Role of “Banker Plants” as a Green Innovation Technology in Integrated Management for Pectinophora gossypiella and Earias insulana in Egypt Cotton Fields

Mesbah, H.A., M.A. Massoud, M.B. El-Kady, Z.M. Henady and H.M. El-Bassouiny. 2024. Role of “Banker Plants” as a Green Innovation Technology in Integrated Management for Pectinophora gossypiella and Earias insulana in Egypt Cotton Fields. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(1): 113-119. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001213 This study tested the effectiveness of okra and corn as banker plants with Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatid) release as a green innovation technology for the sustainable management of cotton bollworms Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Earias insulana Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) in comparison to conventional chemical pesticides and the release of T. evanescens alone (control). Results showed that the use of okra and corn and the release of T. evanescens were more effective in decreasing the incidence of cotton bollworms in cotton fields than the conventional chemical pesticides or T. evanescens alone. The use of okra and corn encouraged the spread of bollworm natural enemies in the treated cotton fields, which had a large impact on the number of cotton bollworm larvae, thus reducing the need for conventional pesticides. Thus, banker plants combined with T. evanescens release can support agrobiodiversity and help realize the integrated management of the cotton bollworm and reduce the use of conventional chemical pesticides. Keywords: Banker plants; Trichogramma evanescens, natural enemies, bollworms; agrobiodiversity