Department of Plant Protection

Morphological and genetic variability of Aculops lycopersici (Acari: Eriophyoidea) populations colonizing / deriving from different habitats and host plants.

Dr hab. Mariusz Lewandowski, Dr. Sauro Simoni

RETIBIO II. Support activities in organic agriculture for the maintenance of experimental long-term set and the strengthening of networks of relationships at national and international level. Financed by Council for Agricultural Research and Economics – Research Center for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), via Lanciola 12a, 50125 Firenze, Italy (CREA-ABP), 2018.

Morphological and genetic variability of Aculops lycopersici (Acari: Eriophyoidea) populations colonizing / deriving from different habitats and host plants.

Dr hab. Mariusz Lewandowski, Dr. Sauro Simoni

RETIBIO. Support activities in organic agriculture for the maintenance of experimental long-term set and the strengthening of networks of relationships at national and international level. Financed by Research Center for Agrobiology and Pedology, via Lanciola 12a, 50125 Firenze, Italy (CREA-ABP), 2016-2017.

Warsaw Plant Health Initiative (GA 286093)

FP7-REGPOT-2011-1-286093

WULS Plant Health

REGPOT-CT-2011-286093-WULS Plant Health

WP2: Upgrade of Entomology research teams

Work Package Leader: Prof. Zbigniew T. Dąbrowski

The general objective of WP2 is enhancement of research and networking capacity of Entomology research teams and their cross-disciplinary integration by the following activities: upgrading human capacity, upgrading material capacity through organizing a specialized micro- and nano-encapsulation laboratory, improving visibility, mobility & co-operation within ERA through promotion of WPHC accomplishments and competitive advantages, organizing a mini-symposium and pre- & post-symposium workshops.

The WP 2 teams:

Functional biodiversity lead by Prof. Zbigniew T. Dąbrowski

Ethology lead by Dr Sławomir Lux

Plant resistance to pest attack lead by Prof. Małgorzata Kiełkiewicz-Szaniawska

The impact of genetically modified maize varieties expressing the cry 1 Ab (Bt) gene on the environment: impact on selected groups of arthropods “as part of the commissioned research project” Environmental and economic aspects of allowing genetic plant cultivation

start date 15/01/2007 / end date: 31/12/2011.

Head of the topic: prof. dr hab. Dąbrowski ZT

Contractors: prof. dr hab. Hurej M., prof. dr hab. Klukowski Z., dr inż. Twardowski J., dr. Eng. Bereś P., M.Sc. Eng. Grabowski M., mgr. Eng..Czapla A.

Description: In the growing season of 2010, field studies on the impact of maize with the MON 810 trait on selected groups of foliar and soil fauna were continued. The flow of the toxic Cry 1 AB protein between maize plants – selected phytophagous species and their predators was analyzed. Particular attention was paid to the fauna of carabidae, recognized as indicators of environmental quality.

Spets (Acari: Eriophyoidea) inhabiting native species of conifers in Poland, (own research project, N309 00332/0554)

start date: 04/13/2007 / end date: 04/12/2010

Topic manager: dr inż. Lewandowski M.

Contractors: prof. dr hab. Bacon J .; dr inż. Kaźmierczak B.

Description: In the years 2006-2010, studies of the species composition of spells inhabiting native species of conifers were carried out. During the study, the species composition of predatory mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae family and fuitophages belonging to the Tetranyidae family was also determined. The results of the research indicate that 25 species of spools belonging to the Eriophyidae and Phytoptidae families are associated with conifers. Two of them, Cupacarus abietis and Tegonotus jaworzynus inhabiting the silver fir Abies alba (Pinaceae) were new to knowledge. In addition, there were seven new species for Polish fauna: Boczekella laricis Farkas, 1965, Nalepella danica Bacon, Harding & Shi, 2002, Nalepella haarlovi Bacon, 1962, Setoptus multigranulatus Castagnoli, 1973, Trisetacus ehmanni Keifer, 1963, Trisetacus Sternersus &yermus gemerm. , 1972, Trisetacus laricis (Tubeuf, 1897), Trisetacus piceae (Roivainen, 1951).

As a result of the analysis of the collected material, a redescription of three species of spoil was made. In addition, four species were revised, resulting in a new combination of the species Calepiitrinerus juniperi (Szulc, 1967) and Proiectus farkasi (Boczek, 1969) and two new synonyms. Phyllocoptes piceae Soika, 1999 was considered synonymous with the species Phyllocoptes characteristics Boczek & Michalska, 1989, and Boczekella retucukata Bagnyuk, 1987 as synonymous with the species Boczekella laricis Farkas, 1965.

There are also seven species of predatory mites from the Phytoseiidae family and two from the Tetranyidae family. Among the philippines, three species were recorded for the first time in Poland: Anthoseius inopinatus Wainstein, 1975, Anthoseius toruli Karg & Edland, 1987, Typhlodromus singularis (Chant, 1957).

Ecological observations were carried out in parallel with the faunal research. The parameters and the structure of the dominance of the observed species and the biodiversity of the studied sites were determined. In addition, the influence of selected factors on the size of the studied population of unicorns was determined. In the case of three species of the genus Trisetacus, the variability of morphological features between populations from different locations, microhabitats or host plants was investigated. The obtained results indicate a different degree of variability of the studied populations within the same species, but they do not allow for the determination of the factors that shape it.

Polotrophic interactions between hoppy spider mite, western thrips and predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii (A.-H.) on greenhouse cucumber treated with biostimulant growth. (own project No.N N310 119437),

start date: 28/09/2009 / end date: 27/09/2012.

Head of the topic: prof. dr hab. Anna Tomczyk

Contractors: Prof. dr hab. Danuta Kropczyńska-Linkiewicz, technician Anna Załęska

Description: The development of the hop population and Western thrips on greenhouse cucumber plants treated with plant growth biostimulants: Asahi and Siapton.
Both biostimulants used limited the development of the spider mite population and decreased female fertility. The use of biostimulants limited the possibility of the development of the spider mite on the cucumber plants sprayed with them. Plants were less damaged, their growth was more intensive and they produced more flowers than those infected but not treated with biostimulants.

There was no reduction in the number of thrips on cucumber plants after the use of selected biostimulants, on the contrary, a tendency was observed for a better development of thrips on these plants and an increased degree of plant damage. The attacked plants, treated with biostimulants, developed a similar or larger number of flowers compared to the plants on which the biostimulants were not applied, but it did not result in an increase in the yielding intensity.

Potential of the Phytoseiidae predatory mite complex to effectively regulate the number of spider mites on ornamental nursery plants (own research project N310007 32/0555)

start date: 04/22/2007 / end date: 08/22/2010

Topic manager: Dr. Puchalska E.,

Contractors: Dr. Kaźmierczak B., prof. dr hab. Kropczyńska D.

Description: The aim of the project was to determine which of the Picea abies varieties and species and varieties of the genus Salix grown in ornamental plant nurseries are particularly endangered by spider mite outbreaks, and to determine which representatives of phytoseiid mites could be used as natural enemies of spider mites, effectively limiting their populations on these plants. As a result of the research, it was proved that willows grown in nurseries of ornamental plants can be inhabited by such species of Tetranyidae as: Schizotetatachus schizopus (Zacher), S. garmani (Pritchard and Baker) and Tetranyus urticae (Koch); and the only representative of spider mites inhabiting spruces is Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi). The indexes of the density, intensity and extensiveness of the colonization of individual plant taxa by spider mites determined by the authors showed that among the willows, the most exposed to numerous populations of spider mites are: S. helvatica, S. caprea ‘Kilmarnock’, S. purpurea ‘Pendula’ and S. lanata . The varieties of Picea abies that are particularly endangered by the development of large populations of the spider mite are: ‘Inversa’, ‘Remontii’, Waldbrund ‘,’ Nidiformis’, ‘Pumila Glauca’, ‘Pumila Nigra’, ‘Echiniformis’ and’ Wills Zwerg ‘. The project found that even in chemically protected nurseries of ornamental plants, spruce and willow trees can be inhabited by predatory mites from the Phytoseiidae family. In the nursery material, such species have been identified as: Typhlodromus tiliae (spruces), T. pyri, Phytoseius macropilis, Ph. echinus and Ph. juvenis (willows). Observations carried out in forest and park ecosystems on the colonization by Phytoseiidae of native counterparts of willows and spruces grown in nurseries, i.e. S. alba, S. caprea and P. abies have shown that the willows growing in such biocenoses apart from T. pyri, Ph. macropilis and Ph. echinus, are also inhabited by E. finlandicus and the species that has been designated as new to the fauna of Poland – Ph. severus. Amblyseius andersoni and Anthoseius bakeri were found on natural spruce trees outside T. tiliae. The study determined the consistency of the occurrence of individual species of Phytoseiidae on willows and spruces growing in nurseries and in forest and park ecosystems. The strength of the association of benefactors with individual victims was established and parameters illustrating the development and reproductive potential of Phytoseiidae on species of spider mites inhabiting ornamental willows and spruces were developed. The resistance of individual benefactors to hunger, nutritional requirements and the ability to survive on a substitute food such as rapeseed pollen were also determined. All these indicators, as well as the results of the experiment on the efficiency of benefactors in limiting the population of spider mites and competition for a niche within the Phytoseiidae complex, showed that when developing a biological protection program for spruce and willows grown in ornamental plant nurseries, one should take into account such species of predatory mites as: andersoni, T. tiliae, T. pyri, and E. finlandicus.

2006 – 2009 “Economics of spermatophore production in two spermatophytes differing in the degree of sex dissociation” Project no. 2PO4C 025 30.

Project manager: Katarzyna Michalska

The aim of the study was to check the expenditure of spermatophores by male disgusts, with particular emphasis on the role of other individuals in the population in shaping these expenses. The subjects of the research were two species of free-living ugly dogs with significantly different reproductive tactics and intensity of competition between males; plum rust mite, peach aculus fockeui, a dangerous pest of plum, peach and other Prunus sp., and Aculops allotrichus from Robinia pseudoacacia L. Research has shown that male spermatozoa can be “flexible” in the production of spermatophores. It depends, however, on the species of spell. Only male A. fockeui changed the rate of spermatophore assembly in the presence of competitors, spermatophores, and male and immobile female nymphs. The two species of ugly also differed in the expenditure on spermatophores. Males of A. fockeui composed on average a dozen, and males of A. allotrichus – only a few spermatophores per day. Male robinia males had a much higher coefficient of variation in the rate of spermatophore assembly, their spermatophores were smaller and contained less sperm than A. fockeui. The low rate of spermatophore assembly in A. allotrichus is presumably a consequence of the association of males with immobilized female nymphs. Although the size of the males (in A. allotrichus males are smaller than in A. fockeui) may also determine the size of the gonads, and thus the fertility of this species.

Field lands as a reservoir of predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) for plantations of selected berry crops (own project, N31000832 / 0556).

start date: 16/05/2007 / end date: 15/05/2010.

Head of the topic: prof. dr hab. Bacon J.

Contractors: prof. dr hab. Dąbrowski ZT, prof. dr hab. Kropczyńska-Linkiewicz D., prof. dr hab. Wysocki C., Dr. Sikorski P., MA Garnis J.

Description: Species analysis of flora and fauna surrounding strawberry and raspberry plantations showed that predatory mites from the Phytoseiidae family prefer such plant species as: nettle, common cuckoo, dormouse blackberry, blackberry. Herbaceous plants on the balks constituted a “biological vengeance” between the shrubs and trees growing in the background, such as elderberry, common hazel, black alder and blackthorn plum. It has been shown that Amblyseius andersoni, Euseius finlandicus, Neoseiulus reductus, Phytoseius echinus are important species in the biological fight against spider mites in strawberry and raspberry crops. The obtained results may contribute to the proper shaping of the plantation’s surroundings (ecological infrastructure) in order to increase the effectiveness of biological pest control.