Maize as a barrier crop in reducing aphids, the virus vector of chilli

M. N. Mohamad Roff and B. L. Ho

Abstract

The effects of two patterns of ananging maize plant as a barrier crop were studied. Intercropping chilli with maize and sunounding chilli with maize were compared with the control plot (chilli monocrop). The alate aphids were markedly reduced by intcrcropping chilli with maize. Reduction of alate aphid in the first and second trial was 65.1% and 59.6% respectively. Fruit weight and fruit number recorded, indicated that intercropping chilli with maize gave a significantly (p< 0.05) greater yield. This system also significantly reduced the incidence of viral diseases, probably due to the reductiono f alate aphids vector.

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