Avocado Thrips Research Articles

Assessment of microbial antagonistic activity and Quorum Sensing Signal Molecule (Cyclopeptides-DKPs and N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones) detection in bacterial strains obtained from avocado thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The control of avocado pests and diseases heavily relies on the use of several types of pesticides, some of which are strictly monitored or not internationally accepted. New sources of bioactive molecules produced by phytopathogen-inhibiting microorganisms offer an excellent alternative for the control of pests and diseases. This study explores the potential antagonistic action against phytopathogenic microorganisms, using bacterial strains obtained from avocado thrips. In addition, we detected and identified quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules that are related to virulence factors and antibiotic production. The results showed that Bacillus, Pantoea, and Serratia strains exhibited antagonism against five fungal phytopathogens. Additionally, some bacteria also produce specific signaling molecules like N-3-(oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (OdDHL), N-(3-oxo)-hexanoyl l-HL (OHHL), 4‑hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (HHQ) or 2-heptyl-3,4-dihydroxyquinoline (PQS, Pseudomonas quinolone signal), cyclo(L-Phe-l-Pro), and cyclo(L-Pro-l-Tyr, which might give them antimicrobial properties. This research explores the biotechnological potential of these bacteria in fighting the diseases affecting avocados in Colombia.

Thrips Microbiome Study in Commercial Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) from Northwest Colombian Andes (Antioquia, Colombia) Shows the Presence of Wolbachia, Ehrlichia, Enterobacter

Microbiota associated with insects play several important roles in their host, including protection against pathogens, provision of nutrition, and survival in hostile environments. The aim of this work was to identify the bacterial community found in avocado thrips from Northwestern Colombia (Antioquia department) in order to find isolates for potential biocontrol purposes. Culture-dependent methods based on 16S rRNA and gyrase B gene sequencing in 42 bacterial isolates allowed the identification of the genera Bacillus, Serratia, Moraxella, Pantoea, and Sphingomonas. Microbial diversity detected with the temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) technique on three morphotypes of thrips, named brown (Scirtothrips hansoni), black (Frankliniella panamensis), and pale (Frankliniella sp.), showed a low bacterial community density (Shannon–Wiener index = 1480, p > 0.05) with significant differences among morphotypes (R = 0.7877, p = 0.0004). Results obtained with Illumina sequencing on the V1–V2 hypervariable region of the subunit 16S rRNA showed a predominant sequence in the brown morphotype (Scirtothrips hansoni) that belongs to the genus Wolbachia. The 16S amplicon analyses were extended to more samples and higher resolution using the V4–V5 hypervariable region. The results showed six additional bacteria phyla, confirming the previous observation for the dominant bacterial groups made in S. hansoni and the detection of the alternation of highly predominant genera among these thrips. Our results demonstrate that endosymbiont such as Wolbachia sp. are part of the microbiota of these pests, thereby indicating the possibility of employing this type of bacterium to improve the management of avocado thrips globally.

Two New Strains of Wolbachia Affecting Natural Avocado Thrips.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-021-00951-5.

Characterization of plant growth-promoting bacteria associated with avocado trees (Persea americana Miller) and their potential use in the biocontrol of Scirtothrips perseae (avocado thrips).

Plants interact with a great variety of microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere or the epiphytic and endophytic phyllosphere and that play critical roles in plant growth as well as the biocontrol of phytopathogens and insect pests. Avocado fruit damage caused by the thrips species Scirtothrips perseae leads to economic losses of 12–51% in many countries. In this study, a screening of bacteria associated with the rhizosphere or endophytic phyllosphere of avocado roots was performed to identify bacterial isolates with plant growth-promoting activity in vitro assays with Arabidopsis seedlings and to assess the biocontrol activity of the isolates against Scirtothrips perseae. The isolates with beneficial, pathogenic and/or neutral effects on Arabidopsis seedlings were identified. The plant growth-promoting bacteria were clustered in two different groups (G1 and G3B) based on their effects on root architecture and auxin responses, particularly bacteria of the Pseudomonas genus (MRf4-2, MRf4-4 and TRf2-7) and one Serratia sp. (TS3-6). Twenty strains were selected based on their plant growth promotion characteristics to evaluate their potential as thrips biocontrol agents. Analyzing the biocontrol activity of S. perseae, it was identified that Chryseobacterium sp. shows an entomopathogenic effect on avocado thrips survival. Through the metabolic profiling of compounds produced by bacteria with plant growth promotion activity, bioactive cyclodipeptides (CDPs) that could be responsible for the plant growth-promoting activity in Arabidopsis were identified in Pseudomonas, Serratia and Stenotrophomonas. This study unravels the diversity of bacteria from the avocado rhizosphere and highlights the potential of a unique isolate to achieve the biocontrol of S. perseae.

The Scirtothrips perseae species-group (Thysanoptera), with one new species from avocado, Persea americana.

Following recent molecular studies on avocado thrips, a new species is described from Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia from the young leaves of avocado, Persea americana. Scirtothrips hansoni sp.n. is closely related to the Californian pest, S. perseae, and also to S. astrictus from Costa Rica that remains known from a single female. An illustrated key to these three species is provided.

Seasonal timing of neonicotinoid and organophosphate trunk injections to optimize the management of avocado thrips in California avocado groves

The timing of trunk injections of the organophosphate, acephate, and two systemic neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and dinotefuran, was evaluated in field trials for the management of avocado thrips. Following treatments, leaves were sampled over a 6-month period to determine the period of efficacy for each insecticide. The efficacy of acephate was determined using bioassays. Imidacloprid and dinotefuran residues in leaves were quantified by ELISA to determine the window of efficacy for these treatments based on previously determined biological dose response data. In addition, residues in fruit were quantified to determine whether trunk injection of insecticides might present a greater risk for contaminating fruit than traditional application methods. The timing of trunk injection treatments significantly impacted the uptake of imidacloprid and dinotefuran, with mid- and late-leaf flush periods proving more effective in terms of rate of uptake and degree of persistence at threshold levels. Acephate was mobilized very rapidly and gave good control of thrips in bioassays; however, residues of acephate, and its insecticidal metabolite methamidophos, were detected in the fruit for up to 4 weeks after injection. Imidacloprid was most effective when injected during the mid-flush period, which allowed levels to establish within the trees over a period of time when thrips would be actively feeding on young leaf tissue. The establishment of dinotefuran in trees was very rapid following trunk injection. However, its use was compromised by the inability of the chemical to reach effective concentrations for thrips control. Residues of dinotefuran were detected in fruit sampled from one tree, but the levels were below typical MRLs for other crops treated with this insecticide. Imidacloprid was not detected in any fruit sampled from trees in which imidacloprid had established in leaf tissue at concentrations that were toxic to avocado thrips. Overall, trunk injection of imidacloprid could be a viable option for avocado thrips control. However, residues of acephate in fruit may preclude its use because of the requirement for increased pre-harvest intervals. Dinotefuran injections may also be useful due to the rapid uptake and establishment within the canopy; however, it will be necessary to determine whether higher doses of dinotefuran can deliver the required levels of insecticide necessary for thrips control, without contaminating the fruit with residues.

Investigating Alternatives to Traditional Insecticides: Effectiveness of Entomopathogenic Fungi and <I>Bacillus thuringiensis</I> Against Citrus Thrips and Avocado Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a plant-feeding pest most widely recognized for causing damage to citrus (Citrus spp. L. [Rutaceae]) and mango (Mangifera indica L. [Anacardiaceae]) fruits. This insect has recently broadened its known host range to become a significant pest of California grown blueberries. Avocado thrips, Scirtothrips. perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a recent, invasive pest of California avocados, Persea americana Mill. (Laurales: Lauraceae). Effective alternatives to traditional pesticides are desirable for both pests to reduce impacts on natural enemies and broaden control options in an effort to minimize pesticide resistance via rotation of control materials. We evaluated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. israelensis proteins (Cyt 1A and Cry 11A, activated and inactivated) and multiple strains (GHA, 1741ss, SFBb1, S44ss, NI1ss, and 3769ss) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against both species. Avocado thrips and citrus thrips were not susceptible to either Bt protein tested, regardless of activation status. All strains of B. bassiana were able to infect both avocado thrips and citrus thrips. However, the commercially available GHA strain was the most effective strain against both species and had a faster rate of infection then the other strains tested. Citrus thrips were more susceptible than avocado thrips to all B. bassiana strains (LC50 and LC95 of 8.6 x 10(4) and 4.8 x 10(6) conidia per ml for citrus thrips, respectively). Investigation of citrus thrips field control using the GHA strain of B. bassiana is therefore justified.

Evaluation of neonicotinoid, organophosphate and avermectin trunk injections for the management of avocado thrips in California avocado groves

Trunk injections of systemic insecticides were evaluated for the management of avocado thrips. Insecticide residues were quantified in leaves to determine when after treatment, and for how long, toxic concentrations of the insecticides were present. Residues in fruit were quantified to determine whether trunk injection of insecticides might present a greater risk than traditional application methods for contaminating fruit. Residues of imidacloprid and dinotefuran were at least tenfold higher in leaves when trees were treated via trunk injection compared with soil application. Dinotefuran uptake was more rapid than imidacloprid, and no residues were detected within fruit. Acephate was also mobilized very rapidly and gave good control of thrips in bioassays; however, residues of acephate and its insecticidal metabolite methamidophos were detected in the fruit for up to 4 weeks after injection. Avermectin uptake was very slow, and it was ineffective against avocado thrips. Trunk injections of acephate and dinotefuran permitted rapid uptake into avocados, and they are strong candidates as control methods for avocado thrips. However, residues of organophosphates in fruit could necessitate increased preharvest intervals. Residues of neonicotinoids were below detection limits in fruit, suggesting that neonicotinoids may be the more suitable control option of the two chemical classes.

Field evaluation of systemic imidacloprid for the management of avocado thrips and avocado lace bug in California avocado groves

The efficacy of systemic applications of imidacloprid for the management of avocado thrips and avocado lace bug was determined in field trials. Following insecticide treatment by chemigation, leaves of appropriate age for each insect were sampled over a 6 month period and used for bioassays. Imidacloprid residues were measured by ELISA in leaves used for bioassays to determine concentrations of insecticide that were toxic to both pests. The uptake of imidacloprid into treated trees was extremely slow, peaking in the current year's leaf flush at only 8 ng cm(-2) leaf tissue after 15 weeks. Avocado thrips mortality in bioassays with young flush leaves, the preferred feeding substrate for this insect, was minimal, indicating that imidacloprid concentrations were below threshold levels needed for effective control. Residues present in older leaves, which are preferred by the avocado lace bug, were higher than in young flush leaves, and provided good control of this pest. Probit analysis of bioassay data showed that the avocado lace bug (LC(50) = 6.1 ng imidacloprid cm(-2) leaf tissue) was more susceptible to imidacloprid than the avocado thrips (LC(50) = 73 ng imidacloprid cm(-2) leaf tissue). In spite of the slow uptake of imidacloprid into avocado trees, the levels of imidacloprid would be sufficient to control avocado lace bug infestations. In contrast, the slow uptake would be problematic for avocado thrips control because inadequate levels of insecticide accumulate in new flush foliage and would allow avocado thrips populations to build to levels that would subsequently damage developing avocado fruit.

Toxicity of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides to avocado thrips in nursery avocado trees

The efficacies of four systemic neonicotinoid insecticides applied to potted avocado trees at manufacturer-recommended rates were assessed against the avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara. At the time of treatment, fully expanded first-flush young leaves were tagged for identification, and a proportion of these leaves was used in bioassays with second-instar thrips. At 7 weeks post-treatment, a second flush of leaves had fully expanded on the trees, and these leaves were included in additional bioassays comparing avocado thrips mortality on both first- and second-flush leaves. In bioassays with first-flush leaves, imidacloprid (273 mg AI pot(-1)) was the most effective insecticide, providing at least 70% mortality of thrips for 14 weeks. Thiamethoxam (137 mg AI pot(-1)), clothianidin (109 mg AI pot(-1)) and dinotefuran (241 mg AI pot(-1)) provided good control in bioassays that were conducted within 4 weeks of treatment, but thereafter their efficacies were inconsistent. In bioassays with second-flush leaves, imidacloprid provided at least 70% mortality up to 9 weeks after the insecticide application. Thereafter, mortality declined to 30% or lower. Bioassays with second-flush leaves collected from trees treated with thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran resulted in unacceptably low thrips mortality. Monitoring of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam residues by ELISA showed that the greater persistence of imidacloprid in both first and second leaf flushes was due to a steadier uptake of this material. Although thiamethoxam residues rose quickly within the first leaf flush, levels had already begun to dissipate by the time the second leaf flush had started to develop.

Population genetics of Scirtothrips perseae: tracing the origin of a recently introduced exotic pest of Californian avocado orchards, using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

AbstractThe Californian avocado industry has recently been impacted by the establishment of three exotic arthropod pests that are native to Mexico and Central America. Establishment of all three pests is thought to have resulted from illegal movement of host plants (avocado) into California. To identify likely sources and routes of entry of such pest invasions, we examined the population genetics of the most recent invader, avocado thrips [Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)], using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers. The mtDNA sequences revealed three geographically distinct and divergent lineages, of which the mtDNA haplotypes of Californian individuals were most closely related to populations in the center of the pest's native range. Analysis of allele frequencies at four microsatellite loci added resolution, indicating Coatepec Harinas, Mexico, as the most likely source of the Californian population. Statistically, we did not detect any bottleneck in population size associated with the invasion of California. However, estimates of the effective population size of the invading population suggest that a severe bottleneck occurred, indicating that the quantity of host‐plant material entering California was small. Our findings implicate Coatepec Harinas, a large avocado germplasm and breeding center, as the most likely source of the introduced Californian population of S. perseae and as a likely source of previous and future avocado pest introductions. Efforts to identify natural enemies of S. perseae for biological control should focus on Coatepec Harinas and immediate surrounds. Moreover, identification of the source of invasive pests enables the establishment and enforcement of plant quarantine and free‐trade protocols.

Resistance of avocado thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to sabadilla, a botanically derived bait

Bioassays were conducted on four avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara) populations in southern California that had had limited past exposure to the botanical pesticide sabadilla, with the objective of establishing baseline susceptibility levels for the purpose of resistance monitoring. Reports of avocado thrips resistance in a grove that had received six sabadilla sprays over 2 years were confirmed when a bioassay indicated resistance ratios of 7.6 and 18.8 at the LC50 and LC90, respectively. Owing to the availability of other unrelated pesticides, sabadilla sprays were discontinued at this site, and, after 5.5 years, resistance ratios had dropped to near baseline levels. Avocado thrips baseline susceptibility to cyfluthrin was also obtained from one grove for future resistance monitoring studies. Resistance management principles are discussed in relation to the limited future options available for avocado thrips control.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the avocado thrips Scirtothrips perseae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

AbstractThe recent invasion of California by avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae, has had a serious economic impact on the Californian avocado industry. Here we report the isolation and characterization of six microsatellite loci for S. perseae, four of which were highly polymorphic (number of observed alleles ranged from three to 13 and expected heterozygosity from 0.31 to 0.87). These markers will be used to investigate the invasion history and route of entry into California of S. perseae. Three of the six loci successfully amplified in other Scirtothrips and Neohydatothrips species.

Quantification of imidacloprid toxicity to avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), using a combined bioassay and ELISA approach

A competitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique was evaluated for quantifying titres of imidacloprid in homogenates of leaf discs sampled from avocado plants treated with systemic applications of imidacloprid 240 g litre(-1) SC (Admire). Matrix effects were evident with undiluted leaf tissue homogenates, but these were effectively eliminated by dilution of homogenates in water. In a field trial conducted in a commercial nursery, there was an excellent correlation between imidacloprid residues within leaves and avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara) mortality. However, with subsequent sampling over a 2-month period, the relationship between mortality and apparent imidacloprid concentration became less robust, suggesting that the material was being degraded within the plant to non-toxic metabolites. Nevertheless, assessments of thrips mortality on leaves that had been recently treated with imidacloprid established a lower threshold of activity for imidacloprid residues of 6 ng cm(-2) leaf. Limitations on the use of ELISA to quantify the impact of systemic insecticides on pest populations are discussed.

Evaluation of augmentative releases of Franklinothrips orizabensis for control of Scirtothrips perseae in California avocado orchards

Abstract The efficacy of augmentative releases of a predatory thrips, Franklinothrips orizabensis, was assessed for control of avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae. F. orizabensis were released weekly at a rate of 50 pupae per tree into replicated experimental blocks in two different ‘Hass’ avocado orchards in southern California, USA. Thrips-days calculated from weekly population counts and yellow sticky card monitoring were used to compare S. perseae and F. orizabensis densities in release and non-release (control) blocks. Augmentative releases of this predator failed to demonstrate an ability to control low densities (

Avocado thrips: New challenge for growers

Avocado thrips arrived in California in 1996. Since then, we have made substantial progress in our understanding of this pest. We now know the area of origin of the avocado thrips and have compiled an inventory of other potential pest thrips species on avocados in Mexico and Central America. Trials have helped us to identify several selective insecticides for use in treating avocado thrips in orchards. We have also determined the relationship between thrips densities on leaves and fruit scarring, and are studying cultural and biological control practices for use in an evolving integrated pest management (IPM) program.