Phytoparasitica (2003) 31 (3) - New fungi for the control of ...

Z. Paz, A. Sztejnberg and U. Gerson (2003)
New fungi for the control of phytophagous mites
Phytoparasitica 31 (3)
Abstracts 20th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, Feb. 11-12, 2003
Abstract: Spider mites and rust mites are considered as the major acarine pests of agriculture in Israel. The use of fungi to control pests is increasing in the context of integrated pest management (IPM). Fungi that attack mites occur in most major taxonomic groups (but not, until now, in the division Basidiomycotina). We examined the potential of one of three fungi new to science - all in the Basidiomycotina - to control acarine pests. The fungus was best grown at 25° C, a temperature that is also optimal for the citrus rust mite. In order to obtain the very large quantities of spores needed in our experiments, the fungus was grown in liquid media in shakers. In the laboratory, mortalities of 97% of the citrus rust mite, 80% of the carmine spider mite, and 78% of the citrus red mite were obtained with the fungus. All experiments were conducted with a 10⁹ ml^-1 spore concentration. It thus appears that this fungus has a high potential for biological control of the citrus rust mite and also of other mites. In the future we intend to study the epidemiology of the fungus in relation to that of the citrus rust mite, under field conditions. Towards that end we are developing a selective medium that will enable us to isolate the fungus from other phyllosphere microorganisms which also occur on the leaves. This should promote a better understanding of the relationship between the mite and the fungal populations in the field. We also expect to clarify the effect of the fungus on the mite's natural enemies. In addition, the effect of currently used fungicides and acaricides on the fungus will be studied. This should afford us an understanding of the various components needed to bring about an efficient integrated mite management program in citrus orchards that are infested by the citrus rust mite.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Uri Gerson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Panonychus citri		Israel
	Phyllocoptruta oleivora		Israel
	Tetranychus cinnabarinus		Israel