No abstract

The in vitro antifungal activity of various generally recognized as safe (GRAS) salts against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of citrus postharvest anthracnose, was evaluated as mycelial growth reduction on potato dextrose agar (PDA) dishes amended with salt aqueous solutions at different concentrations. The most effective treatments [0.2% ammonium carbonate (AC), 2% potassium sorbate (PS), 0.2% potassium carbonate (PC), 0.1% sodium methylparaben (SMP), 0.1% sodium ethylparaben (SEP), 2% sodium benzoate (SB) and 2% potassium silicate (PSi)] were selected as antifungal ingredients of composite edible coatings formulated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-beeswax (BW) matrixes. Stable coatings containing these salts were applied in in vivo curative experiments to “Nadorcott” mandarins and “Valencia” oranges artificially inoculated with C. gloeosporioides and those containing 2% PS, 2% SB and 2% PSi were the most effective to reduce anthracnose severity with respect to control fruit (up to 70% on mandarins). The effect of these selected coatings on the quality of non-inoculated and cold-stored “Valencia” oranges was determined after 28 and 56 days at 5 °C and 90% RH, followed by 7 days of shelf life at 20 °C. None of the coatings significantly reduced weight loss of coated oranges, but they modified their internal atmosphere, increasing the CO2 content. Overall, the coatings did not adversely affect the physicochemical and sensory attributes of the fruit.

Martínez-Blay, V.; Pérez-Rodríguez, J.; Tena, A.; Soto Sánchez, AI. (2018). Density and phenology of the invasive mealybug Delottococcus aberiae on citrus: implications for integrated pest management. Journal of Pest Science. 91(2):625-637.Aknowledgements We would like to thank the owners of the orchards for allowing us to use their 19 plantations and P. Bru (IVIA) and J. Catalán (IVIA) for their help in sampling. This research was 20 supported by two predoctoral grants (FPU to V. Martínez-Blay and Val I+d to J. Pérez-Rodríguez from 21 the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and Generalitat Valenciana, respectively), the 22 European grants FP7-IAPP #324475 'Colbics' and FP7-IRSES #612566 'Biomodic', and a national 23 project provided by INIA (Project No. RTA2014-00067). The authors thank Debra Westall (UPV) for 24 revising the manuscript.25 26 27 2 Abstract 28 Delottococcus aberiae De Lotto (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a new invasive citrus pest in Spain. It 29 causes severe fruit distortions and, as a new invasive mealybug, there is a lack of information about its 30 biology. This research aims to examine the seasonal trend of D. aberiae in citrus, using several sampling 31 methods, as a first step to develop an integrated pest management program. Ten citrus orchards from 32 Eastern Spain were periodically sampled during three years using absolute (plant material) and relative 33 (corrugated cardboard band traps and sticky traps) sampling methods. The three sampling methods 34 showed that D. aberiae completes multiple generations per year, two of them being clearly defined and 35 resulting in high populations. D. aberiae peaked between May and June, damaging the developing fruit.36 Corrugated cardboard band traps were able to detect prepupa and pupa male instars and gravid females, 37 providing a quantitative measurement of D. aberiae density at its first population peak. The use of 38 corrugated cardboard band traps is recommended to monitor population levels and sticky traps to 39 determine male flight periods, representing simple sampling techniques to monitor D. aberiae. These 40 results will improve the sampling protocols and allow for the development of an integrated pest 41 management program.42 Keywords: corrugated and sticky traps, life cycle, sampling protocols, D. aberiae, citrus 43 44 45 Key message 46  Delottococcus aberiae is a new invasive citrus pest in Europe and its biology is unknown. 47  This work aims to study the density of developmental stages of D. aberiae throughout the year.48  Different sampling methods showed that D. aberiae completes several generations. Two of them 49 are clearly defined and result in high population levels. 50  These results are the first seasonal population trend of D. aberiae in citrus and may serve as a 51 basis for an integrated pest management program. 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Several insect species pose a serious threat to different plant species, sometimes becoming a pest that produces significant damage to the landscape, biodiversity, and/or the economy. This is the case of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), Semanotus laurasii Lucas (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and Monochamus galloprovincialis Olivier (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), which have become serious threats to ornamental and productive trees all over the world such as palm trees, cypresses, and pines. Knowledge about their flight potential is very important for designing and applying measures targeted to reduce the negative effects from these pests. Studying the flight capability and behaviour of some insects is difficult due to their small size and the large area wherein they can fly, so we wondered how we could obtain information about their flight capabilities in a controlled environment. The answer came with the design of flight mills. Relevant data about the flight potential of these insects may be recorded and analysed by means of a flight mill. Once an insect is attached to the flight mill, it is able to fly in a circular direction without hitting walls or objects. By adding sensors to the flight mill, it is possible to record the number of revolutions and flight time. This paper presents a full description of a computer monitored flight mill. The description covers both the mechanical and the electronic parts in detail. The mill was designed to easily adapt to the anatomy of different insects and was successfully tested with individuals from three species R. ferrugineus, S. laurasii, and M. galloprovincialis.

Delottococcus aberiae De Lotto (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is the latest exotic mealybug species introduced in citrus in the Mediterranean basin. It causes severe distortion and size reduction on developing fruits. Due to its first interaction with citrus, D. aberiae economic thresholds are still unknown for this crop and the current Integrated Pest Management programs have been disrupted. The objectives of this study were to determine the aggregation patterns of D. aberiae in citrus, develop an efficient sampling plan to assess its population density, and calculate its Economic and Economic Environmental Injury Levels (EIL and EEIL, respectively). Twelve and 19 orchards were sampled in 2014 and 2015, respectively. At each orchard, population densities were monitored fortnightly in leaves, twigs, and fruit, and fruit damage was determined at harvest. Our results showed a clumped aggregation of D. aberiae in all organs with no significant differences between generations on fruit. Fruit damage at harvest was strongly correlated with fruit occupation in spring. Based on these results and using chlorpyrifos as the insecticide of reference, the EIL and EEIL were calculated as 7.1 and 12.1% of occupied fruit in spring, respectively. With all this, we recommend sampling 275 fruits using a binomial sampling method or alternatively, 140 fruits with an enumerative method bimonthly between petal fall and July.