A study of the potential use of entomopathogenic fungi to reduce the population density of mites of phytophagous

Currently, acaricides are used to control growth of phytophagous mites, they are very toxic, expensive and do not have a selective effect. The paper proposes to use a biological method of pest control of fruit and berry crops, based on the use of entomopathogenic fungi affecting ticks-phytophages. Biological control of harmful organisms can significantly reduce the number of their populations, without destroying entomofauna useful for plants. Therefore, the development of a biological method to protect gardens from ticks-phytophages is very relevant, has scientific and practical significance, as it allows to restrain the development of populations of harmful organisms at an economically insignificant level. During the research work, a phytosanitary survey of fruit and berry crops planting in the Tula region was conducted and sites of pest infestation with phytophagous mites were identified. In the study we have carried out a collection of damaged fruit and leaves of apple, pear, currant for the detection of mites of phytophagous and entomopathogenic fungi. Artificial infection of ticks-phytophages with pure culture of entomopathogenic fungus showed that in the conditions of laboratory experience the fungus within 10 days destroyed 60% of the ticks population, which indicates the prospects for the development of this method in the fight against ticks-phytophages, as a result of its application it is possible to contain the development of populations of ticks-phytophages and the preservation of biological diversity of species in agrocenoses.

клещи-фитофаги, энтомопатогенные грибы, плодово-ягодные культуры, популяция, биологический контроль, защита растений, phytophagous mites, entomopathogenic fungi, fruit and berry crops, population, biological control, plant protection