Investigating population dynamics and evaluating damage incurred by Thripidae (Thysanoptera) species in citrus orchards of Northeastern Morocco: an exemplary analysis in Berkane

Abstract

Thrips are significant pest of crops, vegetables, and fruiting trees, and various species of thrips can infest citrus at fruit formation as well as new leaf sprouts. Thrips presence and damage can significantly reduce the export value of fruits, making them a major concern for citrus growers. Field studies were conducted to investigate the biodiversity and abundance of citrus thrips on an early fruiter citrus cultivar in experimental and commercial orchards of Morocco. In this study, we investigated the abundance, economic importance, dynamics, and seasonal fluctuations of citrus thrips in relation to citrus phenology. We identified four species of thrips that infest citrus orchards, including Frankliniella occidentalis, Pezothrips kellyanus, Scirtothrips sp, and Aeolothrips sp. Our results showed that the quantitative peak of thrips occurred during the blooming stage, and that the number of thrips caught on sticky traps during bloom could be a suitable predictive method for estimating final fruit damage. The population dynamics of thrips species were found to depend on several biotic and abiotic factors, including temperature, rainfall, and chemical interventions. We also observed that some citrus varieties were more susceptible to thrips attacks than others, with Washington navel and Maroc late being the most infested orchards with infestation rates of 32% and 24%, respectively. Our findings provide important insights into the abundance, economic importance, and seasonal fluctuations of citrus thrips, which can inform the development of effective control strategies to mitigate their damage in citrus orchards.