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| Author(s): |
Felipe Santa Rosa do Amaral
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São José do Rio Preto. 2023-01-10. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas. São José do Rio Preto |
| Defense date: | 2022-12-02 |
| Advisor: | Antonio Carlos Lofego |
| Abstract | |
The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg., is the largest source of natural rubber in the world due to its high latex production. The main mode of production of this species is by monoculture, which has some implications, such as the greater propensity to attack pests. Two important species for this crop are the phytophagous mites Calacarus heveae Feres and Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, whose infestations can cause a drop in latex production. However, the rubber tree is also a host species for several predatory mites, especially Phytoseiidae, which feed mainly on phytophagous mites. The aim of this work was to investigate which species of phytoseiids can act as predators of T. heveae and C. heveae. The effect of C. heveae as food was evaluated in the fecundity of 10 species of predatory mites of the Phytoseiidae family already recorded on H. brasiliensis. The results of this stage led to the inference that C. heveae is not a favorable prey for the reproduction of the evaluated phytoseiids, given that all species presented oviposition rates lower than 0.2 eggs/female/day. Four species of phytoseiids presented predation rates higher than 20 prey/female/day, and the maximum rate found was 39 prey/female/day by Amblyseius chiapensis De Leon. The life table study with A. chiapensis allowed us to conclude that this phytoseiid does not keep its population having C. heveae as exclusive food. A similar test was performed to evaluate the fecundity of five phytoseiids treated with T. heveae. In this experiment, tenuipalpid was a favorable prey for the five species of predatory mites, with oviposition rates between 1 and 2 eggs/female/day and predation rates between 20 and 46 prey/female/day. The results found the phytoseiid Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma stood out in relation to the others. Hence, this species was chosen for a life table study, results showed that this can be considered a promising biological control agent for T. heveae. In another experiment, the acceptance of Eutetranychus banksi McGregor as prey for E. citrifolius was evaluated. Laboratory data showed that E. citrifolius can prey on E. banksi and can reproduce with this prey as the only food source. However, in rubber tree seedlings, it was observed that E. citrifolius did not significantly reduce E. banksi populations. The effect of four pollen types on fecundity of E. citrifolius was also evaluated. All were accepted by the phytoseiid, and the pollen of Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck provided the highest oviposition rate. It is important to note that this was the first study that evaluated pollen of N. cochenillifera as food for Phytoseiidae, being another food option for these predatory mites, due to its easy obtaining. Evaluating the influence of different substrates on the oviposition of E. citrifolius, it was found that the natural substrates tested, made with leaves of plant species, were more favorable for this predator than the artificial substrate, made with vinyl flooring. The data of this work contribute to a better understanding of the predator-prey relationship between phytoseiid mites and phytophagous mites in rubber. In addition, they indicate E. citrifolius as a species beneficial to the rubber tree culture and can act as a biological control agent of T. heveae. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 18/10407-4 - Selection of natural enemies for biological control of Calacarus heveae Feres (Acari: Eriophyidae) and Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in rubber tree |
| Grantee: | Felipe Santa Rosa Do Amaral |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |