Protected cultivation involves growing crops in modified, protected environments to optimize growth and minimize stress. It provides benefits like off-season production, higher quality and yields, and less pest infestation. Major pests under protected cultivation include whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and mites. Integrated pest management strategies include prevention through exclusion, sanitation and cultural practices; early detection and monitoring; and curative measures like biological control using predators and parasitoids. Biological control agents have been shown to effectively control pests like aphids, whiteflies, and mites and reduce the need for pesticides.

1. Integrated Pest Management Under
Protected Cultivation
Dr. Mandeep Rathee

2. What is a Protected Cultivation ???
 Protected cultivation is the concept of growing potential crops in
the modified natural environment for ensuring optimum growth of
the crop plants without any or least stress (Mehta, 2012)
 Protected cultivation also known as controlled environment
agriculture (CEA) is highly productive, conservative of water and
land and also protective of the environment (Jensen, 2002)
By adopting protected cultivation technology, the growers can look
forward to a better and additional remuneration for high quality
produce

3. Importance of Protected Cultivation
 Off-season cultivation of vegetables/horticultural crops
 Better quality of harvested products
 The productivity of the crop increase manifolds (2-10 times)
 Less infestation of insects and disease
 Efficient use of resources such as land and water.
Types of protected structures
Walk in tunnel type
Low tunnel type
Green house/ polyhouse

4. Major crops grown under protected cultivation
Tomato

5. Major insect-pests infesting crops under protected cultivation
Insects Scientific name Host Reference
Cotton aphid Aphis (Aphis) gossypii
Glover
Capsicum Singh et al. (2004)
Chrysanthemum
aphid
Macrosiphoniella
sanborni (Gillette)
Chrysanthemum Reddy et al. (2008)
Strawberry aphid Myzus escalonicus
Doncaster
Strawberry Nagrare (2006)
Green peach aphid Myzus (Nectarosiphon)
persicae (Sulzer)
Capsicum, Gerbera Singh et al. (2004)
Sood et al. (2012)
Brown citrus aphid Aphis aurantii Boyer de
Fonscolombe
Orchid Nagrare (2004)
Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera
Hubner
Capsicum, tomato,
carnation
Cheema et al.
(2004)
Rani et al. (2002)
Sood et al. (2012)
Cut worm Spodoptera litura Fab. Rose, tomato,
capsicum, cucumber
Rani et al. (2002)
Sood et al. (2012)
Leaf-miner Liriomyza trifolii
(Burgess)
Tomato, cucumber,
gerbera, chrysanthemum
Tandon et al. (2002)

6. Insects Host Reference
Chill thrips Scitrtothrips dorsalis
Hood
Rose Rani and Sridhar (2003)
Melon
thrips
Thrips palmi Karny Gerbera Reddy et al. (2008)
Cotton
whitefly
Bemisia tabaci
(Gennadius)
Gerbera, capsicum Reddy et al. (2008)
Greenhouse
whitefly
Trialeurodes
Vaporariorum
(Westwood)
Tomato, cucumber,
capsicum, beans,
gerbera, and more than
30 hosts
Visalakshy et al. (2001)
Sood and Sood (2002)

7. Mites Scientific name Host Reference
Tomato russet mite Aceria lycopersici (Wolffenstein) Tomato Sood et al. (2012)
Broad mite/ yellow
tea mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) Capsicum Singh et al. (2004)
Reddy et al. (2008)
Sood et al. (2012)
Strawberry mite Phytonemus pallidus (Banks) Strawberry Singh et al. (2003)
Carnation mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval Carnation Valunj et al. (1999)
Red vegetable mite Tetranychus neocalidonicus Andre Cucumber Singh et al. (2003)
Bean spider mite Tetranychus ludeni Zacher Tomato,
cucumber
Anjana (2011)
Sood et al. (2012)

8. Integrated Pest Management strategies for protected cultivation
Preventive measures
Sampling and early detection
Curative measures
Yadav and Kaushik (2014)

9. I. PREVENTIVE MEASURES
 Exclusion
 Sanitation
 Cultural practices
Exclusion
Exclusion means keeping insects from entering the greenhouse by use of
physical barriers such as insect proof screens.
1.Use of Insect-proof nets
 This includes common greenhouse pests such as thrips, aphids, leaf miners
and whiteflies, but also some less common pests such as fruit borers. Screen
mesh of holes less than 200 micrometers is required for complete exclusion.
 Insect-proof screens 10x20 micron and 10x22 micron give adequate
exclusion of whiteflies T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci without impeding natural
enemy’s Diglyphus isaea (Walker) and Eretmocerus eremicus Rose &
Zolnerowich movement (Hanafi et al., 2016).

10. Insect-Pest
Hole size
(micron)
Mesh
(No. of threads per
linear inch)
Leafminer (L. trifoli) 610 34
Whitefly (B. tabaci) 462 42
Aphid (M. persicae) 340 52
Greenhouse whitefly
(T. vaporariorum)
290 58
Thrips (Thrips spp.) 192 76
Sood (2010)

11. • Even in properly screened and sealed
greenhouses, insect pests can enter or
can be sucked into the greenhouse
through the door as workers come and
go.
• So, in greenhouses with active
ventilation, an air-lock entrance room
is essential.
2. Provision of double door or safety access system (SAS)
It is also important to properly maintain
the exclusion devices. Repair holes or tears
immediately and clean screening to
maintain airflow.

12. UV part of the solar spectrum plays an important role in the ecological behavior of
insects, including orientation, navigation, feeding and interaction between the sexes.
 UV-absorbing plastic roofs showed the most pronounced deterrent effect for thrips
(Nguyen et al., 2009).
 The use of UV-A films also helped in reducing the number of insecticide applications by
50-80% for the management of Spodoptera litura Fab. (Sood, 2010).
 UV blocking PE films found very effective in reducing the no. of injured fruit in tomato
and produces higher yield in comparison to other covering material (Papaioannou et al.,
2012)
3. Use of Ultra-violet blocking materials

13. 4. Use of reflective or metalized mulches
• Primarily for the repelling effects
on certain insects
• Metalized mulch was effective in
reducing silverleaf whitefly
entrance by 90%.
• The combination of screening and
metalized mulch should be used
together and will provide the
greatest total reduction of whitefly
entry (Robert and Richard , 2015)
• Complete mulching of the
greenhouse floor preventing
weeds and acting as mechanical
barrier to certain insect
(leafminers, thrips, and other
lepidopteran pests) life stages
preventing them from moving to
the soil for pupation.

14. Sanitation
Sanitation involves the removal of both infested materials and
potential sources of infestation, followed by disinfection of
surfaces.
 Use of clean planting material
 Keep doors, screens and ventilators in good repair.
 Use clean or sterile soils or ground media. Clean or sterilize
tools, flats and other equipment.
 Maintain a clean, closely mowed area around the greenhouse
to reduce invasion by pests that develop in weeds outdoors.
 Eliminate pools of standing water on floors. Algal and moss
growth in these areas can be sources of fungus gnat and shore
fly problems.
 Dispose of trash, boards and old plant debris in the area.
 Remove all plants and any plant debris, clean the greenhouse
thoroughly after each production cycle.
 Eliminate infestations by discarding or removing heavily
infested plants.

15. Many cultural practices can help reduce insect
populations such as
• Good weed control
• Training and pruning of plants helps to remove
leafminer infestation.
• Managing irrigation to avoid leaks and excessive
moisture aids in control of fungus gnats.
• Removal of highly infested plants
Cultural Practices
Weeds inside the greenhouse Proper Water drainage from Poly houses
Pruning of leaves
(GAP Bulletin NCIPM, 2010)

16. Scouting and early detection are critical to successful
insect control. Purposefully inspect plants one to two
times per week to check for developing insect
problems.
• Visual observations (By using hand lens 10x for
mites)
• Sweep-net sampling
• Trapping (Yellow sticky traps and Pheromone
traps can be used for trapping insects.
Scouting records
II. Early detection and sampling

17. Observe for…..
Aphids
Honeydew or sooty mold
Distortion of new growth
Curling of leaves
Casted-off skins on leaf
Chlorotic (yellow) spots on upper
leaf surface
Yellow mite
Distortion of new growth
Curling of leaves
Spider mite
Webbing on leaves/ flowers
Thrips
 Small black spots on leaves (fecal
drops)
 Buds fail to open or uneven opening
of flowers
 Chlorotic (yellow) spots on upper
leaf surface
Whiteflies
Distortion of new growth
Chlorotic (yellow) spots on upper
leaf surface
Caterpillars
Holes/skeletonized spot in/ on leaves
Frass on leaves
Sood (2010)

18. Aphids trapped on sticky trap
Mass trapping with yellow sticky traps

19. Overall mean population of whiteflies and thrips on yellow sticky card from biocontrol
agents released (BCGH) and conventional insecticide sprayed (CIGH) green houses
Ayalew (2016)

20. Pest Predator Parasitoid Entomopathogens
Mites Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-
Henriot,
Neoseiulis cucumeris (Oudemans)
Orius laevigatus
- -
Whitefly Orius laevigatus (Fieber),
Chrysoperla spp.
Eretmocerus mundus
Mercet,
Encarsia formosa
Gahan
Akanthomyces lecanii
(Zimm.) Spatafora, Kepler
& B.Shrestha [=Verticillium
lecanii (Zimm.) Viegas],
Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-
Criv.) Vuill.
Thrips O. laevigatus, N. cucumeris - -
Leaf miner - D. isaea Bacillus thuringiensis
Berliner
Aphids O. laevigatus,
Chrysoperla spp.
Apidoletes aphidomyza (Rondani)
Aphidus colemani
Viereck,
Aphidus matricarae
Haliday
-
Caterpillars
(Spodoptera spp.)
Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) Trichogramma spp. Bacillus thuringiensis,
SlNPV, HaNPV
GAP Bulletin NCIPM (2010)
1. Biological control
III. CURATIVE MEASURES

21. Biocontrol agents of Whitefly

22. Parasitic wasp
Aphelinus
abdominalis
(Dalman)
• Parasitizes a
wide-range of
aphid species
• Can tolerate
higher tempera-
tures than most
Aphidius
species
• Slower to
establish than
Aphidius
species
Parasitic wasp
Aphidius colemani
Viereck
• Parasitizes
smaller aphids
such as green
peach and melon
aphid
• Can be reared
using banker
plants (oat or
wheat) infested
with bird-cherry
oat aphid (use a
minimum of 4
banker plants per
acre)
Green lacewing
Chrysoperla
carnea
(Stephens)
• Larvae feed
primarily on
aphids but may
also feed on
mealybugs.
• Can consume
up to 425
aphids per
week
Predatory gall
midge
Aphidoletes
aphidimyza
(Rondani)
•Larval stages
prey on all aphid
species
encountered in
greenhouses
•Primarily active
at night
•Mainly used
against high
aphid
populations
Two spotted
ladybird beetle
Adalia
bipunctata
(L.)
•Both larvae and
adult feed on
many different
aphid species
•Adults typically
attempt to leave
the greenhouse
after release.
Therefore, make
releases in the
evening
Biocontrol agents of Aphids

23. •Adults may kill up
to 30 prey,
including western
flower thrips
pupae or fungus
gnat larvae, per
day
•Feed on larvae and
adults of western
flower thrips
•May also feed on
aphids and
whiteflies
•More expensive
than using
Neoseiulus
cucumeris
•Most widely used
predatory mite for
western flower
thrips
•Feeds on the 1st
instar larvae.
•Make releases
early in the crop
production cycle
•Feeds on both 1st
and 2nd instar
larvae.
•Tolerates higher
temperatures than
Neoseiulus
cucumeris
•Will also feed on the
eggs and nymphs of
whiteflies
•Feeds on pollen in
the absence of prey
Swirski mite
Amblyseius swirskii
Athias-Henriot
Cucumeris mite
Neoseiulus cucumeris
(Oudemans)
Minute pirate bug
Orius spp.
Soil predatory mite
Stratiolaelaps scimitus
Womersley
Biocontrol agents of Thrips

24. •Feeds on
alternative
prey if two-
spotted spider
mites are
absent
•Active at
temperatures
between 43
and 46° F
•Slower acting
than other
predatory
mites such as
Phytoseiulus
persimilis
•More effective
at higher
temperatures
and a lower
relative
humidity
•Tolerates
cooler
temperature
than most
predatory
mites.
•Feeds on
pollen in the
absence of
prey
•Both larvae
and adults
feed on all
life stages
of two-
spotted
spider
mites.
•Main
predatory
mite used
against the
two-spotted
spider mite
•At optimal
temperatures,
develops
twice as fast
as two-
spotted spider
mite
•Smaller than
Phytoseiulus
persimilis
•Most
effective at
higher
temperatures
and a relative
humidity
between 40
and 80%
Biocontrol agents of two-spotted mites

25. Efficacy of Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for suppression of A.
gossypii in greenhouse-grown chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum morifolium_x Ramat was
compared with a pesticide standard, imidacloprid (Marathon 1% G) and an untreated check.
No significant differences were found between aphid populations in the two treatments. A.
colemani and imidacloprid kept aphid numbers very low, in contrast to the untreated plants.
Parasitism levels in A. colemani plots ranged from 48.93 to 83.38% (Gissella et al., 2006).
Populations of aphelinid parasitoids (Eretmocerus sp., Encarsia Formosa Gahan) and
predators, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) were able to control pest on tomato, cucumber
and ornamental crops grown in greenhouses. Parasitism of the whiteflies, T. vaporariorum
and Bemisia tabaci was as high as 85% to 96%. Natural enemies released also effectively
suppressed aphid populations in tomato and cabbage crops. Egg parasitism of the cabbage
butterfly, Pieris rapae (L.), and tomato fruit borer, H. armigera, by Trichogramma sp.
was78% to 95% on an average (Zheng et al., 2004).
Efficiency of predator Chrysoperla carnea second instar larvae were estimated against A.
gossypii, M. persicae, Bemisia tabaci at three different rates (3, 5 and 7 larvae / plant) on
cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) under greenhouse conditions. The promising and best results
were obtained after 21 days from releasing larvae @ 5 larvae/plant, reduction in populations
of aphids and whitefly by 73.9 and 83.07%, respectively (Younes et al., 2012).

26. Efficiency of 2nd instar larvae of C. carnea in reducing aphid and whitefly populations
oncantaloupe plants under greenhouse at indicated days after releasing.
Younus et al. (2012)

27. Relative frequency of the parasitoid species on bell pepper grown under greenhouse
conditions in Palampur
Three species of hymenopteran parasitoids were reared from M. persicae from this source:
Aphelinus asychis Walker (Aphelinidae), Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Braconidae), and
Aphidius ervi (Haliday) (Braconidae), with parasitism rates per sample date ranging from 2.3–
38.6%, 4.8–58.2%, and 2.9–28.4%, respectively.
Gavkare et al. (2013)

28. Efficacy of botanicals and mycopathogens against the spider mites and aphids infesting
rose under polyhouse condition
(Kumar and Nandihalli, 2009)

29. Target pests Chemicals References
Mites
Diafenthiuron, Fenpyroximate, Abamectin
@ 0.5 ml/L
Shah and Shukla (2014)
Thrips,
Whiteflies,
Aphids
Imidacloprid @ 0.4g/L, Acephate @ 1g/L or
Acetamiprid @ 0.2g/L, Abamectin @ 0.5
ml/L, Phosphamidon 0.2 mL
Kaur and Singh (2013)
Kumar and Poehling (2007)
Sabir (2012)
Leaf miner Spinosad @ 0.3ml/L , Abamectin @ 0.5ml/L Sabir et al. (2010)
Caterpillars
Spinosad, Chlorantraniliprole @ 0.3ml/L,
Flubendiamide @ 0.1ml/L
Sabir et al. (2010)
3. Chemical Control

30. Effect of biopesticides on the incidence of mites in greenhouse
Sabir et al. (2011)

31. The studies on efficacy of some insecticides and botanicals against sucking
pests on capsicum under net house resulted in significantly low aphid
counts/plant (0.76-1.05) in treatments Asataf (Acephate) 75 SP @ 0.10% and
neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) soap @ 1.0%. Significantly low chilli thrips
counts /top canopy/plant (0.03-0.06) were recorded in treatments Confidor 17.8
SL (imidacloprid) @ 0.05% followed by Asataf (acephate) 75 SP @ 0.10% .
And significantly lower mean yellow mite rating (2.42-2.45) was recorded in
treatment Decis 2.8 EC @ 0.05 % (Kaur and Singh, 2013)
In chrysanthemum, Combined treatment of phosphamidon and cypermethrin
was the most effective for the key pests, viz. aphid, Macrosiphoniella and
Spodoptera caterpillar. Efficacy of caterpillar management by spinosad 11.6%
SC increased after three days of application (94.44%) In aphid control, the
agricultural spray oil @ 0.50% showed very effective result (Sabir et al., 2012).

32. •Successful management of greenhouse pests can be
done by using earlier described integrated approach.
•Such type of integrated approach found ecologically
safe to non-target organisms
•Successful control has been achieved in case of thrips,
greenhouse whitefly and Spodoptera caterpillar.
Conclusion

33. Thank you