| Modification of reproductive parameters in Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius swirskii under artificial nutrient medium |
| Paper ID : 1207-IGA |
| Authors |
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Karlygash Alpysbayeva * Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zh. Zhiembaev |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim. In contemporary agriculture, plant protection in controlled environments increasingly relies on biological control methods, with predatory phytoseiid mites occupying a pivotal role due to their efficacy in regulating pest populations. However, conventional rearing of phytoseiids on plant material infested with phytophagous pests presents limitations, including spatial demands, challenges in harvesting acariphagous, variability in performance across mite species, and occupational health risks associated with allergens and microorganisms in substrate materials. This study aims to develop an artificial nutrient medium for mass rearing Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius swirskii, and to implement these predators for managing greenhouse pests to facilitate organic crop production. Materials and Methods. The research employed standardized entomological and plant protection methodologies. Results. Four artificial diets were evaluated. The control diets consisted of Tetranychus urticae for Ph.persimilis and Carpoglyphus lactis for A.swirskii. The impact of diets on the development and reproduction of phytoseiids was assessed. For Ph.persimilis, daily oviposition rates per female were 1.6 eggs on diet D3, 2.6 on D3 (likely a typographical error; presumed to denote D1 or another variant), 3.3 on D2, and 3.6 on D4. For A. swirskii, cumulative egg production over three days was lowest on D3 (0.3 eggs), followed by D1 (1.6 eggs), D2 (2.0 eggs), and D4 (2.3 eggs), compared to the control (2.6 eggs). Predatory efficacy by Ph.persimilis nymphs per day was highest in the control (22.0 eggs), followed by D4 (15.0), D2 (15.3), D1 (12.0), and D3 (10.6). For A.swirskii, consumption rates were 19.0 (control), 13.5 (D4), 12.0 (D2), and 8.0 (D1). Lifespan of predators reared on artificial diets ranged from 10 to 22 days. Conclusion. Diet D4 demonstrated superior efficacy but higher production costs. Diet D2, supplemented with G.mellonella, offered an optimal balance of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, rendering it suitable for scalable industrial production. |
| Keywords |
| Keywords: Tetranychus urticae; Carpoglyphus lactis; Amblyseius swirskii; Phytoseiulus persimilis; artificial nutrient medium. |
| Status: Accepted |
