Effect of nitrogen fertilization on growth of Arundo donax and on rearing of a biological control agent, the shoot gall-forming wasp Tetramesa romana

Abstract

The shoot tip-galling wasp Tetramesa romana Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) has been released for biological control of giant reed or arundo (Arundo donax L.) (Poaceae), an invasive grass in the USA and Mexico. The role of urea fertilization to improve plant-based mass-rearing was examined. In a greenhouse study, rhizomes were fertilized with urea pellets at rates equivalent to 1000 kg (low), 2000 kg (moderate), and 4000 (high) kg N per ha–1. Total nitrogen content of ungalled stems was significantly 0.60–0.65% higher under low and moderate fertilization compared to unfertilized pots, and shoot water content was elevated 3–4% at all urea levels. Moderate fertilization significantly (by 1.4-fold) increased the relative growth rate of all shoots in pots, but did not affect final dry biomass. Fertilization did not affect number and duration of probing events by females. The percentage of shoots colonized by wasps that were galled, progeny production per shoot and per female, and emergent wasp size were not affected. However, average generation time (adult to adult) of emergent wasps was 4–5 days shorter on shoots in pots under moderate and high urea fertilization. After a four-week wasp emergence period, only 3–9% of progeny remained in fertilized shoots, while 21% of progeny remained inside unfertilized shoots. In field plots, fertilization did not affect gall density per m shoot length or per female released. Urea fertilization increased the efficiency of greenhouse rearing of the arundo wasp and availability of adults for release, even without direct effects on gall production.