Influences of vermicompost on host preference, development, and performance of the cabbage aphid pests, Myzus persicae and Brevicoryne brassicae

Vermicompost is the product of earthworm digestion and has been shown to increase plant growth and production, as well as, resistance to a variety of arthropod pests. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate both the preference and performance of two cabbage pests: the specialist Brevicoryne brassicae and the generalist Myzus persicae on cabbage grown in commercial potting media amended with food based vermicompost. Plants were grown in a commercial potting mix amended with 0 (control), 20, 30, 40 and 60 % vermicompost. Feeding preference was evaluated for apterae (wingless) adults in leaf disc choice assays conducted in petri dish arenas. Aphids were released in the middle of the arena where the discs were placed equidistant from the center of the petri dish and each other. Apterae colonization ability was determined by confining 5 newly emerged apterae to a single plant and allowing them to feed and reproduce for 14 days.

Key Words: Vermicompost, cabbage, plant resistance, Brevicoryne, Myzus, plant-insect interactions