Effects of Climatic Fluctuations on Potentialities of Phytoseiid Species and A Biopesticide in Solo Applications against Pests of the Pepper (Capsicum annum L.)

Abstract

Climatic conditions and their fluctuations are playing an important role in the potentiality of predatory mite species in the biological control applications. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of temperature and relative humidity fluctuations on the efficiency of the predatory mites and a biopesticide Egyxide to control Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Thrips tabaci
Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) infestations on Yellow-Delta-Star pepper in winter and summer seasons. Amblyseius swirskii Athias- Henriot, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans), and Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski & Amitai) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were the predatory mite species used in this study. The
study was carried out according to complete randomised block design experiments. The experimental size under high plastic-net tunnel conditions consisted of six sections and three replicated plots. Temperature and relative humidity significantly affected predation potentialities after inundative release. All predatory species showed high reduction responses during winter weeks. Data showed significant correlation between bio-agents and the biopesticide to the temperature changes in winter and relative humidity in summer. Amblyseius swirskii and N. cucumeris showed high reduction percentages in winter than summer weeks. In addition, C. negevi recorded an adaptability and non-significant responses to temperature fluctuations in both experimental seasons. Egyxide has recorded the least reduction against all targeted pests in both seasons. In conclusion, the study would recommend using A. swirskii, N. cucumeris, and C. negevi during winter weeks to guarantee achieving successful biocontrol application. Especially in the dry arid locations such as the Egyptian Agro-ecosystems