Feed stuff for beneficial organisms that can be used in integrated pest management

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of Panagrolaimus sp. for feeding useful insects or in a method for controlling plant-damaging arthropods by applying a Panagrolaimus sp.-containing, useful insect- and mite-promoting feed stuff at the location of at least one plant species.

Claims

1. A method comprising: feeding Panagrolaimus sp to a bug (Heteroptera) or a ladybug (Coccinellidae).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bug is a plant bug (Miridae) or a flower bug (Anthocoridae).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plant bug is Macrolophus sp. and the flower bug is Orius sp.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plant bug is Macrolophus pygmaeus and the flower bug is Orius laevigatus.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plant bug is Macrolophus pygmaeus and the flower bug is Orius laevigatus.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ladybug is Adalia, Harmonia, Coccinella or Cryptolaemus spp.

7. A method for controlling arthropods which damage plants, comprising applying a feed stuff having Panagrolaimus sp. and promoting beneficial insects at the location of at least one plant species, wherein the individuals of the genus Panagrolaimus sp. are shredded.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the arthropods are selected from the group consisting of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), whiteflies (Aleyrodoidea), butterflies (Lepidoptera), thrips (Thysanoptera), spider mites (Tetranychidae) and springtails (Collembola).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plant is a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) or a pepper (Capsicum sp.).

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plant is a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) or a pepper (Capsicum sp.).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

(1) FIG. 1 shows the result of an experiment with examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(2) The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment.

(3) The use of Panagrolaimus sp. as a feed resource was examined in the protected tomato cultivation in the greenhouse.

(4) Tomatoes are among the most widely consumed vegetables in the world. In 2016, more than 177 million tomatoes were grown globally. The production of tomatoes is >33% higher than ten years ago. The importance of tomato cultivation is increasing, and with it the importance of biological pest management to ensure that tomatoes can be grown reliably.

(5) In the present case, truss tomatoes of the Briozo RZ F1 variety were planted in plastic pots of 9 with a peat-free coconut substrate. The tomato plants were grown in the greenhouse at natural length of day (+/at 18-24 C. day temperature, 18-20 C. night temperature). After 6 weeks of preculture, the thick shoots of the plants were trimmed to about 20 cm, each plant obtaining 3 pairs of leaves. 20 tomato plants were individually provided with a plexiglass hood and gauze for air circulation, in each case five plants being set up in a block design.

(6) At the start of the experiment, the tomato plants in all 4 variants were equipped with 10 vital and equally sized adult individuals of the species Macrolophus pygmaeus.

(7) Macrolophus pygmaeus is an omnivorous insect that has made a name for itself as a beneficial organism in professional tomato cultivation based on its good feeding performance and its broad host range. The bug, which has very high acquisition and rearing costs, is used in pepper and tomato crops to control whiteflies, caterpillars and spider mites. Fluctuations in the pest population can lead to a lack of forage and the population of Macrolophus pygmaeus can build up only with difficulty. A build-up of the Macrolophus pygmaeus population by supplementary feeding is therefore desirable under normal practical conditions.

(8) The Macrolophus pygmaeus individuals placed on the tomato plants were fed weekly for 5 weeks as follows:

(9) According to feed variant 1, living nematodes of the species Steinernema feltiae were dissolved in water as feed stuff and applied dropwise, 3 drops per leaf, to the plants.

(10) According to feed variant 2, living individuals of the species Panagrolaimus sp. in dehydrated form were used as a food source, also dissolved in water and applied dropwise to the plants.

(11) The nematode Panagrolaimus sp., was also used in feed variant 3, but in dried and shredded form. For this purpose, the dried and shredded material was distributed over 3 small places per sheet.

(12) Finally, the control batch, in which the plants were left without adding insect food, was designated as feed variant 4.

(13) For the production of the feed comprising the nematode Panagrolaimus sp., Panagrolaimus sp. NFS 24-5 was cultivated as a monoxenic liquid culture for eight days in the fermenter under sterile conditions. Bacteria were used as a food source. For harvesting, the nematodes were concentrated using sieves and the concentrated nematode paste obtained thereby was dried. The dried nematodes were then shredded. The dried and shredded end product was stored at a room temperature of 4 C.

(14) Before each weekly feeding, the 20 plants, complete with leaves and stem, were assessed. The scoring included the count of living and dead Macrolophus pygmaeus nymph stages, adult individuals, visible exuvia, harmful organisms and the appearance of food residues. The first assessment took place in week 17, the last assessment took place in week 20.

(15) The result of the experiment with examples is shown in FIG. 1.

(16) On tomato plants which had been treated according to feed variant 1, a total of one nymph of the stage NI of Macrolophus pygmaeus was found on a single tomato plant. The nymph was very poorly developed, only the dead remains of the originally used Macrolophus pygmaeus individuals being detectable on the remaining four tomato plants.

(17) Overall, the tomato plants had pests, namely mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), thrips (Thysanoptera) and springtails (Collembola).

(18) If, on the other hand, the tomato plants were treated according to feed variant 2 (live Panagrolaimus sp. as a food source), nymphs of stage N2 were found on each plant, an adult individual also being present. No pests could be observed.

(19) Feed variant 3, in which dry and shredded Panagrolaimus sp. were used, was able to achieve a clear improvement compared to feed variant 2. On average, four N2 nymphs were found here, all of which appeared to be very well developed and vital. There were also three adult individuals on two plants. No pests could be observed here either.

(20) In the control batch, i.e., without additional feed introduced for Macrolophus pygmaeus, no living adult animals or nymphs of Macrolophus pygmaeus, but some pests, could be found.

(21) The experiment clearly shows that the use of Panagrolaimus sp. as a feed stuff leads to an increased vitality of the beneficial organisms and a decrease in plant pests. This effect is surprisingly observed most intensively when dried and shredded Panagrolaimus sp. is used.