Evaluation of companion crops for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) management on French bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae) J. Kasina 1 *, J. Nderitu 1 *, G. Nyamasyo 2 , F. Olubayo 1 , C. Waturu 3 , E. Obudho 1 and D. Yobera 1 † 1 Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya: 2 Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya: 3 National Fibre Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 298, Kerugoya, Kenya (Accepted 19 April 2006) Abstract. Six companion crops, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L., Coriandrum sativum L., Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. and Zea mays L., were evaluated for their efficacy in suppressing field populations of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom on French bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. Each companion crop was interplanted with French beans in a 3 £ 10 m plot and replicated three times in a completely randomized block design. The thrips populations on French bean flowers in experimental plots were compared with those on beans treated with two insecticides: L-cyhalothrin (Karate 1.75% EC) and methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) or untreated (control). Coriandrum sativum, Z. mays and T. erecta are recommended as companion crops for intercropping with French beans to reduce populations of thrips and hence minimize the use of chemical insecticides on this crop. Key words: companion crops, intercropping, Frankliniella occidentalis, Megalurothrips sjostedti, Phaseolus vulgaris Re ´sume ´. Six plantes associe ´es, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L., Coriandrum sativum L., Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. et Zea mays L., ont e ´te ´e ´value ´es pour leur capacite ´a ` contro ˆ ler les populations naturelles de Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) et Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom sur le haricots vert Phaseolus vugaris L. Chaque plante a e ´te ´ plante ´e en alternance avec des haricots verts dans des parcelles de 3 £ 10 m, a ´ raison de trois re ´pe ´titions par plante dans un bloc comple ´tement ale ´atoire. Les populations de trips pre ´sentes sur les fleurs de haricots verts dans les diffe ´rentes parcelles expe ´rimentales ont e ´te ´ compare ´es a ´ celles de haricots verts traite ´s avec deux insecticides L-cyhalothrin (Karate 1,75% EC) et methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) et, un te ´moin. Les re ´sultats montrent que C. Sativum, Z. mays et T. erecta sont les meilleures plantes associe ´es pour re ´duire l’utilisation des insecticides. * E-mail: nderitu@nbnet.co.ke and jkasina@yahoo.com † Author deceased International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 121–125, 2006 DOI: 10.1079/IJT2006105 q ICIPE 2006 https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT2006105 Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Nairobi, on 08 Mar 2017 at 11:08:09, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms.