Studio del controllo di Bactrocera oleae, di funghi agenti filloptosi e carpoptosi anticipata nell’olivicoltura da mensa e da olio in Sicilia.

Abstract STUDY ON THE CONTROL OF BACTROCERA OLEAE AND FUNGI INDUCING EARLY LEAF AND FRUIT DROP IN OLIVE GROWING FOR TABLE OLIVES AND OIL PRODUCTION IN SICILY. Susceptibility of olive cultivars to olive fruit fly, damage thresholds, sampling methods, effectiveness of products deterring olive fruit fly oviposition, foliar chlorosis and withering of branches have been investigated. Riassunto Tra le cultivar saggiate (16 siciliane e 6 estere) esiste un ampio gradiente nella suscettibilità agli attacchi di B. oleae, andando dalle più suscettibili Nocellara del Belice, Giarraffa, Cerasuola alle meno preferite; tra queste ultime vi sono cultivar con caratteristiche peculiari diversificate: Nocella…

Can Mating Disruption Be a Possible Route to Control Plum Fruit Moth in Mediterranean Environments?

Simple Summary Grapholita funebrana is a main pest of plum throughout the Palearctic region. The management of this pest is generally carried out with chemical insecticides. In this study we investigated the suitability of the mating disruption as alternative method of control of this pest. Experiments were carried out in organic plum orchards during 2012 and 2014. Trap catches and fruit sampling were carried out to estimate the efficacy of this technique in reducing males catch and fruit infestation. The results indicated that the males caught in traps placed in the treatment plots was always significantly lower than untreated plots. The chemical analysis of the pheromone emission from the…

Bioactivity of Carlina acaulis essential oil and its main component to the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae: ingestion toxicity, electrophysiological and behavioural insights

In recent years, botanical insecticides based on essential oils (EOs), or their main components, have received much attention as promising tools for Integrated Pest Management, due to their environmental safety and low side effects on non-target organisms. In this study, Carlina acaulis EO and its main component, carlina oxide, recently proven to be effective larvicidal and adulticidal agents against some insect pests, were analyzed for their toxicity, electroantennographic (EAG), and behavioral responses to adult olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae). The C. acaulis EO was more toxic to the tephritid than the carlina oxide, and both were more toxic to the same insect pest than EOs from other …

Strategie di controllo di Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) nell’olivicoltura biologica da olio e da tavola.

I buoni risultati ottenuti nell’olivicoltura biologica da olio sono legati alla raccolta anticipata che limita le infestazioni tardive di Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) e gli effetti negativi delle infestazioni in atto. Molto utilizzate per il controllo della mosca sono le catture massali. L’infestazione dannosa registrata nei due mesi precedenti la raccolta risulta strettamente correlata alla qualità dell’olio, mentre non lo è l’infestazione totale alla raccolta. Gli insetticidi consentiti nell’olivicoltura biologica sono molto poco utilizzati. Nelle situazioni di forte pressione della mosca soltanto i trattamenti con argille e prodotti del rame riescono a mantenere bassi i livelli d’infestazion…

Risk assessment of non-target effects of Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) parasitoid of the eucalypt gall maker Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae)

The pre-release risk assessment, a recommended practice in biological control programmes, was carried out before introducing Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault), a eulophid parasitoid of the eucalypt gall maker Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), in Sicily, Italy. We evaluated its host specificity in laboratory small arena no-choice tests on six non-target hosts, using O. maskelli as a control species. The non-target species fit with at least one of the following criteria: a) common geographical origin; b) ecological or behavioural affinities with the target host; c) concealed habit of the preimaginal stages; d) taxonomic affinity; e) taxonomic affinity with hosts of cong…

Prove di controllo di Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in pescheti, aranceti e clementineti biologici

Tests to control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in organic peach, orange and clementine orchards. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is considered the key pest of several fruit species in organic farming. Experiments for the control of this pest have been carried out in organic peach orchards (in 2009 on a medium-late ripening cultivar, ‘Bella di Bivona’; in 2011 on a very early ripening one, ‘San Pedro’) testing nets, spinosad and pyrethrum (year 2009), in orange citrus groves (cv. Navelina, early ripening period), comparing spinosad, kaolin and bentonite (years 2009 and 2010) and in a clementine grove (cv. Monreal), using kaolin and bentonite. The very early ripe…

Introduzione ed acclimatamento di Closterocerus sp. in Sicilia per il controllo biologico di Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) galligeno esotico degli eucalipti.

Introduzione di Closterocerus sp. in Sicilia per il controllo biologico di Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) galligeno esotico sugli eucalipti

Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), galligeno sugli eucalipti, è stato accidentalmente introdotto di recente in Italia ed in numerosi paesi del Mediterraneo, causando allarmanti infestazioni, che hanno determinato in taluni casi vistose defogliazioni sulle piante adulte e deperimento delle piantine in vivaio e nei giovani impianti. In considerazione della vastità del patrimonio boschivo siciliano potenzialmente a rischio (25.835 ha, il più esteso d’Italia), è stato avviato un programma di controllo biologico classico, in collaborazione con il Volcani Center (ARO) di Bet Dagan (Israele) e lo CSIRO di Canberra (Australia), mediante l’introduzione del suo parassitoide Closter…

EFFICACIA DI ARGILLE E PRODOTTI SISTEMICI NEL CONTROLLO DI OPHELIMUS MASKELLI (ASHMEAD) SU SEMENZALI DI EUCALYPTUS CAMALSULOENSINS DEHN.

MULTIFUNCTION REACTOR

Described herein is a reactor (1) includes: a first reaction volume (V1), a second reaction volume (V2), wherein: the first reaction volume (V1) is in fluid communication with an inlet port for an oxidizer agent (OX_IN), an inlet port for at least one first reactant (R1_IN) and an outlet port for at least one reaction product (P1_OUT), said second reaction volume (V2) is in fluid communication with an inlet port for at least one second reactant (R2_IN), an outlet port for at least one second reaction product (P2_OUT) and is furthermore in thermal exchange relationship with said first reaction volume (V1), wherein, during operation, in said first reaction volume (V1) an oxidation reaction oc…

Do Grapholita funebrana Infestation Rely on Specific Plum Fruit Features?

The effective control of the plum fruit moth, Grapholita funebrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) still represents a difficult challenge for organic plum farming. Little information is available on the susceptibility of plum cultivars to this moth pest. We investigated the roles of several fruit parameters (i.e., shape, volume, hardness, fruit colour, and physiochemical properties) on the susceptibility of four different plum cultivars (Angeleno, Friar, President and Stanley) to G. funebrana attack. Field data demonstrated the importance of some fruit parameters (i.e., elongation index, sugar degree, titratable acidity, cover colour percentage) on susceptibility to G. funebrana infestation. Und…

Status ed andamento delle specie d'uccelli nidificanti in Sicilia

Relation of fruit color, elongation, hardness, and volume to the infestation of olive cultivars by the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae

The susceptibility of olive cultivars to the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), has seldom been studied. This article examines factors associated with olive fruit fly infestation of 16 commonly planted Sicilian olive cultivars. Total infestation data were simultaneously correlated with categorical and quantitative factors using ordinal logistic regression. When all factors were included in the analysis, year, sampling date, cultivar, and fruit color were highly significant, but the quantitative factors fruit volume, fruit elongation, and fruit hardness were not. When the analysis was repeated excluding cultivar, all quantitative factors were significant, and e…

Resistance to the attack of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) of some Sicilian olive cultivars

Genetic resistance of olive germplasm could be an important tool in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), the key pest in the Mediterranean olive growing. Up to now, no study was carried out on olive cultivars stressed a complete resistance to the attack of B. oleae, and few scientific data are available on susceptibility to olive fruit fly of Sicilian cultivars, although differences among susceptibility of cultivars could be usefully considered to obtain quality productions and to reduce insecticides use both in organic and conventional olive growing. The present study was carried out at Castelvetrano (Trapani province, Sicily), in the olive germplasm collection of Ente di Sviluppo Agr…

Dannosità e controllo di Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) su Eucalyptus camaldulensis in vivaio

Toxics or Lures? Biological and Behavioral Effects of Plant Essential Oils on Tephritidae Fruit Flies.

The family Tephritidae (Diptera) includes species that are highly invasive and harmful to crops. Due to globalization, international trade, and human displacement, their spread is continuously increasing. Unfortunately, the control of tephritid flies is still closely linked to the use of synthetic insecticides, which are responsible for detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Recently, research is looking for alternative and more eco-friendly tools to be adopted in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. In this regard, essential oils (EOs) and their main compounds represent a promising alternative to chemical insecticides. EOs are made up of phytoconstituents formed fro…

Susceptibilty to Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) of some Sicilian olive cultivars

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus: A pathogen that is changing the tomato production worldwide

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., family Solanaceae) represents one of the most cultivated horticultural crops worldwide, with over 5 million hectares of cultivated area and more than 182 million tons of tomato produced globally. Nevertheless, monoculture conditions, intensive selection, domestication throughout the last decades, international trade of infected propagating material and climate changes intensely favoured the establishment of many pathogens and the rapid spread of new diseases, allowing organisms to establish in new and unfavourable environments. Among different biotic agents, viruses are the most dangerous, because of their rapid diffusion and production losses. Here, we revi…

Lethal and behavioural effects of a green insecticide against an invasive polyphagous fruit fly pest and its safety to mammals

Abstract Plant essential oil-based insecticides, with special reference to those that may be obtained from largely available biomasses, represent a valuable tool for Integrated Pest Management. However, the sublethal effects and the potential effects on aggressive insect traits of these green insecticides are understudied. Herein, the lethal and sub-lethal effects of the carlina oxide, constituting more than 97% of the whole Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) root essential oil (EO), were determined against an invasive polyphagous tephritid pest, Ceratitis capitata (medfly). The carlina oxide was formulated in a mucilaginous solution containing carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt, sucrose, and hyd…

Effectiveness of clays and copper products in the control of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in organic orange orchards

Tests on the effectiveness of mass trapping by Eco-trap (Vioryl) in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Primi risultati sull'efficacia dell'olio minerale e dello spinosad nella lotta a Cydia funebrana in un susineto biologico siciliano

Cydia funebrana (Treitschke) è considerato il fitofago chiave del susineto, soprattutto sulle cultivar cino-giapponesi a maturazione tardiva e nell’agricoltura biologica, a causa della mancanza di prodotti citotropici e ovicidi. Nel 2010 sono state effettuate prove per il contenimento del tortricide per valutare l’efficacia dello Spinosad e dell’olio minerale come prodotto anti-ovideponente. Le prove sono state svolte in un susineto biologico di San Giuseppe Jato (Palermo), di oltre 5 ha, su piante delle cultivar Angeleno, Friar e Stanley. Per ciascuna di esse sono state individuate tre parcelle di 50 piante, marcando al loro interno 10 piante su cui effettuare i rilevamenti; due parcelle s…

Primi studi sulla biologia e sul controllo di Cydia funebrana (Treitschke) in susineti biologici siciliani

First studies on biology and control of Cydia funebrana (treitschke) in Sicilian organic plum orchards. Cydia funebrana (Treitschke), considered the key pest in the Sicilian plum orchards. Few studies were carried out in Sicily concerning C. funebrana life cycle, forecasting models and the effectiveness of some products permitted in organic plum orchards. In 2010 researches were carried out in three Sicilian plum orchards, two in Palermo Province (Monreale and San Giuseppe Jato) and one in Agrigento Province (Castrofilippo), in order to monitor the population, to evaluate damage levels caused by the plum moth and to estimate how many generations it could complete by Charmillot’s forecasting…

Tests on the effectiveness of kaolin and copper hydroxide in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Repellent and antiovipositional products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) finds a great interest in organic farming, because of the lack of effective products able to kill the olive fly preimmaginal stages. In 2003 in Castelvetrano (Trapani province, Sicily), tests on the effectiveness of Surround WP, a product containing 95% of kaolin, were carried out on three table olive cultivars, Nocellara del Belice, Moresca and Tonda Iblea. In 2004, in the same field and on the same cultivars, BPLK kaolin was tested too. In the second year the two products containing kaolin were also tested on Cerasuola cultivar in an organic olive grove located in Trapani, comparing them with copper hydro…

Effetti di un incendio sulla pedofauna nella Riserva Naturale Orientata "Zingaro" (Sicilia).

DANNOSITÀ E CONTROLLO DI OPHELIMUS MASKELLI (ASHMEAD) SU EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS IN VIVAIO

EFFECTIVENESS OF SPINOSAD AND MINERAL OIL BASED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS ON OVIPOSITION AND EGG HATCHING OF GRAPHOLITA FUNEBRANA TREITSCHKE

Laboratory trials were performed to evaluate the action of spinosad and mineral oil on eggs of Grapholita funebrana Treitschke, the key pest in plum orchards. Fruits of cultivars Angeleno, President and Stanley were used in the trials. The first set of tests was carried out by introducing two mated females of G. funebrana into a cage together with fruits of a single cultivar. The second set of trials tested the three cultivars simultaneously. In all trials, one third of the fruits of each cultivar was treated with mineral oil, another third with spinosad and the final third was left untreated. Treatments were carried out before introducing mated females into the cages. The number of fruits …

Release and establishment of Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) in Sicily for Biological control of Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), exotic gall wasp on Eucalyptus trees

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IMPACT AND INCIDENCE OF PARASITISM OF PSYLLAEPHAGUS BLITEUS RIEK (HYMENOPTERA ENCYRTIDAE) ON POPULATIONS OF GLYCASPIS BRIMBLECOMBEI MOORE (HEMIPTERA APHALARIDAE) IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATIC AREAS

The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae), is an Australian native sap-sucking insect pest of eucalypts that has been first reported for the West Palaearctic Region in 2008 and, in 2010, it has been found also in Italy. Subsequently its primary parasitoid, Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), was also detected within the main European and North African infested areas, where no release of the parasitoid was ever performed. This study, carried out in 30 Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations located along the coast, on the hills and the mountains in Mediterranean climatic areas of Sicily (Italy), aimed to determine the influence of environ…

Primi dati sulla suscettibilità di diverse cultivar di olivo siciliano nei confronti di Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Studio sul controllo di Bactrocera oleae, di funghi agenti di filloptosi e carpoptosi anticipata, e sulle tecniche di propagazione e conservazione in vitro nell'olivicoltura da mensa e da olio in Sicilia

Susceptibility to Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) of some Sicilian olive cultivars.

Carlina acaulis and Trachyspermum ammi essential oils formulated in protein baits are highly toxic and reduce aggressiveness in the medfly, Ceratitis capitata

Abstract Essential oil (EO)-based botanical insecticides are considered a promising option for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). However, the sublethal effects of EO-based insecticides are understudied. No information is available on the potential effects of EO exposure on insect aggressive traits. In this study, the toxicity of two EOs with documented efficacy on insect vectors and agricultural pests, and which were obtained from the roots of silver thistle (Carlina acaulis L., Asteraceae) and seeds (i.e. schizocarps) of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, Apiaceae), was evaluated against adults of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (medfly), a cosmopolitan fr…

Il caolino e la mosca: come controllare quella dell’olivo e quella della frutta

Effects of Kaolin on Ophelimus maskelli (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Laboratory and Nursery Experiments

Although recent research has demonstrated that clays provide satisfactory control of some agricultural insect pests, the effect of clays on gall wasps that damage forest trees has not been previously reported. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the clay kaolin in the laboratory and in the field in reducing the damage caused by the eulophid Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) on seedlings of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus L'Hér.) species. In the laboratory, kaolin + wetting agent significantly reduced the percentage of infested leaves and the number of galls per leaf. In the nursery, gall number per leaf was not correlated with leaf area with kaolin + wetting agent but was rel…

Soglie di dannosità e strategie di controllo di Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) nell'olivicoltura biologica da tavola

Olive fly control is the main limit to the diffusion of organic table olives production, because of the lack of effective larvicides. Few studies on damages in table olives due to B. oleae and on applied damage thresholds are recorded. Results of this research show that sterile and fertile olive fly punctures are no more detectable by the naked eye on the surface of processed table olives; on the contrary exit holes are still clearly visible and affect the appearance of olives. Damage threshold applied before sizing and selection by processors of Nocellara del Belice cultivar ignores punctures and consists of 10% of 3rd instar larvae or 5% of exit holes; after sizing and selection exit hole…

Control of Bactrocera oleae and Ceratitis capitata in Organic Orchards: Use of Clays and Copper Products.

Tests on the effect of clays (kaolin and bentonite) and copper products (hydroxide and oxychloride) in the control of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were carried out from 2003 to 2006 in olive groves and in organic citrus orchards (satsuma, clementine, ‘Navelina’ orange). Results demonstrate an efficacy of kaolin products in reducing attacks of B. oleae on olives and those of C. capitata on citrus fruits; in olive groves the clays gave similar or better results than copper hydroxide. Bentonite AG/8W showed a significant reduction in punctures by C. capitata. Bentonite products and BPLK kaolin are washed off by rainfall…

Effectiveness of clays and copper products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) – Proceedings of Olivebioteq 2006, Second International Seminar (2): 275-282.

Tests on the effectiveness of mass trapping by Eco-trap (Vioryl) in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Tests on the effectiveness of mass trapping by Eco-trap (Vyoril) in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) in organic farming were carried out in 2003 and 2004. The tests took place into two organic olive groves located in Agrigento and Trapani (Sicily); in both years the olive cultivar was Cerasuola. In Agrigento, it was considered the effectiveness of Eco-trap vs. bottle traps baited with diammonium phosphate; while in Trapani the effectiveness of Eco-trap added to other products admitted in organic farming (two products containing kaolin and one containing copper) was evaluated. In 2003, year with a low B. oleae population density, no statistically significant difference resulted among…

Prove sull’efficacia del caolino e dell’idrossido di rame nel controllo di Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Developing green insecticides to manage olive fruit flies? Ingestion toxicity of four essential oils in protein baits on Bactrocera oleae

Abstract Effective and eco-friendly plant-borne insecticides for developing lure and kill control tools against tephritid flies are scarce. Herein, the activity of four essential oils (EOs) obtained from two Apiaceae, Pimpinella anisum L. and Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, and two Lamiaceae, Thymbra spicata L. and Ocimum gratissimum L., was evaluated against the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), a key pest of olive groves. The EO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The four EOs incorporated in protein baits were tested for ingestion toxicity on B. oleae adults, mimicking lure and kill assays. Results showed con…

PRIMI DATI SULLA DANNOSITÀ E SUL CONTROLLO DI OPHELIMUS MASKELLI ASHMEAD SU EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS DEHN. IN VIVAIO

Dispersal rate and parasitism by Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) after its release in Sicily to control Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae)

Abstract Spread of the exotic parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) and its parasitism on the Eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) were studied in Sicily after C. chamaeleon introduction in May 2006. Parasitoid spread was evaluated by sampling sites at increasing distances from the five release sites. C. chamaeleon quickly established and spread; within 5 months, it caused 62% parasitism at release sites and 38% parasitism at sites 2 km from release sites. One year after its introduction (spring 2007), C. chamaeleon was detected more than 50 km distant from release sites. By winter 2007–08, the parasitoid was recovered throughout Sicily and in …

Prove di lotta a Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) con argille e prodotti rameici in aranceti biologici siciliani

Primi risultati sullo studio di alcuni fattori fisico-chimici che influenzano la suscettibilità alla mosca delle olive di due cultivar siciliane di olivo

DIFFUSIONE DI CLOSTEROCERUS CHAMAELEON (GIRAULT) INTRODOTTO IN SICILIA, SARDEGNA E CALABRIA PER IL CONTROLLO BIOLOGICO DI OPHELIMUS MASKELLI (ASHMEAD) (HYMENOPTERA, EULOPHIDAE), GALLIGENO ESOTICO SUGLI EUCALIPTI

Ophelimus maskelli, eulofide galligeno di Eucalyptus spp., introdotto in Italia nel 2000, provoca disseccamento e caduta anticipata delle foglie attaccate. Nel 2003 è stato avviato dal Volcani Center (ARO, Israele) e dal CSIRO (Australia) un programma di controllo biologico, introducendo nel 2005 in Israele il parassitoide eulofide Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault). Nella primavera 2006 l’istituzione israeliana ha inviato al Dip. SENFIMIZO di Palermo foglie di Eucalyptus con migliaia di galle parassitizzate da C. chamaeleon. Dopo i necessari test sulla valutazione del rischio ecologico dell’introduzione, nella prima metà di maggio il parassitoide è stato rilasciato in Sicilia in cinque euc…

Impact of Super-High Density Olive Orchard Management System on Soil Free-Living and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Central and South Italy

The soil nematode community plays an important role in ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of Super-high density (SHD) olive orchards on the nematode community in five sites with different soils, climates, and cultivars. At each site, the SHD management system was compared to the adjacent olive orchard traditional (TRAD) system, in which the same soil management and phytosanitary measures were applied. Soil management was assessed by total organic carbon content (TOC), while the soil nematode community was evaluated using the nematode taxa abundances and soil nematode indicators. TOC was significantly decreased in the SHD olive orchard system compared to…