impact of potassium and salicylic acid on predator performance: life table analysis of typhlodromips caspiansis denmark &daneshvar (acari: phytoseiidae)

The citrus red mite, panonychus citri (mcgregor), can cause severe damage to citrus trees. typhlodromips caspiansis denmark daneshvar is an indigenous predatory mite that was recently reported in association with p. citri in the northern provinces of iran. this study aimed to investigate the bottom-up effect of potassium and salicylic acid on the development and life table parameters of t. caspiansis on p. citri reared under host-plant treatment. two-year-old citrus seedlings were sprayed with a solution containing potassium fertilizer (0.02 g/l) plus salicylic acid (1 mm). the survival rate and duration of the immature stages of the predator, as well as the longevity of adults and fecundity, were recorded. there was no significant difference in the egg and larval duration of t. caspiansis fed on p. citri reared on potassium+salicylic acid-treated and untreated (control) citrus seedlings. in comparison to the control, the duration of deutonymph was prolonged by the application of this treatment. also, the longevity of females that came from immatures under host-plant treatment. the net reproductive rate (r0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of t. caspiansis did not show significant differences between potassium+salicylic acid-treated and untreated citrus seedlings; while the mean generation time (t) differed significantly. it can be concluded from the previous study and the present study that the positive effects of potassium+salicylic acid on p. citri control entail no negative outcomes regarding predator fitness. however, further field-based studies are needed for more realistic conclusions.

impact of potassium and salicylic acid on predator performance: life table analysis of typhlodromips caspiansis denmark &daneshvar (acari: phytoseiidae)

the citrus red mite, panonychus citri (mcgregor), can cause severe damage to citrus trees. typhlodromips caspiansis denmark daneshvar is an indigenous predatory mite that was recently reported in association with p. citri in the northern provinces of iran. this study aimed to investigate the bottom-up effect of potassium and salicylic acid on the development and life table parameters of t. caspiansis on p. citri reared under host-plant treatment. two-year-old citrus seedlings were sprayed with a solution containing potassium fertilizer (0.02 g/l) plus salicylic acid (1 mm). the survival rate and duration of the immature stages of the predator, as well as the longevity of adults and fecundity, were recorded. there was no significant difference in the egg and larval duration of t. caspiansis fed on p. citri reared on potassium+salicylic acid-treated and untreated (control) citrus seedlings. in comparison to the control, the duration of deutonymph was prolonged by the application of this treatment. also, the longevity of females that came from immatures under host-plant treatment. the net reproductive rate (r0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of t. caspiansis did not show significant differences between potassium+salicylic acid-treated and untreated citrus seedlings; while the mean generation time (t) differed significantly. it can be concluded from the previous study and the present study that the positive effects of potassium+salicylic acid on p. citri control entail no negative outcomes regarding predator fitness. however, further field-based studies are needed for more realistic conclusions.