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Pirmoghni A, Shahmoradi B, Taymoori P, Bagheri A, Nasrollahi P, Karimi Z, Mohammadian F, Emami N, Choi H. Application of the theory of planned behavior to model the intention and behavior of tomato growers in pesticide exposure. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35794. [PMID: 39170219 PMCID: PMC11337015 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Widespread and indiscriminate use of pesticides has become one of the most important environmental and public health problems around the world. This study was conducted with the aim of applying the theory of planned behavior model to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of tomato growers in the face of pesticides in agricultural lands located in Kurdistan province, western Iran. We included 300 tomato growers in this study and they filled up a standard TPB questionnaire containing questions about basic information, knowledge, attitude and behavior about pesticides and their actions for disposing of the residual spray solution, washing place of pesticide sprayer, and the disposal of water from washing the equipment. Most of the respondents, 86.7 %, had not participated in promotional classes on how to dispose of the residual solution. Approximately 46.15, 38.46, and 15.39 % of pesticides contained moderately toxic, slightly toxic and practically non-toxic compounds, respectively. More than two-thirds (89 %) of the tomato growers stated that they leave the water from washing the equipment in the field. In addition, among the three variables of TPB, attitudes had the highest score (3.38), which indicated the positive to relatively neutral attitude of farmers towards the safe use of pesticides. These findings can be useful for planners and environmental organizations to make effective interventions to reduce environmental pollution caused by pesticides. Since the incorrect use of pesticides is one of the important environmental and health factors, education and awareness programs can help farmers to consider the correct use of pesticides and environmental protection more.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Pirmoghni
- Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - B. Shahmoradi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - P. Taymoori
- Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Asghar Bagheri
- Department of Agricultural Management and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran
| | - Parisa Nasrollahi
- Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Zhino Karimi
- Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Farough Mohammadian
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Naier Emami
- Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Abu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - H.J. Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Catholic Kwandong University, Republic of Korea
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Tixier MS, Raeckelboom A, Tabary L, Douin M, Navajas M, Navia D. Ambulatory dispersal of Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki Wainstein (Acari: Phytoseiidae) along Solanceae stem. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024:10.1007/s10493-024-00946-z. [PMID: 39088130 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00946-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Tomato crops are attacked by several pests, including mites. While the main predatory mites are not effective enough to control mite pests, recent studies have shown encouraging results with the European endemic phytoseiid Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The first objective of the study was to assess the ability of this species to disperse along the tomato stem, considering six genotypes of Solanum lycopersicum, S. peruvianum and S. cheesmaniae with contrasted trichome numbers and types of stem trichomes, accuratetly characterised in a previous study. The second objective was to determine how predator morphological traits can explain dispersal along the tomato stem. For this, ambulatory dispersal ability of females (stem crossing rate success, hesitation and escape behavior, mobility periods) was tested in lab conditions on the eight Solanum genotypes, at four period of time after the predator introduction (10, 25, 55 and 100 min), with a video observation of 5 min at each period. The females were then mounted on slides and body length and width (at the fore hind, middle and back parts) measured. No effect of the tomato genotypes was observed on the dispersal ability of the predator. However, specimens that succeeded in crossing the stem, had a higher percentage of mobility time (79.36%) than those that failed (43.60%). Furthermore, body width at midbody (DSW2) and dorsal shield length (DSL) were negatively correlated with dispersal ability. The mean DSL and DSW2 of the females that succeed to cross were 342.3 and 160.9 μm, respectively vs. 345.6 and 164.9 μm, for females that did not succeed. This suggests that the more slender and relatively small the specimens, the more are mobile and able to successfully cross the stem. The number of glandular trichomes type (GT) VI and to a lesser extent GT I and IV, and non-glandular trichomes (NGT) II&III appear to limit dispersal. The GT VI seems to have a repellent effect. On the opposite, the number of NGT V were positively correlated with high mobility and stem crossing rates. Assuming that the main barrier to biological control efficiency is dispersal along tomato stems, these preliminary results should have implications for biological control success. The proportion of mites with 'optimal dimensions' appears to be low and further studies should be undertaken to better assess the proportion of mites with such ideal dimensions in different populations and also to determine whether these morphological traits are associated with different feeding abilities and/or abiotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-S Tixier
- CBGP, Institut Agro Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - A Raeckelboom
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro Montpellier, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - L Tabary
- CBGP, Institut Agro Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - M Douin
- CBGP, Institut Agro Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - M Navajas
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro Montpellier, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - D Navia
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro Montpellier, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Maret D, Wäckers F, Pijnakker J, Norgrove L, Sutter L. The predatory mite Pronematus ubiquitus curbs Aculops lycopersici damage under greenhouse conditions. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1904-1911. [PMID: 38062929 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is a major worldwide pest infesting tomato crops for which only few control methods are available. At present, no commercialized beneficial organism has proven to be an effective biological control agent of the pest. As there is a strong need to develop alternatives to synthetic insecticides, we assessed the efficacy of an iolinid mite, Pronematus ubiquitus, as a preventive method against A. lycopersici in comparison with a curative treatment in a replicated experiment in the greenhouse. RESULTS After pre-establishment of P. ubiquitus supplied with cattail pollen, followed by infestation of A. lycopersici, the predator was able to reduce pest populations by 98% as compared with control plants. Probably due to lack of food and high temperature, the number of P. ubiquitus decreased during the season and so the Eriophyid population rose, along with crop damage. The sulphur treatment could stop the progress of A. lycopersici, but their population levels remained high. CONCLUSION Pronematus ubiquitus has great potential to prevent the establishment of the tomato russet mite. Even if a curative treatment affects the pest mite, the use of a preventive method is preferable as such insecticides/acaricides are harmful for beneficials and are applied after symptom appearance, when the pest pressure is already high. Despite the need to optimise management of the predator throughout the season, P. ubiquitus proved to be able to establish successfully on tomato plants. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Maret
- Agroscope, Plant Production Systems, Conthey, Switzerland
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Lindsey Norgrove
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Louis Sutter
- Agroscope, Plant Production Systems, Conthey, Switzerland
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Moerkens R, Vangansbeke D, Duarte MVA, Bellinkx S, De Roo E, Pijnakker J, Wäckers F. Modelling the interaction between a pest (Aculops lycopersici), two predators (Pronematus ubiquitus and Macrolophus pygmaeus) and climate variables: a 3-year greenhouse study in a tomato crop. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:5362-5373. [PMID: 37632129 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is a major pest in tomato crops, causing damage through leaf and stem browning, defoliation and russeting of fruit. Biological control of this mite on tomato plants is difficult. While several phytoseiid mites feed on the pest, they cannot survive, move, or reproduce on tomato plants due to the presence of glandular trichomes. Pronematus ubiquitus has recently been identified as a biocontrol agent of A. lycopersici in tomato crops, but the predator-prey interaction between these two species is not well studied. In this paper, we present a validated logistic regression predator-prey model based on a 3-year study supplemented with additional datasets. Besides the predator and the prey, this model takes into account an extra generalist predator, Macrolophus pygmaeus, and various climate parameters. RESULTS The population trend of A. lycopersici is best explained by the presence of the predator P. ubiquitus, the relative humidity and the fact that the crop was lit or unlit using artificial light. P. ubiquitus has proved to be an efficient biocontrol agent of A. lycopersici. For P. ubiquitus the presence of M. pygmaeus, the vapour pressure deficit, the number of light hours and radiation explained the population trend best. For both the predator and the prey density-dependent interactions were identified. Model outcomes are discussed in detail. CONCLUSION Our study provides insights into the potential use of P. ubiquitus as a biocontrol agent for A. lycopersici in tomato crops in combination with M. pygmaeus. However, we highlight the importance of considering the presence of other predators and environmental conditions when developing integrated pest management strategies. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Pijnakker J, Hürriyet A, Petit C, Vangansbeke D, Duarte MVA, Arijs Y, Moerkens R, Sutter L, Maret D, Wäckers F. Evaluation of Phytoseiid and Iolinid Mites for Biological Control of the Tomato Russet Mite Aculops lycopersici (Acari: Eriophyidae). INSECTS 2022; 13:1146. [PMID: 36555055 PMCID: PMC9784113 DOI: 10.3390/insects13121146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Our search for a suitable biological agent to control the tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici, was initiated in 2013. Neoseiulus californicus, Amblyseius andersoni, and Neoseiulus fallacis showed a promising pest reduction potential in a curative control strategy. Although these beneficials had a low survival on tomato and were not able to eradicate the pest, plants did not present typical TRM damage. However, their inability to establish in the tomato crop means that their commercial use would require repeated introductions, making their use too expensive for growers. Other predatory mites in the survey, such as the iolinids Homeopronematus anconai and Pronematus ubiquitus, showed the potential for a preventative strategy as they can establish and reach high densities on tomato with weekly or biweekly provision of Typha angustifolia pollen as a food source. When the tomato crop was adequately colonized by either iolinid, the development of TRM and any damage symptoms could be successfully prevented. The potential of iolinid predatory mites for biological control of eriophyids is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asli Hürriyet
- R&D Department, Biobest Group N.V., 2260 Westerlo, Belgium
| | - Clément Petit
- R&D Department, Biobest Group N.V., 2260 Westerlo, Belgium
| | | | | | - Yves Arijs
- R&D Department, Biobest Group N.V., 2260 Westerlo, Belgium
| | - Rob Moerkens
- R&D Department, Biobest Group N.V., 2260 Westerlo, Belgium
| | - Louis Sutter
- Agroscope, Plant-Production Systems, 1964 Conthey, Switzerland
| | - Dylan Maret
- Agroscope, Plant-Production Systems, 1964 Conthey, Switzerland
| | - Felix Wäckers
- R&D Department, Biobest Group N.V., 2260 Westerlo, Belgium
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Legarrea S, Janssen A, Dong L, Glas JJ, van Houten YM, Scala A, Kant MR. Enhanced top-down control of herbivore population growth on plants with impaired defences. Funct Ecol 2022; 36:2859-2872. [PMID: 36632134 PMCID: PMC9826462 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Herbivore densities can be regulated by bottom-up and top-down forces such as plant defences and natural enemies, respectively. These forces can interact with each other to increase plant protection against herbivores; however, how much complementarity exists between bottom-up and top-down forces still remains to be fully elucidated. Particularly, because plant defences can hinder natural enemies, how these interactions affect herbivore performance and dynamics remains elusive.To address this topic, we performed laboratory and greenhouse bioassays with herbivorous mite pests and predatory mites on mutant tomato plants that lack defensive hairs on stems and leaves. Particularly, we investigated the behaviour and population dynamics of different phytophagous mite species in the absence and presence of predatory mites.We show that predatory mites do not only perform better on tomatoes lacking defensive hairs but also that they can suppress herbivore densities better and faster on these hairless plants. Hence, top-down control of herbivores by natural enemies more than compensated the reduced bottom-up herbivore control by plant defences.Our results lead to the counter-intuitive insight that removing, instead of introducing, plant defence traits can result in superior protection against important pests through biological control. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saioa Legarrea
- Evolutionary and Population BiologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands,Departamento de Agricultura y AlimentaciónUniversidad de la RiojaLogroñoSpain
| | - Arne Janssen
- Evolutionary and Population BiologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands,Department of EntomologyFederal University of ViçosaViçosaBrazil
| | - Lin Dong
- Evolutionary and Population BiologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Alessandra Scala
- Evolutionary and Population BiologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Merijn R. Kant
- Evolutionary and Population BiologyInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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Evaluation of Natural and Factitious Food Sources for Pronematus ubiquitus on Tomato Plants. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121111. [PMID: 34940199 PMCID: PMC8703740 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Biocontrol practitioners have increasingly released generalist predators to control a variety of greenhouse pests. In this study, the effects of alternative food sources on the oviposition rate and the population dynamics of the mite Pronematus ubiquitus were assessed. The alternative food sources were selected among those the mite may encounter or be applied to the tomato crop. Abstract Pronematus ubiquitus (McGregor) is a small iolinid mite that is capable of establishing on tomato plants. Once established, this mite has been shown to control both tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici (Tryon) (Acari: Eriophyidae), and tomato powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici L. Kiss). In the present study, we explored the effects of a number of alternative food sources on the oviposition rate in the laboratory. First, we assessed the reproduction on food sources that P. ubiquitus can encounter on a tomato crop: tomato pollen and powdery mildew, along with tomato leaf and Typha angustifolia L. In a second laboratory experiment, we evaluated the oviposition rate on two prey mites: the astigmatid Carpoglyphus lactis L. (Acari: Carpoglyphidae) and the tarsonemid Tarsonemus fusarii Cooreman (Acari: Tarsonemidae). Powdery mildew and C. lactis did not support reproduction, whereas tomato pollen and T. fusarii did promote egg laying. However, T. angustifolia pollen resulted in a higher oviposition in both experiments. In a greenhouse trial on individual caged tomato plants, we evaluated the impact of pollen supplementation frequency on the establishment of P. ubiquitus. Here, a pollen addition frequency of every other week was required to allow populations of P. ubiquitus to establish.
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