Salicylic acid and fertilizers affect the performance of Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari; Tetranychidae) on citrus seedlings

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), is one of the most important pests of citrus trees. The use of non-selective and wide-spectrum insecticides leads to a reduction in the natural enemy presence against this pest and turns P. citri into a serious pest in citrus orchards. In the present study, the induction of resistance was carried out in two-year-old citrus seedlings using a foliar application of amino acid, humic acid, potassium, vermiwash, and salicylic acid (SA) against P. citri. The data indicated a lower survival rate, longer immature duration, shorter adult longevity, and lower fecundity due to an increase in the resistance of citrus. The developmental time of immature stages, survival, and fecundity was lowest in combined treatments, intermediate in individual treatments, and highest in control and vermiwash treatments. Population growth parameters of P. citri including net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, and generation time were lower when the mites fed on combined treatments, especially on potassium+SA. These results suggest that the application of a combination of fertilizer and SA on citrus trees can lead to a significant reduction in caused damage by citrus red mites. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:unique-alpha-numeric-id