Diversity of mites in blackberry genotypes in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Blackberry is part of the small-fruit group and the blackberry cultivation area is expanding as an important option for small farmers using the agroecological production system. Mites are prominent among the world’s major crop pests, as they can affect plants from growth to fruiting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of phytophagous and predatory mites in different blackberry genotypes in the municipality of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. This study was carried out in the period Nov. 2015 - Oct. 2016, totaling 14 samples. A total of 11,158 mites were collected [phytophagous (5940) and predatory (323) mites, and those with varied feeding habits (4895)], which were distributed in 8 families. The species Neotetranychus asper (Feres & Flechtmann, 2000), Diptacus rubuscolum (Trinidad, Duarte & Navia, 2018), and Acalitus orthomerus (Keifer, 1951) had highest occurrence. According to the faunistic classification, the N. asper phytophagous species is predominant in genotypes 128 and 178; whereas, D. rubuscolum is predominant in genotype 132. Monitoring of these genotypes is recommended to detect possible damage to the crop.

Mite species (Acari) on blackberry cultivars in organic and conventional farms in Florida and Georgia, USA

“…The most common families of predaceous mites were Stigmaeidae (2.1%) and Phytoseiidae (0.4%). Recently, Trinidad et al (2019) evaluated the occurrence of phytophagous and predatory mites in different blackberry genotypes in the municipality of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. They recorded a total of 12 mite species belonging to the families Tetranychidae, Diptilomiopidae, Eriophyidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae, Stigmaeidae, Tydeidae, Phytoseiidae.…”