Molecular verification of commercialized Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) settlement before spider mite appearance in a Japanese pear orchard

Abstract

A report of our earlier study described a phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) release system using a moisturized sheltered sachet for spider mite control. For the present study, we installed the predator release systems on 43 out of 71 trees in a Japanese pear orchard to survey the dispersal of N. californicus released from the predator release system. In the orchard, Japanese pear trees were trained on the overhead horizontal trellis system. Consequently, the trees were mutually connected through the trellis training system. We collected phytoseiid mites on the tree leaves and were subjected to PCR to examine their species composition. Results demonstrated that N. californicus were 62.37% of the total of 3,247 phytoseiid mites collected. Using microsatellite markers, commercialized N. californicus that had been released from the predator release systems were discriminated from indigenous N. californicus. Results demonstrated that phytoseiid mites consisting mainly of the commercialized N. californicus occurred one week earlier in trees with the predator release systems. Results also demonstrated that the commercialized N. californicus dispersal occurred mainly in trees installed with the predator release systems.