Effects of timed LED regimes on tomato plant traits, performance of two-spotted spider mites, and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis).

Background: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are being used in controlled environments to enhance crop production and pest management with most studies focusing on continuous treatments (applied throughout the entire daytime or nighttime period). Here, we tested the hypothesis that providing tomato plants with timed LED regimes (daily 3-h doses of red, blue, or far-red LED) during the day or at night may affect their traits (leaf reflectance indices, element composition, and phenolic profile), performance of two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) (TSSM), and a species of predatory mite (Phytoseiulus persimilis).

Results: Nighttime LED regimes significantly altered leaf element composition: red LED increased K levels, blue LED enhanced Mg levels, and far-red LED enhanced Mn and Cu and reduced Zn levels.

Methods to optimize optical sensing of biotic plant stress - combined effects of hyperspectral imaging at night and spatial binning.

In spatio-temporal plant monitoring, optical sensing (including hyperspectral imaging), is being deployed to, non-invasively, detect and diagnose plant responses to abiotic and biotic stressors. Early and accurate detection and diagnosis of stressors are key objectives. Level of radiometric repeatability of optical sensing data and ability to accurately detect and diagnose biotic stress are inversely correlated.

Compatibility of synthetic and biological pesticides with a biocontrol agent Phytoseiulus longipes (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Phytoseiulus longipes is a predatory mite of Tetranychus evansi, which is an invasive pest in Africa and elsewhere. The introduction of this predator in Africa has considerable potential, but little is known about the compatibility of P. longipes with commonly used pesticides.

Suitability of spider mites and green peach aphids as prey for Eriopis connexa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

The ladybird Eriopis connexa is an important natural enemy of several pest arthropods in agroecosystems. High population of this predator is frequently observed in strawberry and soybean crops associated with spider mites. We used two-sex life table parameters to evaluate under laboratory conditions, the suitability of three species of spider mites (Tetranychus evansi, Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychus ogmophallos), and a species of aphid (Myzus persicae) as a prey for the predator E.

Performance of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on three hop cultivars (Humulus lupulus).

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a major pest species in numerous crops including hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Substantial T.

Peanut cultivars display susceptibility by triggering outbreaks of Tetranychus ogmophallos (Acari: Tetranychidae).

The peanut red spider mite, Tetranychus ogmophallos Ferreira and Flechtmann (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an important pest of peanut in Brazil and is considered a quarantine pest in other countries. This study investigates the development, reproduction, survival and life table parameters of T. ogmophallos on five peanut cultivars-three with high levels of oleic acid [high oleic] and recently released: Granoleico, IAC OL 3 and IAC 503; and two regular and previously used by farmers: Runner IAC 886, IAC Tatu ST 3-and two breeding lines (L.