The predatory mite, Pronematus ubiquitus, curbs Aculops lycopersici damage under greenhouse conditions.
Biological control
alternative method
iolinid
sulphur
tomato
tomato russet mite
Journal
Pest management science
ISSN: 1526-4998
Titre abrégé: Pest Manag Sci
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100898744
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 Dec 2023
08 Dec 2023
Historique:
revised:
17
10
2023
received:
21
06
2023
accepted:
02
12
2023
medline:
8
12
2023
pubmed:
8
12
2023
entrez:
8
12
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is a major worldwide pest infesting tomato crops for which only few control methods are available. At present, no commercialized beneficial organism has proven to be an effective biological control agent of the pest. As there is a strong need to develop alternatives to synthetic insecticides, we assessed the efficacy of an iolinid mite, Pronematus ubiquitus, as a preventive method against A. lycopersici in comparison with a curative treatment in a replicated experiment in the greenhouse. After pre-establishment of P. ubiquitus supplied with cattail pollen, followed by infestation of A. lycopersici, the predator was able to reduce pest populations by 98% as compared with control plants. Probably due to lack of food and high temperature, the number of P. ubiquitus decreased during the season and so the Eriophyid population rose, along with crop damage. The sulphur treatment could stop the progress of A. lycopersici, but their population levels remained high. Pronematus ubiquitus has a great potential to prevent the establishment of the tomato russet mite. Even if a curative treatment affects the pest mite, the use of a preventive method is preferable as such insecticides/acaricides are harmful for beneficials and are applied after symptom appearance, when the pest pressure is already high. Despite the need to optimise management of the predator throughout the season, P. ubiquitus proved to be able to establish successfully on tomato plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is a major worldwide pest infesting tomato crops for which only few control methods are available. At present, no commercialized beneficial organism has proven to be an effective biological control agent of the pest. As there is a strong need to develop alternatives to synthetic insecticides, we assessed the efficacy of an iolinid mite, Pronematus ubiquitus, as a preventive method against A. lycopersici in comparison with a curative treatment in a replicated experiment in the greenhouse.
RESULTS
RESULTS
After pre-establishment of P. ubiquitus supplied with cattail pollen, followed by infestation of A. lycopersici, the predator was able to reduce pest populations by 98% as compared with control plants. Probably due to lack of food and high temperature, the number of P. ubiquitus decreased during the season and so the Eriophyid population rose, along with crop damage. The sulphur treatment could stop the progress of A. lycopersici, but their population levels remained high.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Pronematus ubiquitus has a great potential to prevent the establishment of the tomato russet mite. Even if a curative treatment affects the pest mite, the use of a preventive method is preferable as such insecticides/acaricides are harmful for beneficials and are applied after symptom appearance, when the pest pressure is already high. Despite the need to optimise management of the predator throughout the season, P. ubiquitus proved to be able to establish successfully on tomato plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.