Development of an economic rearing and transport system for an arid adapted strain of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, for spider mite control.
Abstract
Spider mites of the genus Tetranychus are important pests of many food and ornamental crops. Although biological control could improve food quality, while reducing health hazards and pesticide resistance, it has not been fully implemented because the efficacy of existing natural enemies is often insufficient in arid climates. Neoseiulus californicus (N.c.) is a natural enemy native to the Mediterranean basin and is relatively efficient against spider mites at lower humidities but is currently produced only in California. This study is a collaborative effort to identify and mass rear a strain of N.c. that will be more efficacious under arid conditions than the standard commercial strain of California. To achieve this goal, N.c. strains will be collected in a number of arid areas worldwide and morphometric and genetic methods will be developed to distinguish between them. The performance of these strains under various climatic regimes and on selected host plants will be evaluated in laboratory and field trials. To provide this product at an affordable cost for European growers we will develop an economic rearing and delivery system for N.c. in Europe. An innovative aspect of this project is the challenge of discriminating between genetic and cytoplasmic factors, by identifying bacteria associated with N.c. strains and evaluating their potential influence on the host. This proposal is the first integrated attempt to select for and define a natural enemy strain that is both suited to arid conditions and economical. The proposed study will help produce safer and healthier fruit and vegetable crops in Southern Europe, where most of Europe's fruits and vegetables are grown, and in dry environments/greenhouses in central, eastern and northern Europe.
keywords Predatory mites Spider mites Biological Control rearing system
Publikationen
Species recognition in phytoseiid guild interactions.
Autoren: Walzer, A., Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Life history of Neoseiulus californicus at low humidities and identification of a dry-adapted strain.
Autoren: Walzer, A., Castagnoli, M., Simoni, S., Liguori, M., Palevsky, E., Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Strain ranking of Neoseiulus californicus on the basis of demographic parameters at low humidities.
Autoren: Simoni, S., Walzer, A., Castagnoli, M., Liguosi, M., Palevsky, E., Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Evaluation of arid adapted strains of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, for spider mite control on cucumber, strawberry and pepper.
Autoren: Palevsky, E., Gal, S., Walzer, A., Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Development of an economic rearing an transport system for an arid adapted strain of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, for spider mite control.
Autoren: Palevsky, E., Weintraub, P., Zchori-Fein, E., Argov, A., Castagnoli, M., Liguori, M., Nannelli, R., Simoni, S., Schausberger, P., Walzer, A., Enigl, M., Kreiter, S., Tixier, M.S., Guichou, S., Bolckmans, K., van Houten, Y., Belda, J.E., Steinberg, S., Shapira, N., Charantonis, D., Tsalis, G., Holmqvist, R., Gullans, S., Gross, M., van der Blom, J., Perez Mesa, J.C., Rosenthal, G., Goldfarb, O. Jahr: 2006
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Intraspecific variation in humidity susceptibility of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus: survival, development and reproduction
Autoren: Walzer, A., Castagnoli, M., Simoni, S., Liguori, M., Palevsky, E. and Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2007
Journal articles
Spatiotemporal within-plant distribution of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae confronted with specialist and generalist predators
Autoren: Walzer, A; Moder, K;Schausberger, P Jahr: 2007
Journal articles
Symbionts in mites and their relevance for pest control
Autoren: Zchori-Fein, E; Enigl, M; Schausberger, P; Mozes-Daube, N; Gottlieb, Y; Hanuny, T; Palevsky, E Jahr: 2007
Journal articles
La tecnica JACKKNIFE nella valutazione dell’adattabilita’ e del potenziale riproduttivo di Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in condizioni di bassa umidita’ relativa
Autoren: Simoni, S., Walzer, A., Castagnoli, M., Liguori, M.L., Palevsky, E., Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2007
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Evaluation of dry-adapted strains of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus for spider mite control on cucumber, strawberry and pepper
Autoren: Palevsky, E., Walzer, A., Gal, S. and Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2008
Journal articles
Identification of a drought-adapted Neoseiulus californicus strain: egg hatchability, juvenile survival and oviposition at low humidities
Autoren: Walzer, A., Castagnoli, M., Simoni, S., Liguori, M., Palevsky, E. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2009
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Development of an economic rearing and transport system for an arid-adapted strain of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus, for spider mite control
Autoren: Palevsky E., Weintraub P.G., Zchori-Fein E., Gal S., Mozes-Daube N, Argov Y., Castagnoli M., Liguori M., Nannelli R., Simoni S., Tarchi F., Guidi S., Goggioli D., Sabbatini Peverieri G., Schausberger P., Walzer A., Enigl M., Kreiter S., Tixier M.-S., Guichou S., Bolckmans K., Van Houten Y, Van Baal E., Belda J.E., Steinberg S., Shapira N., Charantonis D., Tsalis G., Holmqvist R., Gullans S., Gross M., Peternel P., Van der Blom J., Perez Mesa J.C., Rosenthal G., Goldfarb O. Jahr: 2009
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Andreas Walzer
Mag. Dr. Andreas Walzer
andreas.walzer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95308
Project Staff
19.07.2004 - 18.07.2006
BOKU partners
External partners
Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center (ARO) - Newe Ya'ar Research Centre
Dr. Eric Palevsky
coordinator