| Title: | Evaluation of a guardian plant system to suppress Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse ornamentals |
| Author(s): | Sullivan CF; Davari A; Kim JS; Parker BL; Skinner M; |
| Address: | "Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA. Department of Agricultural Biology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1526-4998 (Electronic) 1526-498X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Western flower thrips (WFT), Franklinella occidentalis (Pergande), is an economically damaging pest of greenhouse ornamentals. A 'guardian plant system' (GPS) that targeted WFT was evaluated under controlled and commercial greenhouse conditions. This system used mycotized millet grains with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin applied to soil of potted marigolds, Tagetes patula (L.), combined with the foliar-dwelling predatory mite Neoseiulus (=Amblyseius) cucumeris (Oudemans) in slow-release sachets under controlled greenhouse conditions, and with the addition of a pheromone lure under commercial settings. RESULTS: Significantly fewer WFT and less foliar damage on GPS was observed over the 10 and 12 weeks experimental periods compared to the untreated controls. Predatory mites were maintained up to 10 weeks with one release under controlled greenhouse conditions and 12 weeks with two releases in commercial greenhouses. In commercial greenhouses, greater numbers of WFT were found on marigolds than on crop plants within 1 m of the system. Fungal granules persisted for 12 weeks up to 2.5 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) in the GPS soil. CONCLUSION: The use of biological control agents to suppress WFT within a GPS could be a useful IPM strategy for greenhouse production. The marigold GPS attracted WFT which were suppressed primarily through predation by foliar-dwelling predatory mites and to a lesser extent, infection from conidia produced by the granular fungal formulation in the soil. Further investigations into system deployment and fungal granular application rates and new fungal formulations are suggested to improve system efficacy. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry" |
| Keywords: | "Animals *Thysanoptera Pest Control, Biological Plants *Mites Soil Beauveria bassiana Neoseiulus cucumeris biological control biopesticide integrated pest management trap crop western flower thrips;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSullivan, Cheryl Frank Davari, Agrin Kim, Jae Su Parker, Bruce L Skinner, Margaret eng Agricultural Research Service/ American Floral Endowment/ U.S. Department of Agriculture/ England 2023/05/17 Pest Manag Sci. 2023 Oct; 79(10):3559-3569. doi: 10.1002/ps.7556. Epub 2023 Jun 2" |
