Abstract
Agricultural covering materials were applied to the control of Thrips palmi KARNY in the eggplant growing in a plastic house.
1) Covering the entire mulching row with transparent plastic film kept thrips density at a low level, as compared with that of the control, and the effect lasted long after removing the film for fertilizing. The film raised the air and soil temperature 1 to 2°C all day, and fruits were superior in quality to those of the control.
2) Covering both sides of the plastic house with cheesecloth prevented the invasion of thrips effectively. The cheesecloth raised the air temperature 5.3°C at maximum by day since the beginning of ventilation, and fruits were inferior in quality to those of the control.
3) From the foregoing results, the covering of the entire mulching surface and the cheesecloth covering made subsequent fertilizing difficult, resulted in higher in-house temperatures, but proved to be an effective protection.
