Download - of Tuta absoluta
Alberto Urbaneja, Óscar Mollá, Miquel Alonso & Joel González-Cabrera
Unidad de Entomología
UJI-IVIA-CIB CSIC
Basis for integrating Bacillus thuringiensisand Nesidiocoris tenuis for biological control
of Tuta absoluta
• The tomato borer, Tuta absoluta is a
devastating pest of tomato originating from
South America.
• At the end of 2006, T. absoluta was detected in
eastern Spain
• This pest is present throughout the crop growing
cycle.
• If no control measures are taken, then pest can
cause up to 80-100% yield losses in recently
invades areas.
Invasion of Europe and MediterraneanBasin countries
Invasion of Europe and MediterraneanBasin countries
From: Desneaux et al. 2010. J Pest Sci 83:197–215
Disruption of IPM in Spanish tomato greenhouses
• IPM based in biological control and use of
bumblebees for pollination
• After T. absoluta detection, the most common
control method was based in the use of chemical
insecticides. These treatments :
– disrupt the existing IPM programs in tomato
based on biological control.
– Residues, may lead to resistance, etc
• It was urgent to implement environmentally safe
measures to manage T. absoluta limiting the use of
chemical insecticides
Biological Control
• Since its arrival in the Mediterranean Basin, a set of endemic
natural enemies have been reported on T. absoluta.
• Their suitability for T. absoluta biological control is currently
being evaluated.
Parasitoids Predators Entomopathogens
Natural enemies reported in the Mediterranean Basin
From: Desneaux et al. 2010. J Pest Sci 83:197–215
Stenomesius sp.
Necremnus artynes
Hymenoptera: Eulophidae
Larva
Adult
Pupa
Other natural enemies
Braconidae
Vespidae
Nabidae
Trichogrammatidae Phytoseiidae
Ants
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in controlling T. absoluta
• Several commonly used Bt
formulates reduced damage by
up to 98% in sprayed plants when
tested in laboratory assays.
• First instar larvae were the
most susceptible.
• Laboratory, greenhouse and open-
field experiments have evidenced
that Bt is highly efficient in
controlling T. absoluta
From: González-Cabrera et al. 2010. BioControl: In press
Control
Costar
Dipel
Xentar
i
Turex0
20
40
60
80
a
b b bb
A
Att
acke
d le
afle
ts/p
lant
Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in controlling T. absoluta
From: González-Cabrera et al. 2010. BioControl: In press
4,000 m2 tomato greenhouse Anecoop Museros (Valencia)
N. tenuis
Miridae as biocontrol agents
• Miridae commonly appear spontaneously and in large
numbers in protected and open-air tomato crops in the
Mediterranean region.
Miridae as biocontrol agents
• Miridae commonly appear spontaneously and in large
numbers in protected and open-air tomato crops in the
Mediterranean region.
• Zoophytophagous behavior and polyphagous
predator: they can make significant contributions to
control tomato pests as whiteflies, leafminers, trips and
spider mites.
N. tenuis
M. pygmeus
Miridae as biocontrol agents
• Miridae commonly appear spontaneously and in large
numbers in protected and open-air tomato crops in the
Mediterranean region (also used as inoculative BC).
• Zoophytophagous behavior and polyphagous
predator: they can make significant contributions to
control tomato pests as whiteflies, leafminers, trips and
spider mites.
• Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter and Macrolophus
pygmaeus (Rambur) were detecting preying upon T.
absoluta within the first year of its arrival in the
Spanish Mediterranean region.
Miridae as biocontrol agents
• Miridae commonly appear spontaneously and in large
numbers in protected and open-air tomato crops in the
Mediterranean region.
• Zoophytophagous behavior and polyphagous
predator: they can make significant contributions to
control tomato pests as whiteflies, leafminers, trips and
spider mites.
• Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter and Macrolophus
pygmaeus (Rambur) were detecting preying upon T.
absoluta within the first year of its arrival in the
Spanish Mediterranean region.
• In summer 2009, Dicyphus marrocannus Wagner
was also detected on preying on T. absoluta.
N. tenuis
M. pygmeus
D. marrocannus
Suitability of T. absoluta as prey for M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis
• Both predators preyed actively on T. absoluta eggs.
• Females consumed significantly more T. absoluta eggs than males
Male Female0
20
40
60
80 N. tenuisM. pygmaeus
# co
nsum
ed e
ggs
in 2
4 h
From: Urbaneja et al. 2009. J Appl Entomol 133: 292-296
Preyed by mirids
Healthy egg
L1 L2 L3 L40.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5N. tenuisM. pygmaeus
T. absoluta Instars
# pr
eyed
larv
ae• Number of larvae preyed on was significantly much lower that the number of eggs preyed on.• Both predators most frequently preyed upon the first instar
Suitability of T. absoluta as prey for M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis
From: Urbaneja et al. 2009. J Appl Entomol 133: 292-296
Biology of Nesidiocoris tenuis preying upon T. absoluta
• N. tenuis is able to complete its development preying exclusively upon T. absoluta in aprox. 14 d.
0 1 2 3 4 50
20
40
60
80
100
T. absolutaE. kuehniellaControl
Chi= 41,53; P< 0,0001
Estadio ninfal
% S
urvi
val
Immature survival (25ºC, 60 10%, 16:8 h L:D)
From: Mollá et al. 2011a. Submitted
Immature prey consumption (25ºC, 60 10%, 16:8 h L:D)
Tuta absoluta Ephestia kuehniella0
50
100
150
200 t44 = 5.122; P < 0.0001
# co
nsum
ed e
ggs
Biology of Nesidiocoris tenuis preying upon T. absoluta
From: Mollá et al. 2011a. Submitted
Field observations
(2008-2009)• When mirids were established in the crop,
they were able to reduce T. absolutainfestations
N. tenuis
M. pygmeus
D. marrocannus
Field observations
(2008-2009)• When mirids were established in the crop,
they were able to reduce T. absolutainfestations
• Mollá et al. (2009. IOBC WPRS Bulletin 49:209-
214) showed:
– when N. tenuis and M. pygmaeus were established in the crop
0
2
4
6
8
10 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# m
irids
per
pla
nt
Field observations
(2008-2009)• When mirids were established in the crop,
they were able to reduce T. absolutainfestations
• Mollá et al. (2009. IOBC WPRS Bulletin 49:209-
214) showed:
– when M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis were established in the crop
– Reduction up to 75 and 97% of leaflet infestations 0
10
20
30
40
50 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# in
fest
ed le
afle
ts p
er p
lant
0
2
4
6
8
10 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# m
irids
per
pla
nt
T. absoluta release
Field observations
(2008-2009)• When mirids were established in the crop,
they were able to reduce T. absolutainfestations
• Mollá et al. (2009. IOBC WPRS Bulletin 49:209-
214) showed:
– when M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis were established in the crop
– Reduction up to 75 and 97% of leaflet infestations
– 56% and 100% of fruit infestations.
0
10
20
30
40
50 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# in
fest
ed le
afle
ts p
er p
lant
06/05
/2008
20/05
/2008
03/06
/2008
19/06
/2008
03/07
/2008
18/07
/2008
04/08
/2008
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# in
fest
ed f
ruit
s pe
r pl
ant
0
2
4
6
8
10 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# m
irids
per
pla
nt
T. absoluta release
Field observations
(2008-2009)• When mirids were established in the crop,
they were able to reduce T. absolutainfestations
• Mollá et al. (2009. IOBC WPRS Bulletin 49:209-214) showed:
– when M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis were established in the crop
– Reduction up to 75 and 97% of leaflet infestations
– 56% and 100% of fruit infestations.
• During 2009, Arnó et al. (2009. IOBC WPRS
Bulletin 49:203-208) observed in 281 tomato crops (either greenhouse or open fields) than when 4.5 mirids/plant were present in a crop, fruit damage remained below 4%.
0
10
20
30
40
50 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# in
fest
ed le
afle
ts p
er p
lant
06/05
/2008
20/05
/2008
03/06
/2008
19/06
/2008
03/07
/2008
18/07
/2008
04/08
/2008
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# in
fest
ed f
ruit
s pe
r pl
ant
0
2
4
6
8
10 Control
Macrolophus pygmaeus
Nesidiocoris tenuis
# m
irids
per
pla
nt
T. absoluta release
• The integration of B. thuringiensis treatments with the inoculation or conservation of these predators may provide a safe strategy to manage this pest (B. thuringiensistargets young larvae and mirids prey preferentially on T. absoluta eggs).
• Therefore, we hypothesize that B. thuringiensistreatments applied immediately after initial T. absolutadetection on plants, do not interfere with mirid installation in the crop since T. absoluta eggs are available.
• Afterwards, B. thuringiensis treatment could be withheld to leave mirids alone to control the pest.
Hypothesis: Combined use of Bt and mirids
Combined use of Bt and N. tenuis against the tomato borer T. absoluta
• In 2009, greenhouse divided into 12 experimental cages (10 tomato plants per cage).
• To simulate a strong a constant T. absoluta attack on the crop, each cage was weekly infested with 10 T. absoluta couples.
• 4 treatments were assayed:
• Control
• 2 months of weekly Bt sprays + inoculation of N. tenuis
• 3 months of weekly Bt sprays + inoculation N. tenuis
• weekly Bt sprays + inoculation N. tenuis
2010: commercial trials Bt & Nt
• During 2010 the combined use of Bt & N. tenuis has been tested under different commercial situations:
• Open fields (staked tomato)
• Greenhouses (plastic and mesh)
• Different strategies have been assayed.
• Very positive results in all crops evaluated.
Conclusions
• Inoculative releases of the predator N. tenuis combined with B. thuringiensis treatments have proven highly
effective in reducing the damage caused by T. absoluta.
• In addittion, when N. tenuis is installed in the crop it will help
controlling other pests, such as whiteflies, spider mites or
trips, while B. thuringiensis treatments will prevent damage by
other lepidopteran pests such as Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner).
• In summary, our results suggest that the combination of N. tenuis and B. thuringiensis, is a cost-effective strategy for
tomato crop pest management. Overall, this is an
environmentally safe strategy, which may provide a clean
tomato yield without chemical residues, thereby increasing fruit safety and quality.
Alberto Urbaneja, Óscar Mollá, Miquel Alonso & Joel González-Cabrera
Unidad de Entomología. UJI-IVIA-CIB CSIC
Basis for integrating Bacillus thuringiensisand Nesidiocoris tenuis for biological control
of Tuta absoluta
This work was partially funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria (INIA-CC09-048)
and the Conselleria d’Agricultura, Pesca i Alimentació de la Generalitat Valenciana
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N������� 2012
12th International Citrus Congress
ICC
www.citruscongress2012.org