Abstract
BackgroundThe misuse of chemical insecticides has developed the phenomenon of habituation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causing enormous economic losses under geothermal greenhouses in southern Tunisia.ResultsIn order to develop means of biological control appropriate to the conditions of southern Tunisia, the efficacy of the native strain of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) and two entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium was tested against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Indeed, the introduction of N. tenuis in doses of 1, 2, 3, or 4 nymphs per tobacco plant infested by the whitefly led to highly significant reduction in the population of B. tabaci, than the control devoid of predator. The efficacy of N. tenuis was very high against nymphs and adults of B. tabaci at all doses per plant with a rate of 98%. Likewise, B. bassiana and L. muscarium, compared to an untreated control, showed a very significant efficacy against larvae and adults of B. tabaci. In addition, the number of live nymphs of N. tenuis treated directly or introduced on nymphs of B. tabaci treated with the EPF remained relatively high, exceeding 24.8 nymphs per cage compared to the control (28.6).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that the native strain of N. tenuis and the EPF tested separately were effective against B. tabaci. Their combined use appears to be possible.
Highlights
The misuse of chemical insecticides has developed the phenomenon of habituation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causing enormous economic losses under geothermal greenhouses in southern Tunisia
In the quest for an integrated pest management program, based on the use of biological control agents, appropriate to the conditions of geothermal greenhouse, in southern Tunisia and meeting the “Global Gap” standards that govern the export niche, this study evaluated the efficacy of the two entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) B. bassiana and L. muscarium and the native predatory bug N. tenuis
The predator and the pest were reared on a tomato crop in the same greenhouse of 9 × 30 m managed in organic mode, located at the Technical Center for Protected and Geothermal Crops in Chenchou Tunisia-Gabès (TCPG)
Summary
The misuse of chemical insecticides has developed the phenomenon of habituation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causing enormous economic losses under geothermal greenhouses in southern Tunisia. The geothermal greenhouse sector faces several phytosanitary constraints, including the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) the devastator of several agricultural crops This insect is one of the most destructive pests in the world (Oliveiraa et al, 2001). In southern Tunisia, this whitefly causes harmful damage to crops heated by geothermal waters (Bel Kadhi, 2004) Control of this pest has been based primarily on the use of conventional broad-spectrum chemical pesticides. In the quest for an integrated pest management program, based on the use of biological control agents, appropriate to the conditions of geothermal greenhouse, in southern Tunisia and meeting the “Global Gap” standards that govern the export niche, this study evaluated the efficacy of the two EPF B. bassiana and L. muscarium and the native predatory bug N. tenuis. The effect of these fungi on the survival of the predator was studied
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