Bush Basil Can Help Protect Green Beans from Pests, Study Finds

The American Chemical Society reported on a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that suggests growing bush basil near green beans can help protect them from spider mites. Although researchers tested six types of basil, only bush basil increased the crop plants’ activity in a defense-related gene. In addition, the primary VOCs emitted by bush basil attracted the natural enemies of spider mites. In lab tests, green beans, tomatoes, and soybeans had less damage from spider mites when grown with bush basil nearby. In field trials, green bean plants within 1 meter of bush basil plants had substantially fewer pests and less damage to their leaves than green beans that were around 4 meters away from the herbs.
Related ATTRA publication: Companion Planting & Botanical Pesticides: Concepts & Resources