Geranium macrorrhizum , a potential novel companion plant affecting preference and performance of Myzus persicae on sweet pepper

The combination of a companion plant with a cultivated plant is considered an interesting strategy to reduce pest pressure and, hence, the use of pesticides. Although several plants from the Alliaceae and Lamiaceae families are known to be efficient companion plants against aphid pests, only a few plants of the Geraniaceae family have been studied so far. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential effects of Geranium macrorrhizum as a companion plant on the colonization of sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum , Solanaceae) by the green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae ). Aphid’s orientation behavior, probing behavior and life history traits were assessed on sweet pepper using a host choice preference setup, Electrical Penetration Graph technique and clip-cage laboratory bioassays, respectively. The potential disturbance through mechanical stimulation of geranium leaves was also assessed. The composition of VOCs from G. macrorrhizum leaves was analyzed using SPME technic followed by GC–MS. This study revealed that G. macrorrhizum as a companion plant was intrinsically repellent but not enough to completely mask the attractive odor of the sweet pepper host plant. Moreover, G. macrorrhizum negatively impacted the probing behavior, fecundity and survival rate of M. persicae on sweet pepper. The effects were exacerbated when G. macrorrhizum leaves were mechanically stimulated. This could be due to the greater amount of the main VOCs germacrone and β-elemenone emitted by G. macrorrhizum following mechanical stimulation. Our results bring new insights into the use of novel companion plants to regulate aphid pest populations.