ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The potential of four mite species (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as predators of sucking pests on protected cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) crop
Muhammad Sarwar1, 2*, Xu Xuenong2, Wang Endong2 and Wu Kongming2
1Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Tandojam-70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
2Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing-100094, China.
Accepted 23 March, 2019
Abstract
Protected crop experiments were conducted to study the suitability and efficacy of Phytoseiid mite species as predators of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under greenhouse conditions. In this study, predatory mites Neoseiulus pseudolongispinosus Euseius castaneae Euseius utilis and Euseius finlandicus (Oudemans) (Phytosiidae) were investigated for their potential as biological control agents in treated along with untreated check. The current findings to judge the biocontrol potential of predators showed that laboratory bred adults and nymph instars of all predators efficiently preyed upon sucking arthropods and pests populations were drastically reduced in treated plants than in untreated control where their intensities were numerous. Among all predators, N. pseudolongispinosus was the most proficient and steadfast predator in controlling thrips and whitefly populations, contrary to E. finlandicus that proved better in reducing spider mite density in treated crop. The current findings indicated the potential of Phytoseiid predators for their augmentative releases to give best control of sucking pests in protected cucumber plants.
Keywords: Biological control, predaceous mite, greenhouse, cucumber, phytoseiidae.