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10Естественные и технические науки
SPIDER MITES (TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH) IN TOMATOES BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
R.D. Muminova1
Tomatoes are an important food product in more than 100 countries, and are grown on a large scale in all regions and districts of the republic. Pests such as phytophagous mites and red spider mites are causing a lot of damage to the tomato plant. Red spider mites typically prey on plants that are closely related to and members of the tomato family, such as potatoes, eggplants, black nightshades, and weeds. When it's hot and dry, red spider mite damages and losses in greenhouse tomatoes are greater. Spider mites are tiny and difficult to spot, but when they siphon tomato plant juices, they pose significant issues. They create cottony webs on the foliage and can cause the leaves to turn brown or yellow and fall off the plant. To control spider mites, healthy plants are more resistant to harm from mites and other pests. A specialized predator of spider mites like the two spotted spider mite is Phytoseiulus persimilis (TSSM, Tetranychus urticae Koch). It has been a crucial tool for controlling spider mites in greenhouses for many years.
Key words: biological control, spider mites, tomato, chemical control, product.
Introduction. In the world, tomatoes are grown as a food product in more than 100 countries. Tomato is an important product in the human diet. Especially on hot summer days, tomatoes are not missing from our table. Tomatoes are grown on a large scale in all regions and districts of our republic on farms and private plots of residents. Therefore, it is natural that the necessary recommendations on protecting it from pests, increasing its productivity, and the results of scientific analysis will be interesting and useful for everyone 7.
Today, several types of pests damage the tomato crop under greenhouse conditions. This does not meet the criteria of providing the population with quality food products. In addition, there are cases of reduction of the yield due to pests. From 10% to 90% of the total yield can be lost due to pests and the diseases they cause. In order to continuously provide the population with these products throughout the year, it is important to find ways and means of effective protection of their crops from diseases and pests. Currently, phytophagous mites are causing a lot of damage to the tomato plant 8.
The pale-orange to crimson tomato red spider mites feed on the underside of leaves. They are difficult to see with the unaided eye. On the top of the tomato leaf, feeding damage brought on by sucking sap manifests as numerous shining pale-yellow markings. The leaves eventually become brown, die, or are removed. A severe attack causes the plant to develop webs. Red spider mites are challenging to eradicate but not impossible. Red spider mites typically prey on plants that are closely related to and members of the tomato family. For instance, potatoes, eggplants (biringanya), black nightshades (managu), and weeds like sodom apple. Spider mites are ubiquitous. Without taking into account other plants, you cannot manage them on tomato. When it's hot and dry, the mite population grows quickly. Because of the higher temperatures and dryer circumstances, red spider mite damages and losses in greenhouse tomatoes are greater 6.
Spider mites are tiny and difficult to spot, but when they siphon tomato plant juices, they pose significant issues (Lycopersicon esculentum). Tiny dots can be seen on the leaves of a tomato plant that is infected. The bugs create cottony webs on the foliage and, if unchecked, eventually cause the leaves to turn brown or yellow and fall off the plant. Because healthy plants are more resistant to harm from mites and other pests, make sure tomato plants are adequately hydrated and nourished 45.
1Muminova Rano Dalabaevna - Candidate of agricultural sciences, docent, Tashkent State Agrarian University.
Fig. 1. Eggs of twospotted spider mite (top right) are smaller and more spherical than the more oval-shaped eggs of P. persimilis (bottom left). (University of Florida)
Many of our tomato troubles are caused by the two spotted spider mite. At 1/32 of an inch or smaller, they are quite tiny. Turning over a tomato leaf reveals the webbing that spider mites are known for, and if you look closely, you might be able to see the mite itself moving. In mild winters, spider mites can survive the winter as adults and even carry on reproducing on their host plants. Adult spider mites lay clear to yellow eggs that are suspended in a fine silk web. The eggs hatch into 6-legged nymphs, which undergo two molts before becoming 8-legged adults. Depending on the temperature, a generation can last from 5 to 20 days; the hotter it is, the shorter its lifespan 1.
Spider mites are pests that thrive in hot, dry circumstances and are devastating during the hot season. By draining the moisture from the plants, they can seriously harm them by making them dry and thirsty. Spider mites are quite prevalent and can go unseen, but if they are not controlled, they can pose a serious threat. Although they can be found on many types of plants, spider mites are most frequently seen on flowers and vegetables. In order to shield themselves from parasites and predators, spider mites will coat leaves and branches with silk. Their unpredictable behavior and affinity for busy areas are further signs of spider mites 2.
Biological Control. A specialized predator of spider mites like the two spotted spider mite is Phytoseiulus persimilis (TSSM, Tetranychus urticae Koch). It has been a crucial tool for controlling spider mites in greenhouses for many years since it is a highly voracious and successful predator on a variety of horticultural and decorative crops. Since Phytoseiulus persimilis is a highly specialized predator of spider mites, the presence of spider mites as prey is necessary for prolonged egg production 3.
Chemical control. To get rid of spider mites on tomato plants, apply the natural insecticide abamectin. It functions by destroying the spider mites' eggs. Use of this insecticide is risk-free, and it won't damage the soil or your plants. When the spider mites are little and the leaves have a yellow tint, use abamectin. When the leaves are still green, avoid using abamectin. To each plant, apply the pesticide in the proper quantity. Apply again as necessary.
Fig. 2. Phytoseiulus persimilis adult beside eggs of the twospotted spider mite (Biobest Sustainable Crop Management)
A systemic fungicide called bifenazate is used to manage spider mites on tomato plants. It is offered as a powder or a concentration that dissolves in water. Small arachnids called spider mites eat the leaves of plants. They bring about the yellowing and death of leaves. Spider mites and their eggs are both killed by bifenazate, making it a powerful tool for managing them on tomato plants. This substance can be applied to tomato plants either before or after blooms have been pollinated. It comes in spray and dust forms.
Fig. 3. Twospotted spider mites heavily infesting tomato leaves (Tom Bilbo)
Spider mites on tomato plants can be treated with the synthetic insecticide spiromesifen. It can be used as a drench or foliar spray and is offered as a liquid or powder. Spiromesifen is safe to apply on the majority of plants and will destroy mites and their eggs. Spider mites on tomato plants can be effectively treated with spiromesifen. The chemical can be used as a soil drench or foliar spray and destroys the mites by interfering with their metabolism.
To get rid of spider mites on tomato plants, apply the insecticide etoxazol. As a systemic insecticide, etoxazol passes through the entire plant, from the roots to the foliage. Because they act faster and are better at managing huge populations of spider mites, systemic pesticides are frequently more effective than other types of pesticides for getting rid of spider mites. Etoxazol
kills spider mites by interfering with their ability to use energy. It keeps your tomatoes healthy and gets rid of spider mites in a secure and efficient manner.
References:
1. Nihoul, P., Van Impe, G., & Hance, T. (1991). Characterizing indices of damage to tomato by the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari; Tetranychi-dae) to achieve biological control. Journal of Horticultural Science, 66(5), 643-648.
2. Ferrero, M., Calvo, F. J., Atuahiva, T., Tixier, M. S., & Kreiter, S. (2011). Biological control of Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard and Tetranychus urticae Koch by Phytosei-ulus longipes Evans in tomato greenhouses in Spain [Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytosei-idae]. Biological control, 58(1), 30-35.
3. Raworth, D. A., Gillespie, D. R., Roy, M., & Thistlewood, H. M. A. (2001). Tetranychus urticae Koch, twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae). In Biological Control Programmes in Canada, 1981-2000 (pp. 259-265). Wallingford UK: CABI Publishing.
4. Van Haren, R. J. F., Steenhuis, M. M., Sabelis, M. W., & De Ponti, O. M. B. (1987). Tomato stem trichomes and dispersal success of Phytoseiulus persimilis relative to its prey Tetranychus urticae. Experimental & applied acarology, 3(2), 115-121.
5. Gillespie, D. R., Quiring, D. J. M., & Greenwood, M. (1997). Collection and selection of natural enemies of twos potted spider mites for biological control. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 94, 7-12.
6. French, N., Parr, W. J., Gould, H. J., Williams, J. J., & Simmonds, S. P. (1976). Development of biological methods for the control of Tetranychus urticae on tomatoes using Phytoseiulus persimilis. Annals of Applied Biology, 83(2), 177-189.
7. Muminova, R. D. (2021). Spider Mite Acarifages. European Journal of Agricultural and Rural Education, 2(4), 69-70.
8. Muminova, R., & Makhmudova, S. (2022). Biological efficiency of the drug spider duo 28% ks against rust mite on tomato. The American Journal of Agriculture and Biomedical Engineering, 4(05), 8-11.
© R.D. Muminova, 2023.
