Arturo Cocco

Control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in greenhouse tomato crops using the mating disruption technique.

The effectiveness of mating disruption to control the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in greenhouse tomato crops was evaluated in four trials carried out in winter–spring and summer–winter growing seasons in Southwestern Sardinia (Italy). Pheromone dispensers loaded with 60 mg of the natural blend of the major and minor sex pheromone component (rate 90 : 10) were applied in disrupted greenhouses at a rate of 1000/ha (60 g of active ingredient/ha). Male captures in monitoring pheromone traps, percentage of tomato plants infested by T. absoluta and damage on leaves and fruits were monitored weekly and compared in disrupted and untreated (control) greenhouses. In greenhouses disrupted with 1000 dispensers/ha, a reduction of 93–97% in male trap captures was observed, compared with control. Leaf damage was significantly lower in greenhouses disrupted with 1000 dispensers/ha than in control ones, with a reduction of infestation throughout the growing season ranging from 57% to 85%. Pheromone dispensers applied at the density of 1000/ha significantly reduced the percentage of damaged fruits by 62–89%. In control greenhouses, the highest damage on leaves and fruits was generally observed in edge plants, while leaf and fruit infestation was uniformly distributed in pheromone‐treated greenhouses, indicating an even distribution of the pheromone cloud inside the greenhouse. Mating disruption showed to be an efficient strategy to control in greenhouse the tomato leafminer and can be included in the overall tomato integrated pest management programs.

Diagnostic markers for Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Planococcus citri (Risso) by random amplification of polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction and species-specific mitochondrial DNA primers

Abstract:  Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hom., Pseudococcidae) are important phytophagous components in different agroecosystems. The two species may coexist in the same environment and are most difficult to distinguish by morphological features. The aim of this study was to find genetic markers suitable for distinguishing P. ficus from P. citri, to assist in the rapid identification of field specimens. By using synthetic sex pheromone‐baited traps, pure male populations of both species were collected from a vineyard and from a citrus orchard in northern Sardinia, Italy. Individual males of citrus and vine mealybugs were preliminarily examined by the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Among twelve 10‐mer random primers, the oligonucleotide OPL‐12 generated several markers suitable for distinguishing between the two species. This primer was then used to characterize individual males and females of both mealybug species collected near pheromone‐baited traps in vineyards and orange orchards from different geographic areas. Reference samples from other regions of southern Italy were also included. A clear differentiation of the two species was accomplished according to their pattern of amplification, thus confirming a high level of intra‐specific genetic homogeneity. Consequently, two fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene from P. citri and P. ficus were compared and two pairs of species‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were developed based on diverging sequences. These primers allowed sensitive and reliable PCR identification of both males and females of P. citri and of P. ficus of different geographic origin.

Mating Disruption of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Vineyards using Reservoir Pheromone Dispensers

ABSTRACT. Mating disruption field experiments to control the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), were carried out in 2008 and 2009 in two commercial vineyards in Sardinia (Italy). The effectiveness of mating disruption was evaluated by testing reservoir dispensers loaded with 100 mg (62.5 g/ha) and 150 mg (93.8 g/ha) of the sex pheromone in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The number of males captured in pheromone traps, the P. ficus population density and age structure, the parasitism rate, the percentage of ovipositing females, and the crop damage were compared between disrupted and untreated plots. In both field trials, the number of males captured in mating disruption plots was significantly reduced by 86% and 95%, respectively. Mating disruption at the initial dose of 62.5 g/ha of active ingredient gave inconclusive results, whereas the dose of 93.8 g/ha significantly lowered the mealybug density and modified the age structure, which showed a lower percentage of ovipositing females and a higher proportion of preovipositing females. Mating disruption did not affect negatively the parasitism rate, which was higher in the disrupted than in the control plots (> 1.5-fold). Crop damage at harvest was very low in both field trials and did not differ between treatments. Mating disruption was effective in wide plots protected with dispensers loaded with 150 mg of the sex pheromone, showing its potential to be included in the overall integrated control programs in Mediterranean wine-growing regions.

Spatial distribution and sequential sampling plans for Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in greenhouse tomato crops

BACKGROUND The within- and between-plant distribution of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), was investigated in order to define action thresholds based on leaf infestation and to propose enumerative and binomial sequential sampling plans for pest management applications in protected crops. RESULTS The pest spatial distribution was aggregated between plants, and median leaves were the most suitable sample to evaluate the pest density. Action thresholds of 36 and 48%, 43 and 56% and 60 and 73% infested leaves, corresponding to economic thresholds of 1 and 3% damaged fruits, were defined for tomato cultivars with big, medium and small fruits respectively. Greens method was a more suitable enumerative sampling plan as it required a lower sampling effort. Binomial sampling plans needed lower average sample sizes than enumerative plans to make a treatment decision, with probabilities of error of <0.10. CONCLUSIONS The enumerative sampling plan required 87 or 343 leaves to estimate the population density in extensive or intensive ecological studies respectively. Binomial plans would be more practical and efficient for control purposes, needing average sample sizes of 17, 20 and 14 leaves to take a pest management decision in order to avoid fruit damage higher than 1% in cultivars with big, medium and small fruits respectively.

Seasonal phenology of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected and open-field crops under Mediterranean climatic conditions

The population structure and dynamics of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta were investigated in a protected tomato crop and on potato and tomato crops and Solanum nigrum plants under open-field Mediterranean climatic conditions (Sardinia) by captures in pheromone-baited traps and visual inspection of host plants. In the greenhouse crop, male captures and leaf infestation were low in winter and increased steadily in spring up to 797.3 males/trap/week and 6.4 mines/leaf, respectively. Under open-field conditions, males were captured all year round with a peak in early September, concurrently with highest mean daily temperatures. Pest density in potato crops was very low (<0.3 mines/leaf), as well as on S. nigrum (0.16 mines/leaf). Conversely, high pest infestation was observed in tomato leaves (3.8 mines/leaf) and fruits (27% damaged fruits). Eggs, larvae and adults were detected over two consecutive winters, indicating that T. absoluta can develop continuously over the year under natural conditions. Parasitoids were recorded throughout the survey at low rates (≤16.1%). The most active beneficials were Necremnus tutae and Neochrysocharis formosa in protected and open-field crops, respectively. The tomato leafminer completed 6 generations in the greenhouse tomato crop during the winter-spring growing season, whereas in open-field crops the pest completed two generations on winter potato and 4-5 in spring-summer tomato. The degree-day model based on minimum and maximum temperatures reliably described the population dynamics in the protected crop, and estimated the completion of 7.4 generations per year under open-field Mediterranean conditions.

Variation of life-history parameters of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in response to grapevine nitrogen fertilization

The effects of different nitrogen fertilization regimes on body size and selected life‐history parameters (development time, survival, fecundity and fertility) of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), were investigated on potted grapevines under laboratory and screenhouse conditions. In both trials, five groups of four grapevines each were supplied with 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/l of ammonium nitrate fertilizer for a month and then artificially infested with 200 first‐instar vine mealybugs (24 h of age). The concentration of nitrogen on grape leaves was measured during both experiments by a SPAD chlorophyll metre, showing statistical differences among treatments. The nitrogen fertilization significantly affected the investigated P. ficus parameters, providing consistent results in both laboratory and screenhouse trials. The vine mealybug females exhibited higher survival and fecundity, larger body size and lower development time on plants supplied with higher nitrogen fertilization rates. Survival, body size and fecundity of P. ficus were positively correlated with the leaf nitrogen concentration, whereas the development time was negatively correlated. Fertility did not vary significantly among treatments. Our results show that high nitrogen regimes increase the reproductive performance of P. ficus on grapevines and point out the importance of implementing balanced fertilization plans in grapevine IPM programs to reduce population densities and prevent insect outbreaks.

Spatial analysis of gypsy moth populations in Sardinia using geostatistical and climate models

1 Spatial fluctuations of the Sardinian population of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) were characterized using geostatistical and climate models. Data on gypsy moth egg mass abundance recorded at 282 permanent monitoring sites from 1980 to 2004 were incorporated in a geographic information system with the vegetational, geomorphological and pedological features of the sites. 2 Statistical analyses revealed that the relative outbreak frequency was related to the predominant host tree, slope and elevation of the monitoring sites, whereas there was no correlation between outbreak frequency and exposure and soil type. 3 By using bioclimatic modelling, probability maps of gypsy moth outbreaks were generated. The model identified a probability surface with climatic conditions favourable to gypsy moth outbreaks and thus potentially subject to defoliation. The maps included 92 sites where outbreaks never occurred, suggesting that the Sardinian climate may not be a determinant factor for gypsy moth outbreaks. 4 The geostatistical method cokriging with outbreak frequency as a covariate was found to be the most suitable technique to estimate gypsy moth egg mass abundance. Semivariograms showed spatial correlation of egg mass abundance within the range 18.5–53 km. The results obtained were used to create regional gypsy moth distribution maps by cokriging, which demonstrated the outbreak foci and different infestation levels at each monitoring area. These results can help to delimit the treatment areas and develop rational gypsy moth management programmes.

Comparative development and reproduction of Planococcus ficus and Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on grapevine under field conditions: Biology of P. ficus and P. citri on grapevine

Mealybugs are major pests in grape‐growing areas worldwide, causing direct and indirect crop damage. The vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) is a key pest in most of grape‐producing countries, whereas the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) is reported as being destructive in Brazilian and Spanish vineyards. We examined the adaptation of the citrus mealybug to grapevine by investigating its development, reproduction and life‐history parameters under Mediterranean field conditions in comparison with those of P. ficus. Both mealybug species developed and reproduced successfully on grapevine. However, P. ficus showed a shorter development time, larger female body size, and higher fecundity, fertility and survival than P. citri. The life‐history parameters further highlighted the different growth potential of vine and citrus mealybug populations because P. ficus exhibited a net reproductive rate and an intrinsic rate of increase two‐ to four‐fold higher than that of P. citri. Furthermore, the vine mealybug population doubled its number in approximately half time with respect to the citrus mealybug. Overall, the results of the present study show a better development and reproductive performance and a higher population growth potential of P. ficus compared with P. citri, indicating a higher capacity of the vine mealybug to develop on grapevine in Mediterranean vineyards.

Influence of mating disruption on the reproductive biology of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), under field conditions: Influence of mating disruption on Planococcus ficus biology

BACKGROUND Although mating disruption is increasingly being used to control the worldwide grapevine pest vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), its mode of action remains unclear. A 3-year field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of mating disruption on the development and reproduction of the vine mealybug. The influence of mating disruption applied over consecutive years on the pest population density was also evaluated. RESULTS The percentage of ovipositing females was significantly reduced in disrupted plots by 18.8-66.2%, depending on the year. The absence of ovipositing females in disrupted plots in the autumn of the second and third years indicates the effectiveness of mating disruption throughout the whole growing season. Mating disruption consistently prolonged the pre-oviposition period in all years by up to 12.5 days. CONCLUSION Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the pheromone-based control of the vine mealybug and indicate that the reduction of the pest population density is attributable to both a decrease and a delay in female mating. In addition, the population density of vine mealybugs under mating disruption decreased over the years, indicating that consecutive applications of this control strategy would significantly increase the effectiveness of control of the vine mealybug by mating disruption.