Studies on diversity, molecular characterization and susceptibility to agrochemicals in plant inhabitant and edaphic mites in coffee agro-ecosystem

• Grant number: 06/05742-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: January 01, 2007 - December 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Mário Eidi Sato
• Grantee: Mário Eidi Sato
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Coffee represents one of the crops of major social and economic importance in Brazil. Some species of pest mites such as Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) cause significant damage to the crop in the country. The first species, B. phoenicis, is associated to the coffee ringspot virus. The objectives of this project are to study the interactions among the different species of mites present in coffee plantation (e.g. predaceous x phytophagous mites; predaceous x predaceous mites); to study the distribution and dynamics of mites in the coffee plantation, on the different parts of the plant [leaves (leaf surface and domatia), branches and stem], in soil and on weeds. In the case of mites of the family Stigmaeidae, studies on susceptibility to agrochemicals and molecular characterization of some species will also be carried out. With this study, it will be possible to have a global view on the diversity and distribution of mites on the different substrates (part of plant, soil or weed); bringing information on the possible migrations of mites from a substrate to another, as well as on the possible interactions among the different species of mites present on the coffee agro-ecosystem. This kind of information is of fundamental importance for the establishment of integrated pest management programs in the state of Sao Paulo. (AU)