A new fungus with dual biocontrol capabilities: Reducing the numbers of phytophagous mites and powdery mildew disease damage

Abraham Sztejnberg*, Zahi Paz, Teun Boekhout, Aviva Gafni, Uri Gerson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fungus Meira geulakonigii Boekhout, Scorzetti, Gerson & Sztejnberg (Basidiomycota: Ustilaginomycetes) was assayed against three species of phytophagous mites and against cucumber powdery mildew, Sphaerotheca fusca (Fr.) Blumer. The corrected mortality of the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), came to almost 100%, whereas that of the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri McGregor, and that of the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval), was around 80%. The coverage of cucumber leaves by the powdery mildew was significantly lower on detached cotyledons and on growing plant foliage sprayed with Meira geulakonigii and cucumber fruit yield was significantly higher. These leaves also carried fewer carmine spider mites. The novelty of these results and their practical application are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1125-1129
Number of pages5
JournalCrop Protection
Volume23
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2004

Keywords

  • Acaropathogenic fungi
  • Biological control
  • Meira geulakonigii
  • Panonychus citri
  • Phyllocoptruta oleivora
  • Plant mites
  • Powdery mildew
  • Sphaerotheca fusca
  • Tetranychus cinnabarinus

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