Effect of two pepper cultivars on biological and population growth parameters of Myzus persicae and functional response of Chrysoperla carnea in two soil and hydroponic cultivation systems

In this study, the biological and population growth parameters of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer and the functional response of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens were investigated on two pepper cultivars (Jalapeno and Elegant) in two soil and hydroponic cultivation systems at 25±2 ˚C, 65±5 % RH and 16:8 (L:D) h. The highest values of intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0) of the aphid were estimated on Jalapeno in soil cultivation (0.281d-1 and 62.89 per generation, resp.) and the lowest values were on Elegantin in hydroponic cultivation (0.174 d-1 and 34.14 per generation, resp.). The third instar larvae of C. carnea exhibited functional response type II on all treatments. The attack rate (a) of predator varied from 0.0422 to 0.0674 h-1 and handling time (Th) ranged from 0.1915 to 0.2191 h on different treatments. The results revealed that cultivar Jalapeno in soil cultivation system, with the highest r value, is a relatively desirable cultivar for the growth and feeding of M. persicae. In contrast, cultivar Elegant in hydroponic cultivation system with the lowest value of r is less desirable for M. persicae. Also, according to the results of functional response, Elegant and Jalapeno in hydroponic cultivation, compared to the soil cultivation system, have more suitable quality for biological control of this pest.