Pest Management Science (2022) 78, 355-361
Juliette Pijnakker, Rob Moerkens, Dominiek Vangansbeke, Marcus Duarte, Stijn Bellinkx, Alfredo Benavente, Jonas Merckx, Ian Stevens and Felix Wäckers (2022)
Dual protection: A tydeoid mite effectively controls both a problem pest and a key pathogen in tomato
Pest Management Science 78 (1), 355-361
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici, and powdery mildew (PM), Oidium neolycopersici, are two major problems in tomato cultivation for which no effective biocontrol solutions exist to date. In a greenhouse compartment, we investigated the potential of preventatively establishing the iolinid omnivorous mite Pronematus ubiquitus on potted tomato plants to control both pest and pathogen simultaneously.
RESULTS
Using Typha pollen, P. ubiquitus established well on tomato plants, with numbers reaching up to 250 motiles per tomato leaflet. The built-up population was capable of controlling subsequent infestations with both TRM and PM. This represents the first report of an arthropod protecting a crop against pests as well as disease.
CONCLUSION
The implementation of P. ubiquitus in tomato crops could be a real game-changer as it eliminates the need for repeated pesticide use or sulphur applications. The finding that arthropods can effectively control diseases opens up new opportunities for biological crop protection.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Felix L. Wäckers
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
