Insecticides susceptibility of the most important pests in greenhouse vegetable production in Croatia

Title : Insecticides susceptibility of the most important pests in greenhouse vegetable production in Croatia

Abstract:

I nsecticide resistance is the global problem in the production of agricultural crops which is particular important in greenhouses production where producers do not have adequate solutions in pest control. Two the most important pests in greenhouse vegetable production, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), are polyphagous organisms with high reproductive potential and vast number of generation per year. According to the APRD database insecticide resistance of these pests was recorded worldwide. To help producers in pest control, programme of resistance monitoring of the economically important agricultural pests was developed in Croatia from 2017 until 2020. This programme includes major pests (insects, mites, plant pathogens and weeds) in arable crops, greenhouse production, orchards and vineyards. The aim of this research was to test insecticides susceptibility of western flower thrips and greenhouse whitefly. Populations of these pests were collected during 2018 at 16 locations at different part of Croatia and were tested according to the IRAC test methods No. 010 and No. 015 in laboratory conditions. Populations of the western flower thrips were tested on lambda-cyhalotrin, thiamethoxam and spinosad and greenhouse whitefly populations were tested on deltamethrin, alphacypermethrin, pyriproxyfen, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. All tested populations of western flower thrips were resistant on lambda-cyhalotrin and thaiamethoxam and only two populations were susceptible on spinosad. Tested populations of greenhouse whitefly were resistant on deltamethrin, alphacypermethrin and pyriproxyfen. Only four populations were susceptible on imidacloprid and on thiamethoxam only one. According to the obtained results producers should utilize integrated measures in pest control and the only effective measure is biological control using natural enemies.

Biography:

Full professor Tanja Gotlin Čuljak has been working for more than 20 years at University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture. She has received PhD in 2006 at the same Faculty with thesis of distribution and identification of different aphid species in Croatia. She was leader of one international and seven national science projects. She is author or co-author of more than 60 scientific articles.