The effect of bare soil (control), transparent polyethylene mulch (TPM), floating row cover (FRC) and oil (petroleum and sunflower) sprays were evaluated for the population densities of aphids and whiteflies, as well as for virus incidence and fruit yield of cantaloup (Cucumis melo L. Cv. Primo). The study was carried out in a semi-arid tropic region of Colima, Mexico. Findings showed that TPM reduced aphids and whitefly populations, virus incidence, and increased export-quality fruit yield (1193 cartons/ha) with respect to the control treatment (871 cartons). FRC excluded insects while the plots were covered and also increased yield (1060 cartons/ha); with this last treatment, the appearance of virus diseased plants was delayed for two weeks with respect to bare soil. Petroleum oil sprays also reduced the virus incidence. However, they showed no effect on yield, while sunflower oil sprays had a negative effect on fruit yield and yielded lower than the control. This was related to toxicity caused to the cantaloup foliage.
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Mario et al. (1994) studied this question.
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