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LOCALLY ISOLATED ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI TO CONTROL TEA RED SPIDER MITES (Oligonychus coffeae Acarina-Tetranychidae) – A PRELIMINARY LABORATORY STUDY
By Admin | July 1, 2009
Amongst the tea pests, mites cause significant damage during dry whether. Their populations are governed by natural enemies whose activity is supported by micro climatic conditions and cultural practices in the tea canopy. The mite damage above thresh-hold levels pose chemical acaricidal treatments but recent restrictions on pesticide residues in made tea warrant alternative methods.
In this study we attempted to isolate entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) acting against tea mites from conducive environments with favorable micro climates and less or no pesticide usage. They were screened under laboratory conditions in view of exploring possibilities in biological control as effective, safer and acceptable methods.
Naturally occurring fungal species from six different tea eco systems reducing populations of the Tea Red Spider Mite (Oligonychus coffeae) were isolated. The laboratory bioassays conducted on mite-infested excised-tea leaves resulted in 65% mortality with the locally isolated fungal isolate HF1. TRI recommended acaricide, Propargite gave the highest mortality of 75% while, Hirsutella thompsonii and Neem seed extract exhibited lower mortality.
While we report the first record of isolation of EPF from tea mites, we foresee their potentials in managing tea mites as an environmentally safe and effective treatment. The identification, the mode of action against different tea mites and mass propagation of the fungal isolate HF1are in progress.
Amarasena, P. G. D. S.1, Mohotti, K. M.2 and Ahangama, D.3
1 & 2 Entomology Division, Tea Research Institute, Talawakele, Sri Lanka.
3 Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Topics: symposium2008 | 2 Comments »
February 18th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Have you noticed any natural infection of Beauveria bassiana in tea mites, if yes …what extent..
March 26th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Apart from metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, did you notice other fungi infecting the red spider mite??