Abstract
The nutritional quality of the host plant is one of the most important factors of growth and reproduction for crop pests. In order to investigate the impact of nitrogen on the biology and demography of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), cucumber plants were nourished by four levels of nitrogen: N1 (10 meq /L NO3-), N2 (12 meq/L NO3-), N3 (15 meq/L NO3-) and N4 (20 meq /L NO3-). The experiments were performed under laboratory conditions at 25+/-1 °C, 60+/-5 % RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hours. Based on the results, increasing nitrogen nutriment was associated with a diminution of pre-imaginal duration in female mites from 13.13 to 10.74 days. In the opposite direction, the population reared on nitrogen-deficient cucumbers exhibited the highest rates of net fecundity (36.79 eggs/female) and net fertility (27.22 eggs/female). However, no considerable variation was demonstrated in fertility life-table parameters. The greatest net reproductive rate (R0) was observed when using the deficient (N1) nitrogen solution (22.12 females/female/generation). Additionally, the intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was estimated to be 0.178, 0.171, 0.183 and 0.185 females/female/day on cucumbers which were nourished by 10 to 20 meq/L NO3-, respectively. Finally, the mean population doubling time (DT) ranged from 3.72 to 4.04 days, and was at a minimum with the excess (N4) nitrogen solution and at a maximum with the moderately deficient (N2) treatment
Highlights
The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) has been considered as one of the most deleterious pests of many crops throughout the world (Zhang, 2003)
Several studies have been conducted to clarify the impact of nitrogen on biology and reproductive parameters of T. urticae and most of obtained results have revealed a positive correlation between nitrogen concentrations and fecundity of two-spotted spider mites (Hoffland et al, 2000; Chow et al, 2009)
The aim of this research was to quantify the effect of different nitrogen concentrations in hydroponic solutions on biology and demographic parameters of two-spotted spider mite reared on cucumber under laboratory condition
Summary
The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) has been considered as one of the most deleterious pests of many crops throughout the world (Zhang, 2003). TSSM as one of the most abundant pests of cucumber inflicts sever damages on this crop (Hussey and Parr, 1963) Leaves infected by this mite have more or less irregular yellow spots on upper surface owing to mites feeding from leaf cell contents. Nitrogen (N) has been known as a pivotal macronutrient for plant nutrition that plays an important role for herbivore performance (Scriber and Slansky, 1981). This mineral nutrient is required in highest amounts by plants and most frequently limiting the growth and yield of crops (Daniel-Vedele et al, 2010). The aim of this research was to quantify the effect of different nitrogen concentrations in hydroponic solutions on biology and demographic parameters of two-spotted spider mite reared on cucumber under laboratory condition
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