Parthenocarpic cucumber cultivar susceptibility varies among common high tunnel insect and mite pests.

Abstract

High tunnels (HTs) are a protected agriculture tool used by specialty crop farmers. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativa L.) are well suited for HT production because of their vertical growth habit, allowing for space optimization, and repeated flowering, providing multiple harvest opportunities. However, twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch; TSSM), striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum Fabricius), and melon aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) are common pests of cucumbers in HT systems, limiting production. The unique environment of HTs lacks regulation of temperatures, which can reach high levels during summer, facilitating the rapid development of pests. Here, we present results from a field study evaluating the susceptibility of cucumber cultivars to the most common insect pests in high tunnel production systems. Cucumbers were grown in HTs at three locations in Indiana, along a north-south gradient. Cultivar susceptibility was evaluated across 10 cultivars, each replicated within a single tunnel in a randomized complete block design. Our result showed that "Excelsior" and "Socrates" exhibited the lowest susceptibility to aphids. "Quirk" exhibited the lowest susceptibility to striped cucumber beetles. Cultivars including "China Long," "Itachi," and "Tasty Jade" exhibited low susceptibility to twospotted spider mites. This research highlights the impact of cultivar selection on insect pests in cucumber production, especially under high tunnel conditions.