Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T03:50:21.603Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Damage on sweet orange fruits by the mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) and the population of its predatory mites in Southwestern Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2007

Vincent Umeh
Affiliation:
National Horticultural Research Institute, PMB 5432, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
Charles Amih
Affiliation:
National Horticultural Research Institute, Okigwe Sub-Station, Imo State, Nigeria
Joseph Kolade
Affiliation:
National Horticultural Research Institute, PMB 5432, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
Daniel Onukwu
Affiliation:
National Horticultural Research Institute, PMB 5432, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
Get access

Abstract

Introduction. Scars and blemishes on citrus fruits render them unacceptable to prospective local buyers as well as the export market. To ameliorate this situation, the populations of the phytophagous mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks (one of the agents at the origin of the damage observed) and its predatory mites were assessed in an orchard in the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria, during the 2000 and 2001 fruiting seasons. The damage inflicted upon the fruits of 12 varieties of orange trees was studied jointly. The aim of the study was to identify appropriate periods to initiate control and to assess varietal effects on mite attack. Materials and methods. Twelve varieties of sweet oranges arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications were used for the study. A stand of each variety was sampled per replicate to assess mite population and damage. Results and discussion. Mite populations and their damage on sweet orange varieties increased to fruit maturity. Washington Navel, Valencia Late, Agege and Lue Gin Gong varieties were most susceptible to mite attack and recorded higher fruit damage than the other varieties. The populations of the predominant predatory mites (the Bdellidae family) that attacked P. latus were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with their prey at high population periods. The detrimental effects of pesticide overuse on natural enemies were highlighted. Conclusion. The progressive increase in mite population suggests the need for initiating control of phytophagous mites in July before the peak population period of September for Nigeria.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences, 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anon., Integrated pest management for citrus, Univ. Calif., State Wide Integrated Pest management Project, Div. Agric. Nat. Resour., Publ. 3303, USA, 1991, 144 p.
Umeh, V.C., Aiyelaagbe, I.O.O., Kintomo, A.A., Giginyu, M.B., Insect pest situation and farmers’ practices in citrus orchards in the Southern Guinea savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, Niger, J. Hortic. Sci. 7 (2002) 2632.
Gilbert M.J., Bedford E.C.G., Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips aurantii Faure, in: Bedford E.C.G., Van Den Berg M.A., De Villiers E.A. (Eds.), Citrus pests in the Republic of South Africa, Dyn. Adv., Nelspruit, South Africa, 1998.
Grové, T., Giliomee, J.H., Pringle, K.L., Efficacy of colored sticky traps for citrus thrips Scirtothrips aurantii Faure (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in mango ecosystems of South Africa, Fruits 55 (2000) 253258.
Peña, J.E., Baranowski, B.M., Dispersion indices and sampling plans for the broad mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) and the citrus rust mite (Acari: Eriophydae) on limes, Environ. Entomol. 19 (2) (1990) 378382. CrossRef
Gerson, U., Biology and control of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), Exp. Appl. Acarol. 13 (3) (1992) 163178. CrossRef
Quiros-Gonzalez, M., Phytophagous mite populations on Tahiti lime, Citrus latifolia, under induced drought conditions, Exp. Appl. Acarol. 24 (2001) 897904. CrossRef
Anon., Annual Report, Plant Health Manag. Div., Int. Inst. Trop. Agric. (IITA), Cotonou, Repub. Benin, 2001, 171 p.
Anon., User’s guide: statistics, version 6.09. SAS Inst., Cary, North Carolina, NC, USA,1996.
Attaway A., Biochemistry of fruits and their products, Hulmes A.C. (Ed.), Acad. Press Lond., UK, 1971, pp. 107–161.
Dhuoibi, M.H., Gahbiche, H., Saaidia, B., Variations in Ceratitis capitata infestation of fruit according to fruit locations on the tree and orange ripeness, Fruits 42 (1) (1995) 435441.
Ortiz, J.M., Tadeo, J.L., Estelles, A., Carac-terísticas fisicoquímicas de ‘Navelina’, ‘Washington Navel’ y su evolución durante la maduración, Fruits 42 (1) (1987) 435441.
Anon., The citrus industry, vol. V., Pest biology and control, Univ. Calif., Agric. Nat. Res., USA, 1989, 374 p.
Whiteside J.O., Garnsey S.M., Timmer L.W., Compendium of citrus diseases, APS Press, USA, 1993, 80 p.
Quilici S., Geslin P., Trahais B., Manikom, R., Évolution des populations et méthodes de lutte contre le phytope des agrumes, la Réu-nion, Ann. ANPP2, 1/1 (1989) 273–280.
Vincenot, D., Quilici, S., Lutte raisonnée en vergers d’agrumes à l’île de la Réunion : expérimentation et développement, Fruits 50 (1) (1994) 2738.