Implementing biological control of whiteflies and leafminers through the use of parasitoid wasps and predatory mites in greenhouse horticulture in the state of São Paulo.

• Grant number: 23/10273-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Valmir Antonio Costa
• Grantee: Valmir Antonio Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA)
• Associated researchers: Alexandre José Ferreira Diniz ; André Luiz Lorenzon ; David Rodrigues ; Harumi Hojo ; Mário Eidi Sato ; Pedro Takao Yamamoto ; Regiane Cristina de Oliveira
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/22140-3 - Revealing the diversity of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) associated with leafminers through an integrative approach in the state of São Paulo, BP.TT

Abstract

In the state of São Paulo, more than 400 plant species are cultivated in greenhouses. Most commercial greenhouses have pest problems, particularly with whiteflies and leafminers flies. These two pests are among those whose management is limited due to the selection of resistant populations, combined with the biotic potential of these insects. There has been an increase in interest by producers in biological pest control, in view of its success in other countries, the growing problem of resistance, the existence of few active principles available, costs with chemical control and problems with residues in products for export, whose market is increasingly demanding in relation to this issue. However, the lack of research focused on pest control and/or the non-availability of natural enemies due to the lack of knowledge about them in production systems under greenhouses in Brazil are the main disadvantages for producers in this sector. This project proposes to make parasitoids and predatory mites available for the biological control of whiteflies and leafminers flies, for use in greenhouses in the state of São Paulo. In a first step, a research network composed of researchers from the Instituto Biológico, UNESP (Botucatu and Ilha Solteira campi), ESALQ/USP and Embrapa Semiárido, will study which species of whitefly and leafminers flies which occur in greenhouses in the state of São Paulo, and select the most promising ones according to their biological characteristics and susceptibility to the main chemical products used to control these pests. Based on these studies, the biological control companies Nitro and Vivus, with the support of Topbio, will carry out, with the selected species, release tests in greenhouses, evaluating their efficiency in the biological control of the mentioned pests. Predatory mites' releases will also be made, for areas with whitefly problems only, as a complementary biological control agent for parasitoids wasps. Once its efficiency and viability in use have been proven, the use of these natural enemies will be disclosed to producers. Throughout the entire execution of the project, the CATI manager will have a role of paramount importance, making the entire bridge of knowledge transfer between the academic part, companies, and producers. (AU)