Modelling Herbivore Feeding Effects on Vegetables and peppers

ABSTRACT

The study modelled the effects of different feeding effects of herbivores on Corchorus olitorius and Capsicum annum. Thirty polyethylene pots were set up for each crop in the screen house of the Botanical Garden, University of ilorin. Each crop plant were sown using seeds. Three weeks after planting (3 WAP), the defoliation patterns of all  leaf removal (ALR), Half leaf removal (HLR) and perforation of all leaves (PFL) were made for Corchorus olitorius with the aid of scissors and perforator. Two weeks after transplanting (2WAT), Capsicum annum followed similar defoliation patterns. The results showed Corchorus olitorius and Capsicum annum growth were reduced in ALR and PFL. The results showed ALR of Corchorus olitorius is significantly different because the growth and photosynthetic pigments were reduced as compared with control, HLR and PFL. The HLR showed similar growth with the control but decrease in photosynthetic pigments than the control, ALR and PFL. The PFL crop was moderate in both growth and photosynthetic pigments. The HLR of Capsicum annum showed favourable growth but also the reduction in photosynthetic pigments. The HLR produced flowers despite the reduction in the length of leaves. The ALR showed poor growth and photosynthetic pigments as compared to control, HLR and PFL. The PFL showed favourable photosynthetic pigments but poor growth as compared with control and HLR. In conclusion, the HLR showed high growth but low photosynthetic pigments in both crops since the surface is responsible for trapping solar irradiation and CO2 uptake, while the ALR showed poor growth and low photosynthetic pigments in both crops and the PFL showed poor growth and high photosynthetic pigments in both Corchorus and Capsicum. However, there may be need to prevent the two crops from pests.