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Incidence of flat mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), according to the phenology of guava and environmental conditions of Mara, Zulia, Venezuela

Abstract:

Pest population density changes with phenology and environmental conditions (EC). The incidence of Brevipalpus phoenicis (BP) was described, considering the phenology of guava plants and environmental conditions in two crop cycles. Sprouting (%BRO), blooming (%FLO), fructification (%FRUC) and growing fruit (%FCRE) were evaluated in 16 plants·week-1; mites were counted from eight fruits·plant-1; EC were measured with a Davis®/VantagePro station. During the first production cycle the highest total number of mites was 1709/ March/2009, plants were with 43%FCRE and 25%BRO; EC: temperature (T) 27°C, relative humidity (RH) 76%, precipitation (PPT) 5 mm, wind speed (WS) 9km·h-1 and evapotranspiration (ET) 0.39mm day-1. In the second cycle production, the highest total number of mites was 4138/September/2009, plants were in 37%FCRE, 24% BRO and EC: T=30 °C; RH=76%; PPT=68mm; WS=5km·h-1 and ET=0.37mm.day-1. The highest mite incidence in Mara, environmental conditions coincided with high % FCRE and % BRO.