SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.72 issue2Weed communities in the organic cultivation of fresh maize intercropped with legumes and coffee huskSeed treatment with silicon on initial growth of soybean ( Glycine max ) cultivars author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín

Print version ISSN 0304-2847On-line version ISSN 2248-7026

Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín vol.72 no.2 Medellín May/Aug. 2019

https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v72n2.72192 

Artículos

Influence of temperature on the occurrence of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) parasitoids in tobacco crops in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Influencia de la temperatura en la ocurrencia de parasitoides de Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) en cultivos de tabaco en Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Cleder Pezzini1 

Daniela da Costa e Silva2 

Andreas Köhler2 

1 Departamento de Fitossanidade. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul- UFRGS. 7712 Avenida Bento Gonçalves. CEP 91540-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.<cleder.pezzini@hotmail.com>

2 Departamento de Biologia e Farmácia. Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul - UNISC. 2293 Avenida Independência. CEP 96816-501, Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.


ABSTRACT

The aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is considered one of the main pests in tobacco crops. By knowing their natural enemies, such as parasitoid wasp, is the first step to develop management strategies for the biological control of the aphids using local agents. For the success of using this tool, it must be considered some environmental factors like thermal tolerance. Therefore, the objective of this work was to survey the occurrence of the parasitoids of M. persicae associated with tobacco crops in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as well as to evaluate the influence of temperature on the occurrence of these parasitoid species. During four crop seasons, tobacco leaves infested with aphids were collected in 42 cities of Rio Grande do Sul. The leaves with aphids were conditioned in plastic containers for ten days for later screening and verification of parasitoids' emergence. In total, 2963 individuals of two emerging species were sampled: 78% were Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and 22% were Praon volucre (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Among the 42 cities sampled, the occurrence of parasitoids was detected in 25 of them. Under the conditions of this study, it was confirmed the influence of the temperature on the populations of the parasitoids of M. persicae. Individuals of P. volucre occurred preferably in temperatures below 22 °C, unlike to A. colemani, which preferred higher temperatures, above 22 °C, showing a different thermal tolerance between both species.

Keywords: Aphids; Aphidius colemani; Nicotiana tabacum; Parasitoid; Praon volucre; Temperature

RESUMEN

El pulgón Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) es considerado una de las principales plagas en cultivos de tabaco. Conocer sus enemigos naturales, como las avispas parasitoides, es el primer paso para desarrollar estrategias de manejo para el control biológico de los pulgones utilizando agentes locales. Para el éxito en la utilización de esta herramienta, se debe tener en cuenta algunos factores ambientales como la tolerancia térmica. En ese sentido, este trabajo tuvo como objetivo realizar una evaluación de la ocurrencia de los parasitoides de M. persicae asociados al cultivo del tabaco en el estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, así como, evaluar la influencia de la temperatura en la ocurrencia de estas especies parasitoides. Durante cuatro temporadas de cultivo, se realizaron colectas de hojas de tabaco infestadas con pulgones en 42 ciudades de Rio Grande do Sul. Las hojas con pulgones fueron acondicionadas en recipientes plásticos por diez días, para posterior identificación y verificación de la emergencia de los parasitoides. Se muestrearon un total de 2963 individuos emergidos, de dos especies: 78% a Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) y 22% a Praon volucre (Holiday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). De las 42 ciudades muestreadas, se detectó la presencia de parasitoides en 25 de ellas. En las condiciones en que se realizó el estudio, se constató que la temperatura ejerció influencia directa sobre las poblaciones de parasitoides de M. persicae. Los individuos de P. volucre ocurrieron preferentemente en temperaturas inferiores a los 22 °C, a diferencia de A. colemani, que presentaron preferencia por temperaturas mayores a los 22 °C, observándose una tolerancia térmica diferente entre las dos especies.

Palabras clave: Áfidos; Aphidius colemani; Nicotiana tabacum; Parasitoide; Praon volucre; Temperatura

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. Solanaceae) is cultivated for commercial purposes worldwide. In Brazil, its production is concentrated in the South region, and the state of Rio Grande do Sul has the largest planted area (dos Santos et al., 2017). This crop has great economic importance in the region due to the high commercial value and the capacity to employ a large number of people in both cultivation and industrialization (de Carvalho et al., 2014).

Brazil is now the second largest producer of tobacco leaves, after China, and has maintained a global leadership in export for two decades (Kist, 2014). On average, 85% of the Brazilian crop is shipped to more than a hundred countries in all continents (dos Santos et al., 2017).

During the vegetative development of tobacco's field, its leaves can be attacked by a range of pest insects, among them aphids of the Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) species, which are one of the most important pests due to a negative interference with the production and quality of tobacco (Kanavaki et al., 2006; Burrack, 2015). This insect presents a high reproductive capacity and dispersion. It can settle in the crop in a short time, causing serious damage by the continuous sucking of the sap and transmission of diseases (Backer et al., 2015).

There is a lack of information regarding the level of damage caused by M. persicae to tobacco crops. The only data available are for the state of North Carolina, USA, which vary according to the stage of the crop development and whether, or not, viral diseases are considered endemic (Davis and Nielsen, 1999). According to the same source, the level of damage is characterized when 10% of the plants present at least 50 aphids in a leaf from the apical half to the pruning and 20% after, being lower in regions where the virus transmission by M persicae is recognized.

Currently, the control strategies for M. persicae depend on chemical products in Brazil. However, the indiscriminate use of such substances has diminished their efficiency mainly due to the emergence of a resistant population (Carvalho and Barcellos, 2012). One of the alternatives for the management of aphids is the implementation of biological control using natural enemies, such as parasitoid wasps, chiefly representatives of the Braconidae family, which are important agents of aphids' natural mortality in agricultural and natural environments (Cruz, 2007).

The knowledge about the occurrence of these agents of biotic mortality as well as their distribution in areas of the Neotropical region is fundamental (da Silva and de Brito, 2015). Such knowledge establishes the necessary bases for their importance to biological control studies using these organisms as a pest management tool (González and Burgos, 1997).

Environmental factors such as temperature may act positively or negatively on biological aspects of parasitoids (de Conti et al., 2010). According to this environmental factor, the success of biological control is directly related to the tolerance of natural enemies to temperature. It is possible that, for the control of a particular pest species, several species of parasitoids or individuals of the same species are needed; however, they can be adapted to different climatic conditions (Messenger and van den Bosch, 1971). Adaptability to climatic conditions is among the key factors influencing the success of parasitoids in biological control programs (Nascimento, 2011).

Thus, the objective of this work was to survey the occurrence of the parasitoids of M. persicae associated with the tobacco crop in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as well as to evaluate the influence of temperature on the occurrence of parasitoid species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The survey of the parasitoids of M. persicae in Virginia tobacco was carried out during 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, where seasons lasted from October to December of each year. The main tobacco producing regions in Rio Grande do Sul were visited, totaling 42 cities (Table 1). The visited crops were managed conventionally using synthetic products such as fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides throughout the growing process.

Table 1 Cities of Rio Grande do Sul where tobacco leaf collections with infestations of M. persicae were carried out in each season to verify the occurrence of its parasitoids. 

The methodology outlined by Kavallieratos et al. (2005) was adapted to this study. There was not set an experimental design, and tobacco leaves attacked by M. persicae, with different levels of infestation, were collected randomly. The leaves were then stored in plastic bags and sent to the Laboratory of Entomology of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), where they were cut into squares (3×3 cm), without accounting for the density of aphids in them. The material was conditioned in plastic containers (9.5 cm long × 7 cm wide × 5 cm deep), acclimatized at 26±2 °C for 10 d for further screening and verification of parasitoids emergence.

The emerged parasitoids were identified at a species level according to Wharton et al. (1997) and Kavallieratos et al. (2001). Dr. Marcus Vinicius Sampaio, professor of the Federal University of Uberlândia, confirmed the identification of the specimens. Subsequently, the material was collected and stored in alcohol (70%) at the Entomological Collection of Santa Cruz do Sul (SESC).

In addition to the survey of the parasitoid occurrence, a correlation was made between the parasitoid species found and the temperature (°C) of the cities. For this purpose, the average temperature of spring was considered according to data obtained from Climate-Data.Org (2017). This temperature was used because it is the period of planting, flowering, and the emergence of tobacco in the South region of Brazil, and consequently it represents a higher incidence of aphids.

For the correlation analysis between the occurrence of parasitoids and the temperature, the data of the cities only were used when ten or more parasitoids emerged from the collected aphids during all the crop seasons. As the sample number was different in each city and season, the total proportion of individuals in each site was considered.

The distribution map of the cities visited was plotted using the CorelDRAW® X7. The regression models were constructed using SigmaPlot 11.0 software (SigmaPlot, 2008).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the four crop seasons studied, 2963 parasitoids emerged from M. persicae, of which 2305 (78%) were Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and 659 (22%) corresponded to Praon volucre (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Among the 42 cities visited, there was the occurrence of parasitoids in 25 of them (Figure 1). Summing up the data of the four seasons, P. volucre was the most abundant species in 13 cities and A. colemani in 12 (Table 2). The low occurrence of parasitoids or their absence in some cities can be justified by the small sample in some of them, either by not locating crops infested with aphids or due to the excessive use of chemical agents on the crops.

Figure 1 Cities in Rio Grande do Sul state where the surveys were carried out, highlighting the sites where there were occurrences of the parasitoids of M. persicae in tobacco crops. 

Table 2 Number of parasitoids sampled in the cities of Rio Grande do Sul during four tobacco crop seasons. 

Silva et al. (2012) had already reported the occurrence of these parasitoid species in tobacco in Rio Grande do Sul. According to a bibliographical survey, A. colemani came from the Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. Since 1992, it has been marketed in several countries for the control of aphids in protected crops (van Lenteren, 1997).

In the past, it was successfully used in southern Brazil to control wheat aphids (Gassen and Tambasco, 1983), adapting to the climatic conditions. Aphidius colemani is considered a dominant species among those found in aphids in South America and presents a high potential as a biological control agent (Sampaio et al., 2007), corroborating the results of this study.

On the other hand, endoparasitoid P. volucre, of Palearctic origin, was also introduced in Brazil for the control of wheat aphids, establishing itself and becoming part of the group of parasitoids with potential use as control agents of different aphid species in different crops (de Conti et al., 2008). Nowadays, Praon volucre is a cosmopolitan species of great importance for several crops, both in field conditions and in protected environments in Brazil (Silva et al., 2008). It may be related to the adaptation of the species to the different climatic conditions of each region.

In Greece, Kavallieratos et al. (2005) support that A. colemani and Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are the principal parasitoid species of M. persicae in tobacco. In contrast, Kavallieratos et al. (2004) found that P. volucre was the dominant parasitoid species of M. persicae in a different tobacco growing area of Greece, whereas D. rapae was not recorded in that area. According to Starý (1970), interspecific relations are influenced by the geographical distribution of parasitoids which also affects their occurrence.

With respect to the proportion of individuals in each municipality and the average temperature in spring, a correlation for temperature with respect to the proportion of P. volucre was verified (r2=0.92), that is, with the increase in temperature, there was a proportional decrease in the number of individuals of this species (Figure 2). For the occurrence of A. colemani, there was a correlation in which the proportional incidence of individuals of this species increased at higher temperatures (r2=0.84)(Figure 3).

Figure 2 Correlation between the proportion of P. volucre emerged from M. persicae according to the different spring average temperatures of each city. 

Figure 3 Correlation between the proportion of A. colemani emerged from M. persicae according to the different spring average temperatures of each city. 

The results demonstrate that P. volucre presents a greater predominance in cities with average temperatures in spring equal to or lower than 22 °C (Figure 2). These results were also observed in the evaluation of the potential of P. volucre as an agent for the control of the aphids Uroleucon ambrosiae (Thomas) and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (de Conti et al., 2008; de Conti et al., 2010). High parasitism rates were observed at temperatures between 18 °C and 22 °C considering these climatic conditions favored mummification, emergence of parasitoids, and increasing in the longevity.

The parasitoid A. colemani presented predominance in cities with temperatures above 22 °C (Figure 3). This had also been observed by Zanini et al. (2006) in their study on aphids of the species Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and by Sampaio et al. (2007) and Sampaio et al. (2005) in their work on the development of A. colemani at different temperatures and different climatic regions. The species presented a high emergence of individuals at temperatures above 22 °C, being possible to report emergence at even higher temperatures in some warmer regions.

The fact that A. colemani has a higher tolerance at high temperatures may explain its predominance in agricultural environments in the southern region of Brazil. Based on the literature, A. colemani is formed by a species group, which are important biological control agents: A. colemani, Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga, and Aphidius platensis Brethes. This diversity can have an impact on the plasticity of the species in different environmental conditions (Tomanovic´ et al., 2014). This type of study is important to know the thermal limits of each species of parasitoids in order to infer the species most adapted to each climatic situation that in the future could be more effective as a tool in integrated pest management.

CONCLUSIONS

Two species of parasitoids A. colemani and P. volucre were surveyed on tobacco farms in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil parasitizing M. persicae, being possible to infer that there is a variation in the occurrence of these natural enemies according to temperature.

Under the conditions of this study, temperature exerted a direct influence on the populations of parasitoids of M. persicae. Individuals of P. volucre occurred preferably at temperatures below 22 °C, unlike to A. colemani, which had a clear preference for higher temperatures, above 22 °C, showing a different thermal tolerance between both parasitoid species.

Therefore, the results demonstrate that there is a possibility of using the natural enemies found for the control of M. persicae in tobacco growing in Rio Grande do Sul state.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the University of Santa Cruz Sul (UNISC) for the financial support, and the company Premium Tabacos do Brasil Ltda., for the technical support, field visits and financial support.

REFERENCES

Backer L, Wackers FL, Francis F and Verheggen FJ. 2015. Predation of the peach aphid Myzus persicae by the mired predator Macrolophus pygmaeus on sweet peppers: Effect of prey and predator density. Insects 6(2): 514-523. doi: 10.3390/insects6020514 [ Links ]

Burrack H. 2015. Tobacco Insect Management. pp. 145-160. In: Fisher LR. (ed.). Flue-Cured Tobacco Guide. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh. 199 p. [ Links ]

Carvalho NL and Barcellos AL. 2012. Adoção do manejo integrado de pragas baseado na percepção e educação ambiental. Revista Eletrônica em Gestão, Educação e Tecnologia Ambiental 5(5): 749-766. doi: 10.5902/223611704204 [ Links ]

Climate-Data.Org. 2017. Climate data for world cities. In In http://pt.climate-data.org/ ; accessed: December 2017. [ Links ]

Cruz I. 2007. Controle biológico de pragas na cultura de milho para produção de conservas (Minimilho), por meio de parasitoides e predadores. Circular Técnica 91. Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, Brazil. 16 p. [ Links ]

da Silva AB and de Brito JM. 2015. Controle biológico de insetos-pragas e suas perspectivas para o futuro. Revista Agropecuaria Técnica 36(1): 248-258. doi: 10.25066/agrotec.v36i1.26306 [ Links ]

Davis DL and Nielsen MT. 1999. Tobacco: Production, Chemistry and Technology. First edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. 480 p. [ Links ]

de Carvalho C, Kist BB, dos Santos CE, Reetz ER and Drum M. 2014. Anuário do Tabaco. Editora Gazeta, Santa Cruz do Sul. 128 p. [ Links ]

de Conti BF, Bueno VHP and Sampaio MV. 2008. The parasitoid Praon volucre (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) as a potential biological control agent of the aphid Uroleucon ambrosiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on lettuce in Brazil. European Journal of Entomology 105(3): 485-487. doi: 10.14411/eje.2008.062 [ Links ]

de Conti BF, Bueno VHP, Sampaio MV and Sidney LA. 2010. Reproduction and fertility table life of three aphids species (Macrosiphini) at different temperatures. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 54(4): 654-660. doi: 10.1590/S0085-56262010000400018 [ Links ]

dos Santos CE, Kist BB, Filter CF, de Carvalho C and Treichel M. 2017. Anuário brasileiro do Tabaco. Editora Gazeta, Santa Cruz do Sul . 128 p. [ Links ]

Gassen DN and Tambasco FJ. 1983. Controle biológico dos pulgões do trigo no Brasil. Informe Agropecuário 9(104): 49-51. [ Links ]

González HD and Burgos FAL. 1997. Gêneros de Braconidae (Hymenoptera) em Yucatan: algunos elementos para el plateamiento de patrones de riqueza. Acta Zoologica Mexicana 70: 65-77. [ Links ]

Kavallieratos NG, Lykouressis DP, Sarlis GP, Stathas GJ, Sanchis Segovia A and Athanassiou CG. 2001. The Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) of Greece. Phytoparasitica 29(4): 306-340. doi: 10.1007/BF02981847 [ Links ]

Kavallieratos NG, Athanassiou CG, Tomanović Ž, Papadopoulos GD and Vayias BJ. 2004. Seasonal abundance and effect of predators (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) densities on tobacco: a two-year study from Central Greece. Biologia 59(5): 613-619. [ Links ]

Kavallieratos NG, Athanassiou CG, Tomanović Ž, Sciarretta A, Trematerra P and Žikić V. 2005. Seasonal occurrence, distribution and sampling indices for Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) and its parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on tobacco. European Journal of Entomology 102(3): 459-468. doi: 10.14411/eje.2005.066 [ Links ]

Kanavaki OM, Margaritopoulos JT, Katis NI, Skouras P and Tsitsipis JA. 2006. Transmission of Potato virus Y in tobacco plants by Myzus persicae nicotianae and M. persicae s.str. Plant Disease 90(6): 777-782. doi: 10.1094/PD-90-0777 [ Links ]

Kist BB, dos Santos CE, de Carvalho C, Reetz ER, Müller I, Drum M and Beling RR. 2014. Pró-tabaco: Esse negócio não pode parar. Editora Gazeta, Santa Cruz do Sul . 52 p. [ Links ]

Messenger PS and van den Bosch R. 1971. The adaptability of introduced biological control agents. pp. 68-92. In: Huffaker CB. (ed.). Biological control. Springer, Boston. 511 p. [ Links ]

Nascimento JB. 2011. Fatores que afetam a liberação e a eficiência de parasitoides no controle biológico de insetos-praga. Enciclopédia Biosfera, Centro Científico Conhecer 7(13): 550-570. [ Links ]

Sampaio MV, Bueno VHP, Rodrigues SMM and Soglia MCM. 2005. Resposta à temperatura de Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) originário de três regiões climáticas de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 49(1): 141-147. doi: 10.1590/S0085-56262005000100016 [ Links ]

Sampaio MV, Bueno VHP, Rodrigues SMM, Soglia MCM and Conti BF. 2007. Desenvolvimento de Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) e alterações causadas pelo parasitismo no hospedeiro Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em diferentes temperaturas. Neotropical Entomology 36(3): 436-444. doi: 10.1590/S1519-566X2007000300012 [ Links ]

SigmaPlot. 2008. Systat Software Inc. v. 11.0. Point Richmond, California. [ Links ]

Silva BD, Bueno VHP, Lins Junior JC and Sidney LA. 2008. Influência da temperatura na biologia de Praon volucre (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em Aulacorthum solani (Hemiptera: Aphiididae). p. 410. In: Anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, Uberlândia. [ Links ]

Silva DC, Pezzini C and Kohler A. 2012. Levantamento de himenópteros parasitoides associados a afídeos (Hemiptera, Stenorrhyncha) no plantio de tabaco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. In: Anais do XXIV Congresso Brasileiro de Entomologia, Curitiba. [ Links ]

Starý P. 1970. Biology of aphid parasites (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) with respect to integrated control. Series entomologica, 6. The Hague, Dr. W. Junk N.V., The Netherlands. 643 p. [ Links ]

Tomanovic´ Ž, Petrovic´ A, Mitrovic´ M, Kavallieratos NG, Starý P, Rakhshani E, Rakhshanipour M, Popovic´ A, Shukshuk AH and Ivanovic´ A. 2014. Molecular and morphological variability within the Aphidius colemani group with a redescription of Aphidius platensis Brethes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 104(5): 552-565. doi: 10.1017/S0007485314000327 [ Links ]

van Lenteren JC. 1997. Biological control . pp. 77-103. In: van Lenteren JC. (ed.). Integrated pest management in protected cultivation. Agricultural University Wageningen, Wageningen. 339 p. [ Links ]

Wharton RA, Marsh PM and Sharkey MJ. 1997. Manual of the new world genera of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera). The International Society of Hymenopterists, Washington. 439 p. [ Links ]

Zanini A, Alves LFA, Menezes Junior AdeO and Prestes TMV. 2006. Aspectos ecológicos de Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) sobre a população de Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) na cultura de trigo em Medianeira, PR. Semina: Ciências Agrárias 27(2): 185-198. doi: 10.5433/1679-0359.2006v27n2p185 [ Links ]

Received: May 15, 2018; Accepted: November 24, 2018

Creative Commons License This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License