INTERACTIONS BETWEEN Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (L.) (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) AND CUCURBIT POWDERY MILDEW

Year 2026, Volume: 66 Issue: 1 , 1 - 9 , 31.03.2026

Furkan Yalçın , Selma Ülgentürk , Mehmet Salih Özgökçe

https://doi.org/10.16955/bitkorb.1758992

https://izlik.org/JA68RS68CE

Abstract

In cucurbit production, fungicides used to control powdery mildew, which significantly reduces product yield and quality, generate environmental pollution and residues. Sustainable approaches are therefore needed to control this disease. To evaluate the potential of Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a biological control agent against Erysiphe cichoracearum (DC.) (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae), biological parameters and population dynamics were determined under controlled conditions (25±2 °C, 70±5% humidity, 12:12 photoperiod) for two generations. A two-sex, age-stage life table approach was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that mean lifetime fecundity ranged from 317.48±142 to 376.55±146 eggs per female. P. vigintiduopunctata completed its development in 26.7–28.4 days in both generations. The total longevity of females was 102 to 108 days, while males had a lifespan of 106 to 107 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of the predator on E. cichoracearum was found to be between 0.0788 and 0.0829 females/day, while the mean generation time (T) varied between 58.7 and 61.5 days. The gross reproductive rate (GRR), which represents the number of offspring produced per female per generation, ranged from 219.5 to 228.5 individuals. These laboratory results indicate a promising potential for P. vigintiduopunctata as a biological control agent against E. cichoracearum in cucurbits.

Keywords

The 22-spotted ladybird , Two-sex life table , Mycophagous , Erysiphe cichoracearum , Biological control

Ethical Statement

Ethical review and approval were not required for this study, as it did not involve human participants.

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies of Turkiye.

Thanks

We also thank Prof. Dr. Fikret DEMİRCİ (Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkiye) and Dr. Durmuş ERDURMUŞ (Agricultural Research and Policies Directorate, Phytosanitary Research ŞENAL (Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University) for identifying the coccinelid.

Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) ile Kabakgil Külleme Hastalığı Arasındaki İlişkiler

https://izlik.org/JA68RS68CE

Abstract

In cucurbit production, fungicides used to control powdery mildew, which significantly reduces product yield and quality, generate environmental pollution and residues. Sustainable approaches are therefore needed to control this disease. To evaluate the potential of Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a biological control agent against Erysiphe cichoracearum (DC.) (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae), biological parameters and population dynamics were determined under controlled conditions (25±2 °C, 70±5% humidity, 12:12 photoperiod) for two generations. A two-sex, age-stage life table approach was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that mean lifetime fecundity ranged from 317.48±142 to 376.55±146 eggs per female. P. vigintiduopunctata completed its development in 26.7–28.4 days in both generations. The total longevity of females was 102 to 108 days, while males had a lifespan of 106 to 107 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of the predator on E. cichoracearum was found to be between 0.0788 and 0.0829 females/day, while the mean generation time (T) varied between 58.7 and 61.5 days. The gross reproductive rate (GRR), which represents the number of offspring produced per female per generation, ranged from 219.5 to 228.5 individuals. These laboratory results indicate a promising potential for P. vigintiduopunctata as a biological control agent against E. cichoracearum in cucurbits.

Keywords

The 22-spotted ladybird , Two-sex life table , Mycophagous , Erysiphe cichoracearum , Biological control

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