| Pollen of Garden rose (Rosa hybrida L.) may not be an appropriate diet for Amblyseius swirskii |
| Paper ID : 1105-IPCA5 |
| Authors |
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Khashayar Saremi Javid *1, Shima Rahmani2 1Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran 2Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. |
| Abstract |
| Pollen grains of the Rosaceae plant species are generally recognized as nutritious food for establishing and rearing the generalist Phytoseiidae mites. Most pollens of this family are rich in protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, and flavonoids that affect the mites’ development and fertility. In addition, secondary metabolites, and volatile compounds emitted from these pollens can influence the behavior of predatory mites, either by attracting or repelling them. In the present study, several biological parameters of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot were evaluated while feeding on the pollen of Garden rose (Rosa hybrida L.) under constant conditions (25±1°C, 60±5% Relative humidity (RH), and a 16:8 h L: D photoperiod). The experiments were initiated with 24 h-old eggs, and the experimental units supplied with the pollen grain were checked every 24 h. Predators in control were fed with immature stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch as natural prey. After the emergence of adults, one female was paired with one male of the same treatment and the evaluation continued to assess the reproductive parameters. From 50 individuals in both treatments, three escapes (one protonymph and two females) were recorded from the experimental units of control. However, in the Garden rose pollen treatment, 17 escapes were recorded including one protonymph, four deutonymphs, seven female adults, and five male adults. The results obtained from biological traits demonstrated that the individuals' longevity in control and the rose pollen treatment was 41.46 and 43.29 days, respectively. Additionally, no mortality was recorded during the immature stages in both treatments and all remaining individuals successfully developed into adults. Predatory mites fed Garden rose pollen oviposited a mean of 17.78 eggs/day, though the mites in the control, laid 21.61 eggs/day. The life expectancy (exj) of newly emerged female mites fed the natural prey was 41.06 days, which was longer than that of females fed on rose pollen, with 37.44 days. It was concluded that the pollen grain of Garden rose could be nutritious for A. swirskii, but more studies are needed to explore the behavior of the predator when encountering the odor of this rosaceous pollen. |
| Keywords |
| Biological control, Predatory mite, Alternative diet, Pollen, Odor |
| Status: Abstract Accepted |
