Pest status of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in tunnel-grown strawberry
Abstract
The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is often recognized as a serious pest of strawberries worldwide. Although F. occidentalis is known as the dominant species among thrips infesting strawberry plants, limited information is available about comparable data of treated and untreated plots of tunnel-grown strawberry in Turkey. In this study, significantly more larvae and adults of F. occidentalis were collected from the flowers, when compared with red or green fruits during the year 2011-2012 (P<0.05). Nearly 60% of flowers were infested with 10 or more adults, which is the current economic threshold level (ETL; 10 thrips per flower) in this crop. Furthermore, about 6% of red fruits were found to be infested with one or more adults and larval thrips. However, it was observed that population density i.e. 0.4-0.6 and 15 adults per green or red fruit and flowers, respectively, did not cause any damage to the flowers and fruiting parts. No significant difference was observed in the yields of treated and untreated strawberry plots during 2011-2012. It was concluded that population density i.e. 15 F. occidentalis individuals per flower may not cause visible damage. Furthermore, economic threshold level for F. occidentalis (ETL; 10 thrips per flower), appears to be too low. It is suggested that the ETL of F. occidentalis in strawberry needs to be re-evaluated in Turkey.
Keywords
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
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Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
March 18, 2016
Submission Date
December 8, 2015
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2016 Volume: 40 Number: 1