The knowledge of the spatiotemporal dynamics of pathogens and their vectors is an important step in determining the pathogen dispersion pattern and the role of vectors in disease dynamics. However, in the case of mango wilt little is known about its spatiotemporal dynamics and the relationship of its vector [the beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Stebbing 1914)] to these dynamics. The aim of this work was to determine the spatial-seasonal dynamic of H. mangiferae attacks and mango wilt in mango orchards and to verify the importance of H. mangiferae in the spatiotemporal dynamics of the disease. Two mango orchards were monitored during a period of 3 yr. The plants in these orchards were georeferenced and inspected monthly to quantify the number of plants attacked by beetles and the fungus. In these orchards, the percentage of mango trees attacked by beetles was always higher than the percentage infected by the fungus. The colonization of mango trees by beetles and the fungus occurred by colonization of trees both distant and proximal to previously attacked trees. The new plants attacked by the fungus emerged in places where the beetles had previously begun their attack. This phenomenon led to a large overlap in sites of beetle and fungal occurrence, indicating that establishment by the beetle was followed by establishment by the fungus. This information can be used by farmers to predict disease infection, and to control bark beetle infestation in mango orchards.
The pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), is an important pest of tomato crops worldwide. Conventional sampling plans are the starting point for the development of pest control decision-making. The present study aimed to develop a conventional sampling plan for L. huidobrensis during the vegetative and reproductive stages of tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.). The best sampling unit for vegetative and reproductive stages of tomato crops was determined. The frequency distributions of L. huidobrensis densities in tomato crops were assessed, and the ideal number of samples to constitute the sampling plan was determined. The basal leaf of the middle section of the plant canopy was the best plant part for sampling. Pea leafminer densities were fitted to the negative binomial distribution with a common aggregation parameter (Kcommon = 0.7289) that represents all tomato fields. The sampling plan consists of 73 samples per field, irrespective of field size (1, 5, or 10 ha). Evaluations using this sampling plan were performed in 47 min, 1 h 9 min, and 1 h 25 min at a cost of US$1.74, US$2.54, and US$3.12 per sampling in fields of 1, 5, and 10 ha, respectively. The sampling plan developed in this study may lead to more well-informed decision-making for controlling L. huidobrensis in tomato fields up to 10 ha. Additionally, it is inexpensive (up to US$3.12 per sampling area), fast (up to 1 h 25 min per sampling area), and practical (it can be used in tomato crops at the vegetative and reproductive stages).
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