Abstract
Several species of the predatory mite family Phytoseiidae are of major economic importance for biological pest control in crops, including grapevines. Plant diversification in agrosystems is reported to enhance useful biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. Thus, agroforestry, which consists in co-planting trees and crops, is assumed to be a possible way to ensure regulation of pest outbreaks by phytoseiid mites. This paper investigates the effect of trees (Pinus pinea and Sorbus domestica) within vineyards on Phytoseiidae communities. Five experimental plots were considered, two where vines were co-planted with P. pinea and S. domestica, and three monoculture plots: vines, P. pinea and S. domestica. Sampling was carried out on vines and trees in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2012. A higher Phytoseiidae diversity was observed in agroforestry plots than in monoculture plots. Kampimodromus aberrans (replacing T. [ T.] exhilaratus) seemed to colonize these plots 15 years after its plantation, especially when vines were co-planted with P. pinea. Factors affecting these faunistical changes are discussed. Effects on Phytoseiidae densities differed depending on grape cultivartree species associations. Factors affecting these interactions are discussed; plant diversity does not simply lead to a higher density and diversity of natural enemies.
Highlights
Relationship between biodiversity and pest control is of major interest for sustainable crop production in a framework of agroecological researches (Philpott 2013; Crowder and Jabbour 2014)
The present study aims to test the latter hypotheses applying on the effect of agroforestral management of vineyards on the communities of a predatory mite family: Phytoseiidae
This paper provides a synthesis of the first studies assessing large-time scale impact of agroforestry on Phytoseiidae communities in vineyards
Summary
Relationship between biodiversity and pest control is of major interest for sustainable crop production in a framework of agroecological researches (Philpott 2013; Crowder and Jabbour 2014). Plant diversity within plots is assumed to affect diversity and Phytoseiidae density, some herbaceous and flowering plants being favourable to these predators (Flaherty 1969; Coli et al 1994; Lozzia and Rigamonti 1998; Tixier et al 1998; Kreiter et al 2000, 2002; Nicholls et al 2001; De Villiers and Pringle 2011; Dhiel et al 2012; Moura et al 2013). The hypothesis tested is that vine agroforestry management, i.e. combining trees and vines in a same field, could enhance biological control, by positively affecting Phytoseiidae communities in a framework of agroecological crop protection (Ratnadass et al 2012). The two main questions assessed at different time scales are: (i) Does agroforestry management affect Phytoseiidae density and diversity? (ii) Does agroforestry impact differ according to vine cultivars and co-planted tree species?
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