Abstract

VILLASMIL, Reinaldo; VALERA, Neicy  and  VASQUEZ, Carlos. Effect of irrigation on abundance of Raoiella indica on Cocos nucifera trees. Investig. Agrar. [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.2, pp.107-112. ISSN 2305-0683.

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst is a pest on coconut plantations in the Caribbean. To date there is no available information on the effect of cultural strategies on this mite population. In this study the effect of irrigation on R. indica abundance on Cocos nucifera plants was evaluated under greenhouse conditions at the Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Venezuela. Coconut plants var. Malayan Yellow Dwarf of 1-2 years-old were artificially infested with 20 adult females. Subsequently, the plants were divided into three groups (T0= 100%, T1= 50% and T2= 25% of water requirement). Every seven days the number of eggs and motile forms per leaflet was counted in each treatment. Throughout the test, the number of eggs and motile forms was significantly higher on plants irrigated with 100% of its water requirement. The results provide the basis for future studies, thus it is suggested to evaluate the possible biochemical changes in leaves due to the suppression of irrigation, to better understand biochemical changes and their possible relation with R. indica population dynamics.

Keywords : Red palm mite,; coconut,; cultural management.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )