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Preliminary investigations of host selection mechanisms by the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

I. Fagoonee
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
V. Toory
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
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Abstract

The leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess, a polyphagous agricultural pest, can attack crops at different stages of development; some are attacked at the beginning of the crop cycle and others at the end of the cycle. Experiments on the differential susceptibility of the bean Phaseolus vulgaris and the potato Solanum tuberosum plants were done to get some information about factors which influence host selection by the leafminer. The distribution and density of leaf trichomes, as well as the nutritional status of the host plants, were found to be important in host selection. High trichome density acts as a physical deterrent to Liriomyza flies, just as senescing primary bean leaves induce non-acceptability. When given a choice, flies prefer bean to potato leaf discs, though the latter possess less trichomes. Other factors (chemical attractants and some nutrient components) might therefore also be involved in the complex host selection behaviour of L. trifolii.

Résumé

La mineuse des feuilles Liriomyza trifolii Burgess est un nuisible agricole polyphage. Certaines plantes hôtes sont attaquées de préférence vers la fin de leur cycle alors que d'autres le sont presqu'au début même. De ce fait, les mécanismes de sélection des plantes hôtes devaient être étudiés. Dans cette perspective, des expérimentations ont été conduites sur la susceptibilité différentielle de l'haricot vert Phaseolus vulgaris et de la pomme de terre Solanum tuberosum vis-à-vis de L. trifolii. La répartition et la densité des trichomes sur les feuilles aussi bien que leur état physiologique sont importants dans le choix des plantes hôtes. Des trichomes denses constituent une barrière physique aux mouches de L. trifolii, tout comme des feuilles primaires en état de sénescence ne sont pas acceptées. En présence simultanée des rondelles de feuilles d'haricot et de pomme de terre, les mouches préfèrent celles-là malgré le fait que celles-ci sont beaucoup moins pourvues de trichomes. D'autres facteurs (substances chimiques attractives, composés nutritifs quelconques) doivent certainement jouer un rôle dans le comportement complexe de sélection des plantes hôtes chez L. trifolii.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1983

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References

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