Abstract
The Basidiomycotine fungi Meira geulakonigii, Meira argovae and Acaromyces ingoldii were assayed in the laboratory against five species of herbivorous mites: Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Eriophyidae), Panonychus citri, Eutetranychus orientalis, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus cinnabarinus (all four Tetranychidae). All fungi caused significantly high mortality rates (as compared to controls) after 14 days, some after 1 week. Phyllocoptruta oleivora was the most susceptible, showing >80% mortality even after 1 week. In a field trial, grapefruits sprayed either once a month or once a season with M. geulakonigii had significantly fewer P. oleivora and less damage than unsprayed fruit. These results suggest that M. geulakonigii may protect grapefruits against the injurious P. oleivora.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Argov Y, Amitai S, Beattie GAC, Gerson U (2002) Rearing, release and establishment of imported predatory mites to control citrus rust mite in Israel. BioControl 47:399-409
Avis TJ, Caron SJ, Boekhout T, Hamelin RC, Belanger RR (2001) Molecular and physiological analysis of the powdery mildew antagonist Pseudozyma flocculosa and related fungi. Phytopathology 91:249-254
Boekhout T, Theelen B, Houbraken J, Robert V, Scorzetti G, Gafni A, Gerson U, Sztejnberg A (2003) Novel anamorphic mite-associated fungi belonging to the Ustilaginomycetes: Meira geulakonigii gen. nov., sp. nov., Meira argovae sp. nov. and Acaromyces ingoldii gen. nov., sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Micr 53:1655-1664
Chandler D, Davidson G, Pell JK, Ball BV, Shaw K, Sunderland KD (2000) Fungal biocontrol of acari. Biocont Sci Technol 10:357-384
Gerson U (2003) Acarine pests of citrus: overview and non-chemical control. Syst Appl Acarol 8:3-12
Palevsky E, Ucko O, Peles S, Yablonski S, Gerson U (2004) Evaluation of control measures for Oligonychus afrasiaticus infesting date palm cultivars it the southern Arava valley of Israel. Crop Prot 23:387-392
Palevsky E, Argov Y, Drishpoun Y, Childers CC, Gerson U (2000) Mite problems on citrus and control strategies in Israel. Proc Intl Soc Citricult IX Congr 760-763
Roy HE, Pell JK (2000) Interaction between entomopathogenic fungi and other natural enemies: Implication for biological control. Biocont Sci Technol 10:737-752
Sztejnberg A, Doron-Shloush S, Gerson U (1997) The biology of the acaropathogenic fungus Hirsutella kirchneri. Biocont Sci Technol 7:577-590
Sztejnberg A, Paz Z, Boekhout T, Gafni A, Gerson U (2004) A new fungus with dual biocontrol capabilities: reducing the numbers of phytophagous mites and powdery mildew disease damage. Crop Prot 23:1125-1129
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted under the auspices of the Francis Ariowitsch Chair in Agriculture, endowed to the last author. Our thanks to Zohar Barkay and Eyal Yogev, from Kibutz Dan, for allowing us to use the citrus grove, as well as for technical help. Thanks also to Avi Sadowsky, The Department of Citriculture, Extension Service, the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, for the professional advice, and to Adva Inbar, Yoel Rubin and Daphna Blachinsky for technical help.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paz, Z., Gerson, U. & Sztejnberg, A. Assaying three new fungi against citrus mites in the laboratory, and a field trial. BioControl 52, 855–862 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-006-9060-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-006-9060-2