Population Dynamics of Mite Pests and Predacious Mites on Three Tomato Cultivars at Menoufia Governorate in Egypt

Elkholy, Samah, Z.; Walash, Eman, H.

doi:10.21608/eajbsz.2021.278255

Population Dynamics of Mite Pests and Predacious Mites on Three Tomato Cultivars at Menoufia Governorate in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/eajbsz.2021.278255

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the population dynamics of phytophagous mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Aculus lycopersici (Tryon) and their relation to prevailing weather variables on three Tomato cultivars 'Aliaa', 'Login' and 'Zena' in Shebeen El-Kom, Menoufia governorate, Egypt, during Summer and Nile seasons of 2021. The three tomato cultivars significantly differed in their susceptibility to T. urticae and A. lycopersici infestation. Login cultivar was the most highly significant susceptible to T. urticae and A. lycopersici infestation respectively 23.27 & 35.09, 24.50 and 28.88 individuals/ leaflet. In the summer season, T. urticae and A. lycopersici has one peak in mid-July of the three cultivars recorded 34.93, 44.23 and 30.83 individuals/ leaflet for T. urticae and 55.37, 58.23 and 35.40 for individuals/ leaflet for A. lycopersici. While in Nile season the two mite pests have one peak in mid-November on Aliaa and Zena and in late October on the Login cultivar. Population dynamics of T. urticae and A. lycopersici on the three Tomato cultivars during the summer season were affected significantly positive correlation by temperature, while it has a non-significantly negative correlation with relative humidity. Results showed that changes in the host plant's nutritional content had a greater impact on the dynamics of the mite population than did changes in the weather. Statistical analysis indicated that highly significant positive correlation between the three predators and the two phytophagous mites T. urticae and A. lycopersici population on three Tomato cultivars. In conclusion, these results of the current study contribute to developing an effective plan for the IPM of phytophagous mites on tomatoes.

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