduce risks to the environment.