Solanum americanumas a reservoir of natural enemies of the tomato red spider mite,Tetranychus evansi(Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Brazilian populations of the pathogenic fungus Neozygites floridana (Weiser & Muma) Remaudière & S. Keller (Entomophthoromycotina: Entomophthorales) and the predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are potential candidates for introduction into Africa for classical biological control of the tomato red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Acari: Tetranychidae). The efficiency of these natural enemies against T. evansi has been demonstrated under laboratory conditions, but little is known about their performance on native Solanaceae in the field. The American nightshade, Solanum americanum Mill., is native to the Americas and may serve as an alternative host plant for T. evansi and its natural enemies in the absence of tomato plants. In this work, we studied the population dynamics of T. evansi and its natural enemies on S. americanum in a screen house, semi-field and field plots in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, to evaluate the potential of natural enemies for controlling T. evansi. Of the four natural enemies found in association with T. evansi, only N. floridana and P. longipes were clearly associated with the reduction of the populations of T. evansi. Neozygites floridana was observed in a screen house, semi-field and field plots, but P. longipes was only detected in the semi-field plots. Increases in the population of T. evansi were always followed by increases in the density of one of these natural enemies, suggesting that they were important factors regulating T. evansi populations on S. americanum. The presence of this host plant near the release sites in Africa thus might increase the chances for the permanent establishment of these natural enemies.

The potential of the nightshade plants (Solanaceae) as reservoir plants for pest and predatory mites

“…Bu zararlıların daha önce domates, biber ve patlıcan gibi diğer Solanaceae bitki türlerinde de konukçu olduğunun belirlenmiş olması köpek üzümü türlerinden kültür bitkilerine bulaşması açısından risk oluşturmaktadır (Soleimannejadian et al, 2006;Can & Çobanoğlu, 2010;Ozsisli & Cobanoglu, 2011). Sonuçlarımıza benzer olarak, Ribeiroa et al (2012) (Calvitti & Tsolakis, 1992;Çobanoğlu & Kumral, 2014). T.…”

“…Aynı familyadan olduğu için yukarıda belirtilen kültür bitkilerinde bulunan zararlı akar türlerinin bu yabancıotlarda bulunma olasılığı da çok yüksektir. Bu bağlamda, köpek üzümü türlerinin zararlı türlere barınak olma potansiyeli sınırlı sayıda çalışmada gösterilebilmiştir (Sadana et al, 1983;Mauricio et al, 2009;Murungi et al, 2010;Ferreira & Sousa, 2011;Ribeiroa et al, 2012). Özellikle, Ferreira & Sousa (2011), S. nigrum ve buna benzer birçok yabancı ot türünün Tetranychus evansi (Baker & Prit.)…”

“…Kore'de yapılan bir araştırmada domates pas akarının morfolojisi, biyolojisi ve kimyasal mücadelesi hakkında araştırma sonuçları verilirken, konukçuları arasında S. nigrum'un olduğu gösterilmiştir (Kim et al, 2002). Ribeiroa et al (2012) Amerikan köpek üzümü olarak bilinen Solanum americanum Mill'un domates olmadığı durumlarda kırmızı örümcekler ve avcıları için alternatif konukçu olduğunu belirtmektedir.…”

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting Resting Spore Formation in the Mite PathogenNeozygites floridana

“…Low prevalences of resting spores of N. tanajoae in M. tanajoa (up to 3.8%) were detected in Brazil by Delalibera Jr. et al [10], whereas higher prevalences (34–38%) were found by Elliot et al [9]. However, resting spores of Neozygites have not been found in other studies in tropical regions [13–15]. …”

Studies for implementation of Neozygites floridana as control agent of two-spotted spider mite in strawberry

“…Fungi in this genus attack small arthropods such as mealybugs, aphids, thrips and mites (2000), whereas higher prevalences (34-38%) were found by . However resting spores of Neozygites have not been found inother studies in tropical regions (ALVAREZ et al, 1993;YANINEK et al, 1996, RIBEIRO et al, 2012.…”