The spider mite predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and the thrips predator Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) are both commercially mass-reared for use as biological control agents for greenhouse pests. The ability to stockpile these mites in cold storage would greatly facilitate economical mass-production and distribution. In addition, these two species provide an opportunity for comparative studies of cold hardiness because P. persimilis originated in subtropical Mediterranean type climates and is thought to be incapable of entering diapause whereas A. cucumeris is widespread in temperate zones where adult females enter a reproductive diapause for overwintering. Temperature/mortality curves confirmed that both species are freezing intolerant in the traditional sense that supercooling points (SCPs), at which freezing of body fluids occurs, represent absolute lower lethal temperatures. Both species were capable of moderate supercooling, into the range of-20°C to -30°C, and both showed a trend of increasing SCP temperatures during development from egg to adult that suggested an inverse relationship between supercooling capacity and body size within species. The only exception to this trend was adult female A. cucumeris, which may be significant because this is the only life stage that is capable of diapause or survival of temperate winters. On the other hand, diapause induction and low temperature acclimation had little or no effect on supercooling capacity, and survival of nonacclimated mites at subzero temperatures above their SCPs was limited to very short periods of exposure, suggesting that the SCP represents a physical property of the mites rather than an adaptation for survival of exposure to subzero temperatures. Cold-storage survival of both species was optimum at 7.5°C, was greatly enhanced when a source of moisture was provided, and was enhanced even further when food was provided even though the mites were held at temperatures below their theoretical temperature threshold for development. Under these conditions, survival of P. persimilis was 80% after six weeks whereas that of A. cucumeris was only 35% after the same period of time. Furthermore, longevity and fecundity of P. persimilis after eight weeks of cold storage were comparable to mites taken directly from rearing cultures whereas oviposition by A. cucumeris after six weeks of cold storage was low and irregular compared to previously reported values. Temperature data from areas where P. persimilis survives outdoors indicate that this species is capable of surviving prolonged exposure to temperatures below 10°C and occasional exposure to subzero temperatures, and apparently does so without diapausing. On the other hand, A. cucumeris may be capable of surviving prolonged exposures to subzero temperatures, but only as diapausing adult females. The results of the current studies are consistent with these ideas and further suggest that nondiapausing A. cucumeris are less cold hardy than P. persimilis. / Graduate

This research investigated seasonal climate changes within greenhouses and the impacts they have on efficacy of the predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus cucumeris. Controlled environment chamber, greenhouse small-cage, and commercial greenhouse trials were conducted to determine which biological control agent is more efficacious for control of the pest western flower thrips (WFT), (Frankliniella occidentalis) on ornamental crops. When observed under laboratory conditions, predation and oviposition were increased at higher temperatures. Photoperiod and light intensity also have an impact on predatory mites. Predation rates for both mite species were greater when subjected to short day light conditions (8 h light, 11 W/m2). Climates typical of summer (higher temperature and light intensity, long day length), were most favourable in terms of predation and oviposition for A. swirskii. Neoseiulus cucumeris laid more eggs under short day as opposed to long day settings. In summer and winter greenhouse small cage trials, the performance of N. cucumeris and A. swirskii significantly reduced WFT numbers on potted chrysanthemum plants. However, in summer, A. swirskii provided significantly better thrips control than N. cucumeris. The number of adult mites recovered from plants was similar for both mite treatments in winter, while A. swirskii were present in higher numbers throughout the summer trials. Results from leaf damage assessments indicate that A. swirskii is more effective for control of heavy WFT feeding damage in both summer and winter. Results from commercial greenhouse trials yielded similar trends as those found in the summer and winter small cage trials. / University of Guelph, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Vineland Research and Innovation Center, Flowers Canada

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:18:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 basseto_ma_me_ilha.pdf: 949120 bytes, checksum: dd3f3b104d600fa3d0cc25023fb35d18 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A mancha areolada causada por Thanatephorus cucumeris, é uma das doenças mais importantes da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) na região Amazônica. Apesar disso, há pouca informação disponível sobre a diversidade biológica, patogênica e genética do patógeno. Uma questão importante sobre o real posicionamento filogenético deste patógeno ainda não foi respondida. Neste estudo, foram analisadas seqüências da região ITS-5.8S do rDNA de uma população de T. cucumeris (fase anamórfica = Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2) associado à mancha areolada da seringueira, obtida em Belém (PA), Manaus (AM) e Xapuri/Rio Branco (AC). Esta população foi também comparada filogeneticamente com membros do AG 2 descritos mundialmente. Este estudo representa um passo importante para revelar a origem, os padrões de movimento e amplificação de genótipos epidemiologicamente importantes de T. cucumeris da seringueira. Filogenéticamente, através de análise Bayesiana e de máxima parcimônia, encontramos suporte para nomear um novo grupo de anastomose associado à mancha areolada da seringueira: o AG 2-2 Hb. Este grupo constitui-se numa unidade evolucionária independente em relação aos subgrupos mundiais do AG 2-2 analisados. Na genealogia construída por análise coalescente, observou-se que a população de R. solani AG 2-2 Hb, de Belém, é relativamente mais velha que as demais populações analisadas. O ancestral comum de todas as três populações analisadas está associado com a mancha foliar do maracujazeiro (Passiflora edulis), em Belém, e tem cerca de 0,8 unidades evolucionárias coalescentes de idade. Nenhum haplótipo da região ITS-5.8S do AG 2-2 Hb, de Belém, foi observado em outras regiões. Entretanto, a população de Manaus compartilhou dois, de seus quatro haplótipos, com aqueles observados em Xapuri / Rio Branco, no Acre, indicando fluxo gênico e deriva genética. / Thanatephorus leaf spot is one of the most important diseases of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in the Amazon region, Brazil. However, there is fill information available about the biological, pathogenic and genetic diversity of the pathogen. An important question about the actual phylogenetic placement of this pathogen is not answered yet. In this study, we analyzed sequences of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region from a population of T. cucumeris (anamorphase = Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2) associated to the rubber tree leaf spot obtained in Belém (PA), Manaus (AM) and Xapuri/Rio Branco (AC). This population was also phylogenetically compared with members of AG 2 world-widely described. This study represents an important step to reveal the origin, the patterns of movement and amplification of epidemiologically important genotypes of rubber tree-infecting T. cucumeris. Phylogenetically, through both Bayesiana and maximum parsimony analyses, we found support to nominate a new group of anastomosis associated with the rubber tree foliar spot: the AG 2-2 Hb. This group consisted of a independent evolutionary unit in relation to the world-wide sub-groups of AG 2-2 analyzed. In the gene genealogy built by coalescent analysis, was observed that the population of R. solani AG 2-2 Hb of Belém is relatively older than the other populations analyzed. The oldest most recent common ancestor of all the three populations analyzed was associated with a sample obtained from passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis) leaf blight in Belém and has about 0.8 coalescent evolutionary units of age. No AG 2- 2 Hb ITS-5.8S rDNA haplotype from Belém was observed in any other regions. However, the population from Manaus shared two, of its four haplotypes, with those observed in Xapuri/Rio Branco (Acre), indicating both gene flow and genetic drift.

Resumo: A mancha areolada causada por Thanatephorus cucumeris, é uma das doenças mais importantes da seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis) na região Amazônica. Apesar disso, há pouca informação disponível sobre a diversidade biológica, patogênica e genética do patógeno. Uma questão importante sobre o real posicionamento filogenético deste patógeno ainda não foi respondida. Neste estudo, foram analisadas seqüências da região ITS-5.8S do rDNA de uma população de T. cucumeris (fase anamórfica = Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2) associado à mancha areolada da seringueira, obtida em Belém (PA), Manaus (AM) e Xapuri/Rio Branco (AC). Esta população foi também comparada filogeneticamente com membros do AG 2 descritos mundialmente. Este estudo representa um passo importante para revelar a origem, os padrões de movimento e amplificação de genótipos epidemiologicamente importantes de T. cucumeris da seringueira. Filogenéticamente, através de análise Bayesiana e de máxima parcimônia, encontramos suporte para nomear um novo grupo de anastomose associado à mancha areolada da seringueira: o AG 2-2 Hb. Este grupo constitui-se numa unidade evolucionária independente em relação aos subgrupos mundiais do AG 2-2 analisados. Na genealogia construída por análise coalescente, observou-se que a população de R. solani AG 2-2 Hb, de Belém, é relativamente mais velha que as demais populações analisadas. O ancestral comum de todas as três populações analisadas está associado com a mancha foliar do maracujazeiro (Passiflora edulis), em Belém, e tem cerca de 0,8 unidades evolucionárias coalescentes de idade. Nenhum haplótipo da região ITS-5.8S do AG 2-2 Hb, de Belém, foi observado em outras regiões. Entretanto, a população de Manaus compartilhou dois, de seus quatro haplótipos, com aqueles observados em Xapuri / Rio Branco, no Acre, indicando fluxo gênico e deriva genética. / Abstract: Thanatephorus leaf spot is one of the most important diseases of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in the Amazon region, Brazil. However, there is fill information available about the biological, pathogenic and genetic diversity of the pathogen. An important question about the actual phylogenetic placement of this pathogen is not answered yet. In this study, we analyzed sequences of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region from a population of T. cucumeris (anamorphase = Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2) associated to the rubber tree leaf spot obtained in Belém (PA), Manaus (AM) and Xapuri/Rio Branco (AC). This population was also phylogenetically compared with members of AG 2 world-widely described. This study represents an important step to reveal the origin, the patterns of movement and amplification of epidemiologically important genotypes of rubber tree-infecting T. cucumeris. Phylogenetically, through both Bayesiana and maximum parsimony analyses, we found support to nominate a new group of anastomosis associated with the rubber tree foliar spot: the AG 2-2 Hb. This group consisted of a independent evolutionary unit in relation to the world-wide sub-groups of AG 2-2 analyzed. In the gene genealogy built by coalescent analysis, was observed that the population of R. solani AG 2-2 Hb of Belém is relatively older than the other populations analyzed. The oldest most recent common ancestor of all the three populations analyzed was associated with a sample obtained from passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis) leaf blight in Belém and has about 0.8 coalescent evolutionary units of age. No AG 2- 2 Hb ITS-5.8S rDNA haplotype from Belém was observed in any other regions. However, the population from Manaus shared two, of its four haplotypes, with those observed in Xapuri/Rio Branco (Acre), indicating both gene flow and genetic drift. / Orientador: Paulo Cezar Ceresini / Coorientador: Alcebíades Ribeiro de Campos / Banca: Cesar Junior Bueno / Banca: Edson Luiz Furtado / Mestre

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