Particle Film Technology: A Pesticide-free Strategy for European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) Management in Bell Pepper

Bell pepper production is significantly constrained by insect pests, particularly the European corn borer (ECB), which causes severe yield loss. Effective control of ECB is challenging because larvae rapidly bore into plant tissues after hatching, limiting the efficacy of conventional insecticides. To address this issue, we conducted a field study to determine the effectiveness of kaolin clay as an eco-friendly alternative to insecticides to minimize ECB infestation and improve bell pepper yield. The treatments included kaolin application duration (6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks) and bell pepper cultivars (‘Captain’, ‘Alliance’, and ‘Orange Blaze’) randomized in a complete block design. The maximum efficacy in insect management was observed with the 15-week kaolin application, resulting in a 35% reduction in ECB incidence in the cultivar ‘Captain’. Kaolin application over 15 weeks significantly reduced ECB infestation while increasing fruit yield. Kaolin application reduced the ECB egg, larval, and adult populations by 69%, 56%, and 58%, respectively, relative to untreated controls. Weekly kaolin applications maintained for 12 weeks reduced flower drop by 20% and increased fruit set by 17%, resulting in a 20% increase in marketable fruit yield of ‘Captain’. The increased yield in “Captain” at 12 and 15 weeks was a result of both the combined effect of reducing insect infestation and exhibiting enhanced photosynthetic performance and other physiological responses. Overall, these results suggest that kaolin clay applied for 12 weeks is a promising and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides to reduce ECB infestation and improve bell pepper productivity, with ‘Captain’ appearing as the best-performing cultivar among those tested.