Abstract
The mitefauna associated to Merlot and Chardonnay grapevine cultivars and associated plants in the municipalities of Bento Gonçalves and Candiota, Rio Grande do Sul was investigated. The study was developed between October 2006 and September 2007, where 20 grapevine plants were randomly chosen from each municipality and monthly sampled. Three leaves of each plant were taken. A total of 11,598 mites belonging to 14 families and to 52 species were found. Fifty-nine percent of the total specimens were collected in Candiota, being 93% associated to the Merlot cultivar. Higher species richness was observed on associated plants. Phytoseiidae showed the highest species richness, with ten species, and Eriophyidae showed the highest abundance, with 8,675 specimens. Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa, 1905) and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks, 1904) were the most common phytophagous mites, while Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) and Pronematus anconai (Baker ,1943) were the most common predators.
Highlights
Grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. (Vitaceae), was introduced in Brazil at 1532 by Martin Afonso de Souza expedition to São Paulo state (Lorenzi et al 2006)
The most important eriophyid mites associated to vineyards are Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa, 1905) and Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher, 1857) (Duso and De Lillo 1996; Jeppson et al 1975)
Three reported strains of Colomerus vitis, being each one characterized by the type of injury produced, are: the bud strain, the erineum strain and leaf-curling strain (Jeppson et al 1975; Flechtmann 1979; Duso and De Lillo 1996)
Summary
Vitis vinifera L. (Vitaceae), was introduced in Brazil at 1532 by Martin Afonso de Souza expedition to São Paulo state (Lorenzi et al 2006). The most important are those belonging to Eriophyidae, Tarsonemidae, Tenuipalpidae and Tetranychidae, since they frequently reach damage level in the vineyards (Reis and Melo 1984; Johann et al 2009; Schruft 1985; Monteiro 1994; Duso and De Lillo 1996; Botton et al 2003; Ferreira et al 2006). Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks, 1904) (Tarsonemidae) develops mainly on young leaves, turning down their edges, causing browning and necrosis (Monteiro 1994) This species was already reported in vineyards in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Johann et al 2009), it has not been considered of economic importance so far (Botton et al 2005). Despite the economic importance and the damage caused by some phytophagous mites on grapevine in Brazil, little is known about the species associated to this culture. The present work aimed to identify the mitefauna associated to Chardonnay e Merlot varieties and associated plants during the harvest of 2006/2007 in the municipalities of Bento Gonçalves and Candiota, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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