Use of Aluminum-Foil and Oat-Straw Mulches for Controlling Aster Leafhopper, Macrosteles Fascifrons (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), and Aster Yellows in Carrots.

Abstract

Aluminum-foil and oat-straw mulches significantly (P < 0.05) reduced aster leafhopper numbers on carrots compared to an untreated control and a malathion spray treatment during the first half of the growing season. The amount of reflected light was significantly higher in both aluminum-foil and oat-straw mulched plots compared to unmulched treatments. Mulch effectiveness decreased when the closing carrot canopy reduced surface area of reflective mulches and amount of reflected light The percentage of aster yellows-infected plants was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in aluminum-foil and straw mulches and in the malathion spray plots compared to the untreated control. Results demonstrated that aluminum-foil and straw mulches gave control of aster leafhoppers and aster yellows in carrots equal to that of a conventional insecticide spray program.