Journal of Economic Entomology (1997) 90, 1273-1282

Phil A. Phillips and G.P. Walker (1997)
Increase in flower and young fruit abscission caused by citrus bud mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) feeding in the axilarry buds of lemon
Journal of Economic Entomology 90 (5), 1273-1282
Abstract: During the course of a 3-yr field study on lemons, 8,467 unopened flowers were tagged, rated for severity of floral distortions caused by citrus bud mite, Aceria sheldoni (Ewing), and monitored weekly to determine if they developed a fruit or abscised without developing a fruit. Each fruit developing from these flowers was rated for severity of distortions caused by citrus bud mite and monitored weekly to determine if the fruit persisted beyond the June-drop period or abscised before or during the June-drop period. Abscission rates of both flowers and fruit increased significantly with increasing bud mite-caused distortion. Distortion rating of fruit was correlated significantly with the distortion rating of the flowers from which they developed. The possibility that the increased rates of abscission of flowers and young fruit may be caused by previously observed decreases in auxin activity and other biochemical changes in bud mite-infested axillary buds is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Phil A. Phillips, Gregory P. Walker

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aceria sheldoni	Citrus (genus)