Pemanfaatan tanaman pembatas pinggir dan predator Coccinellidae untuk pengendalian kutukebul Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), vektor begomovirus pada pertanaman cabai merah (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important pest on chillipepper due to its role as a vector of Begomovirus, the causal agent of yellow leaf curl disease. Many efforts has been undergone to suppress disease incidence, such as through controlling insect vector, B. tabaci. The objective of the research were to study the effect of border crops in chillipepper plantation on population of B. tabaci and incidence of yellow leaf curl disease as well as abundance and effectiveness of predator species. Field experiment was conducted using randomized completed design. Two seedling treatments (with and without cover), were combined with 4 border treatments i.e. maize, crotalaria (Fabaceae), chiffon fabric and non border. The potency of predator species was evaluated by conducting 3 consequtive assays, i.e. predation, prey preference and functional response assay. The results showed that the use of covered seedling was able to protect the seedling from B. tabaci and delay virus infection for 2 weeks. Population of B. tabaci was significantly lower in plot with combination of border crops and covered seedling. Correlation between population of B. tabaci and disease incidence was positif (r = 0.925), where as correlation between disease incidence and yield crop was negative (r = - 0.8886). Border crops especially maize could enhance the abundance of predator species with the most predators commonly found species were Menochilus sexmaculatus, Coccinella transversalis and Verania lineata. The predator species which have highest potency as natural enemy to control B. tabaci are V. lineata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)