Planting in association with Cempoalxochitl (Tagetes erecta) decreases thrip density in gladiolus crops
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536X.v32.e323113Keywords:
Crop association, Gladiolus grandiflorus, Tagetes erecta, thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)Abstract
The gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) is a cut flower of great economic, social, and cultural importance that is widely appreciated for its striking colors and morphology. Thrips are one of the main pests for production, increasing management costs and decreasing flower quality. Thrips are mainly controlled with synthetic insecticides, but associated planting has been a promising area of management alternatives. In this study, we evaluated the effect of association of gladiolus with cempoalxochitl on thrip population density under three planting treatments: gladiolus monoculture (GM), cempoalxochitl monoculture (CM), association of one row of cempoalxochitl with one row of gladiolus (1C-1G), and one row of cempoalxochitl with two rows of gladiolus (1C-2G). We counted thrips captured in yellow traps placed at random throughout each treatment over the full summer growing cycle. Thrips were present throughout the cycle in all treatments. However, the gladiolus grown in associated planting treatments (1C-1G and 1C-2G) had lower thrip density, lower area under the incidence progress curve, and higher flower quality than the Gladiolus grown monoculture (GM). The association of these two ornamental crops is a sustainable control option given the preference of thrips for Tagetes erecta and its potential to host thrips’ natural enemies. The results are a starting point for integrating thrip management measures for the development of sustainable ornamental horticulture.
Downloads
References
ATAKAN, E. Predatory insect species, and patterns of abundance of two common thrips species (Thysanoptera) and their predators on common crops. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, v.22, n.3, p.e1004, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2024223-20899
BARUAH, R.; BORA, S. Evaluation of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) cultivars for performance and correlation in vegetative, floral and multiplication characters under paired row system. Current Horticulture, v.1, n.10, p.45-47, 2022. https://doi.org/0.5958/2455-7560.2022.000097
CARRIZO, P.; GASTELU, C.; LONGONI, P.; KLASMAN, R. Especies de trips (INSECTA: Thysanopthe: Thripidae) en las flores de ornamentales. Idesia, v.26, n.1, p.83-86, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-34292008000100012
CAVALLERI, A.; MOUND, L.A. Toward the identification of Frankliniella species in Brazil (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa, v.3270, n.1, p.1-30, 2012. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3270.1.1
SANTOS, P.C.e.; GRANERO, F.O.; BRONZEL JUNIOR, J.L.; PAVARINI, R.; PAVARINI, G.M.P.; CHORILLI, M.; ZAMBOM, C.R.; SILVA, L.P..; SILVA, R.M.G.da. Insecticidal activity of Tagetes erecta and Tagetes patula extracts and fractions free and microencapsulated. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, v.45, p.102511, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2022.102511
FABRICK, J.A.; YOOL, A.J.; SPURGEON, D.W. Insecticidal activity of marigold Tagetes patula plants and foliar extracts against the hemipteran pests, Lygus hesperus and Bemisia tabaci. PLoS ONE, v.15, n.5, p.e0233511, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0233511
HANIM, C.; ANAM, M.S.; YUSIATI, L.M.; AL ANAS, M. Utilization of marigold leaves (Tagetes erecta L.) in rations and their effect on rumen enzyme activity, fermentation parameters, methane emission, and nutrient digestibility in vitro. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, v.10, n.4, p.782-793, 2023. http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2023.j734
KAR, S.; PATRA, S.A. Review on Marigold (Tagetes erecta Linn): the Phytochemicals Present and its Biological activities. Prayogik Rasayan, v.6, n.4, p.50-58, 2022. http://doi.org/10.53023/p.rasayan-20221220
KUMARI, P.; THAKUR, N.; KUMARI, G. Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.): Insight into Conservation, Agrotechniques, Breeding Methodology and Prospects. In: WANI, M.A., AL-KHAYRI, J.M., JAIN, S.M. (eds)
Breeding of Ornamental Crops: Bulbous Flowers. Cham: Springer, 2025. p.381-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-77900-8_10
LEWIS, T. Thrips as crop pests. London: CABI, 1997. 736p. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859699217534
MADDEN, L.V.; HUGHES, G.; VAN DEN BOSCH, F. The study of plant disease epidemics. Saint Paul: CABI, 2017. 421p. https://doi.org/10.1094/9780890545058
MUSHTAQ, S.; TAK, H.; SHEIKH, J.H.; MALIK, I.M.; UROOJ-UN- NISA, U. Plant parasitic nematode management using antagonistic plants as a potential substitute to hazardous chemical control – a review. International Journal of Pest Management, p.1–11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2024.2399069
PIÑA, H.L.D.; SÁNCHEZ-PALE, J.R.; CASTAÑEDA-VILDÓZOLA, A.; FRANCO-MORA, O.; CONTRERAS-RENDÓN, A.; PIÑA, DE J.E.; AYALA, V.A.E. Differences in thrips population density under different spatial arrangements of Mexican marigold and tomatillo. Southwestern Entomologist, v.48, n.1, p.221-230, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.048.0122
QURESHI, A.A.; AKHTAR, M.F.; QURESHI, U.S.; ZIAF, K. Manipulating integrated pest management technique by using marigold intercropping and foliar vegetable extracts in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) crop. Journal Plant Production Sustainable, v.1, n.1, p.50-60, 2025. https://jplantps.org/index.php/jpps/article/view/5
REID, M.S. Produce facts gladiolus. recommendations for maintaining postharvest quality, 2023. Available at: https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/es/produce-facts-sheets/gladiolo. Accessed on: January 13th 2026.
RODRÍGUEZ, D.; COY-BARRERA, E. Overview of Updated Control Tactics for Western Flower Thrips. Insects, v.14, n.7, p.649, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14070649
SIAP (Sistema de información Agricolas y Percuaria). Listo el abasto de flores ornamentales ante demanda por el 14 de febrero, 2023b. Available at: https://www.gob.mx/agricultura/prensa/listo-el-abasto-de-flores-ornamentales-ante-demanda-por-el-14-de-febrero?idiom=es#:~:text=Indicó%20que%20el%20avance%20de,en%20 el%20Estado%20de%20México. Accessed on: February 12th 2026.
SISTEMA DE INFORMACIÓN AGRICOLA Y PECUARIA (SIAP). Anuario del Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera, 2023a. Available at: https://www.gob.mx/agricultura/dgsiap. Accessed on: February 12th 2026.
SRIDHAR, V.; NAIK, S.O.; SWATHI, P.; MANI, M. Pests and Their Management in Ornamental Plants. In: MANI, M. (ed) Trends in Horticultural Entomology. Singapore: Springer,. 2022. p.1189-1237. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0343-4_52
SWAIN, C.K.; PRADHAN, M.; MOHANTY, P.K.; SARKAR, S.; MUDULI, J.; MONDAL, T.; SAHOO, R.K.; MOHAPATRA, K.K.; MOHANTY, S. Sustainable utilization of marigold (Tagetes spp.) waste: A review on its agricultural, industrial, and environmental potential. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, v.28, p.891–906, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-026-02490-x
UN/ECE. STANDARD FOR GLADIOLI H-7 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of fresh cut, 1994. Available at: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trade/agr/standard/flowers/flower_e/h7gladio. pdf. Accessed on: February 20th 2026.
VALENCIA-BOTÍN, A.J.; PADILLA-HERNÁNDEZ, A.; RUÍZ-SÁNCHEZ, E. Efecto insecticida del extracto acuoso de cempasúchil (Tagetes erecta) y orégano cubano (Coleus amboinicus) en mosquita blanca (Bemisia tabaci). Avances en Investigación Agropecuaria, v.28, n.1, p.20-21, 2024. http://doi.org/10.53897/RevAIA.24.28.18
ZHANG, C.-R.; LIU, M.; BAN, F.-X.; SHANG, X.-L.; LIU, S.-L.; MAO, T.-T.; ZHANG, X.-Y.; ZHI, J.-R. Establishment of a faba bean banker plant system with predator Orius strigicollis for the control of Thrips Dendrothrips minowai on tea plants under laboratory conditions. Insects, v.12, n.5, p.397, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12050397
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 José de Jesús Romero Cortez, Alma Delia Hernández Milpa, Miguel Angel Gonzalez Brito, Jesús Ricardo Sánchez Pale, Alvaro Castañeda Vildózola, Omar Franco Mora
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
