Effects of elevated CO2 and water stress on population growth of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), on sweet pepper under environmentally controlled conditions

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology 2019, 22(1), , pp.96-102
• Main Authors: Samira Sinaie, Hussein Sadeghi-Namaghi, Lida Fekrat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 농수해양학
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2018.12.007

Weather events such as drought and elevated atmospheric CO 2 are likely to interact with plants in numerous ways with diverse mechanisms. As a consequence of changes in quality of plants, the performance parameters and population dynamics of herbivores are expected to be influenced. In this study, a split-plot design was used to evaluate the interaction of elevated CO 2 and irrigation regime on population growth of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae: Tetranychini), feeding on sweet pepper, Capsicum annum L. (Solanaceae), in environmentally controlled chambers. Results showed that exposure to elevated CO 2 significantly increased the C/N ratio in sweet pepper plants. Except in case of the adult stage, elevated CO 2 did not significantly increase the population density of other developmental stages or the overall population of T. urticae. However, water stress by itself and in combination with elevated CO 2 had significant effects on per capita population growth rate (r) and population density of mites. Maximum growth rate and population density of mites were observed at a combination of elevated CO 2 and intermediate water stress. Further studies, especially in field conditions, investigating the impact of elevated CO 2 and water stress on population size and growth of herbivores in other plant species may contribute to a greater understanding of the implications of global climate change on future crop productivity. KCI Citation Count: 0