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Host plant and humidity effects on phytoseiid mite, Gynaeseius liturivorus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) egg hatchability

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Abstract

Gynaeseius liturivorus (Ehara) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a promising biological control agent for tiny arthropod pests, including Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) known as a major pest of Welsh onion. In fields during summer, G. liturivorus is observed on soybean, but not on Welsh onion, even when numerous T. tabaci are present. To elucidate G. liturivorus’s occurrence on soybean and Welsh onion in relation to relative humidity (RH), we examined its egg hatching on their seedlings under low RH conditions. Then we estimated the moisture transpiration from both plants. Egg hatching occurred only on soybean plants exhibiting greater moisture transpiration. Aiming at utilizing G. liturivorus as a biological control agent for Welsh onion production in summer, evaluation of its relative tolerance and compensation potential for drought injury is necessary. Therefore, we used five phytoseiid species including G. liturivorus and Neoseiulus californicus to estimate the RH and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) at which 50% of eggs hatch (RH50 and VPD50). Furthermore, we examined G. liturivorus and N. californicus egg hatching under different RH oscillation conditions. Results show G. liturivorus as the most drought-sensitive among the five species tested, but G. liturivorus is able to compensate for lethal low-RH effects on egg hatching in part by periodic exposure to high RH conditions, as observed for N. californicus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Hidenari Kishimoto (NARO Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science) for providing E. sojaensis. We also thank ISK Biosciences for providing N. californicus. This research was partly supported by grants from the Project of the NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (Research program on development of innovative technology, 28022C).

Funding

This research was partly supported by Grants from the Project of the NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (Research program on development of innovative technology, 28022C).

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Author notes

  1. Zenta Nakai

    Present address: Chiba Prefecture Sanbu Agriculture Office, 1-11 Higashi-shinshuku, Togane, Chiba, 283-0006, Japan

  2. Zenta Nakai

    Present address: United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan

  3. Zenta Nakai & Hiroshi Oida

    Present address: Faculty of Bioscience and Applied Chemistry, Hosei University, 3-7-2 Kajino-cho, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chiba Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, 180-1 Okanezawa-cho, Midori-ku, Chiba, 266-0014, Japan

    Zenta Nakai, Ken Shimizu & Hiroshi Oida

  2. School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan

    Shoji Sonoda

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  1. Zenta Nakai
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Nakai, Z., Shimizu, K., Oida, H. et al. Host plant and humidity effects on phytoseiid mite, Gynaeseius liturivorus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) egg hatchability. Exp Appl Acarol 84, 135–147 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-021-00617-3

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