Hazelnut is gaining higher economic importance in the Mediterranean basin and, particularly, in Turkey and Italy, where most of the world's hazelnut production is concentrated. Phytoptus avellanae is increasingly involved in severe infestations with disturbance in plant growth and reduction in nut yield. This work explores low-impact control strategies for hazelnut mites. Laboratory bioassays were conducted on mites using fungal-control products (or commercial mycopesticides) containing Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium. Phytoptus avellanae infested buds during plant vegetative growth abnormally enlarged in winter. According to Kanagaratnam et al. (1981) protocol, mite infested big buds were cut into two halves and dipped in conidia suspension for 10 seconds. Products concentrations were obtained according to label notes. The buds were dried on filter paper and incubated at controlled temperature and humidity. Bioassays were replicated and conducted in two different laboratories under same experimental conditions on 8-16 bud replicas for each commercial formulation and untreated (using sterilized water). Acaropathogenicity on mites was assessed by quantifying live mites in buds at 7th incubation day. No survival mites were observed on B. bassiana treated buds compared to control 38-50% survived mites. Some mites from inoculation experiments showed on microscope typical fungi infection hyphae and phialides by B. bassiana. This first result gives insight into a sustainable eriophyoid control strategy for organic farming as well.
Acaropathogenic fungi against the hazelnut big bud mite: preliminary laboratory tests.
de Lillo E.;Laterza I.;Valenzano D.;Tarasco E.
2024-01-01
Abstract
Hazelnut is gaining higher economic importance in the Mediterranean basin and, particularly, in Turkey and Italy, where most of the world's hazelnut production is concentrated. Phytoptus avellanae is increasingly involved in severe infestations with disturbance in plant growth and reduction in nut yield. This work explores low-impact control strategies for hazelnut mites. Laboratory bioassays were conducted on mites using fungal-control products (or commercial mycopesticides) containing Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium. Phytoptus avellanae infested buds during plant vegetative growth abnormally enlarged in winter. According to Kanagaratnam et al. (1981) protocol, mite infested big buds were cut into two halves and dipped in conidia suspension for 10 seconds. Products concentrations were obtained according to label notes. The buds were dried on filter paper and incubated at controlled temperature and humidity. Bioassays were replicated and conducted in two different laboratories under same experimental conditions on 8-16 bud replicas for each commercial formulation and untreated (using sterilized water). Acaropathogenicity on mites was assessed by quantifying live mites in buds at 7th incubation day. No survival mites were observed on B. bassiana treated buds compared to control 38-50% survived mites. Some mites from inoculation experiments showed on microscope typical fungi infection hyphae and phialides by B. bassiana. This first result gives insight into a sustainable eriophyoid control strategy for organic farming as well.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
