Phenomenon of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Attack on Chili Plant (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Phenomenon of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Attacks on Chili Plant (Capsicum annuum L.). Thrips are insects that damage agricultural plants such as chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.). The attacks which was caused by the thrips starting from mild to severe attacks. In Jambi province there was not any report about the attacks phenomenon of thrips on chili plants. The research aimed to analyze the phenomenon of thrips attack on chili plant. The study was conducted by observing the attacks of thrips on the leaves chili plant. First, observations were done on 160 chili plants in the infested cage thrips which obtained from chili plantation, cucumbers and squash. Observations were carried out at the part of affected leaves, color, shape and location of the attack, leaf structure, chlorophyll content and the content of nitrogen, fats and carbohydrates of affected leaves. Besides, tests Elisa was also done on the affected leaves. Second, observations of thrips population and the attack percentage, as well as the abundance of predators were performed on 400 chili plants in the field experiment in Jambi University. The thrips attack was allowed to happen naturally without spraying plants by insecticide. Observations in captivity found that thrips attack occurs on the upper leaf surface, occurs at the base, the middle and the edges with silvery attack. Thrips attacks on chili plant lower chlorophyll content and damage the structure of the leaf cells. Levels of nitrogen, fats and carbohydrates of chili leaf which attacked by thrips were not significantly different from control leaves at the level of 5%. Elisa test results showed that the leaves were attacked by the thrips which derived from chili plantation and host plant do not contain Tospovirus. Results of research in the field shows that the population of thrips, the percentage of the attack and the abundance of insect predators of thrips fluctuate and the highest is at the age of 8 mst chili plants. There are 15 species of predatory thrips were found in the field experiment of Jambi University. The members of Sphecidae, Araneidae, Theridiidae and Coccinellidae were found mostly.