Efecto del tipo y forma de fertilización sobre la inducción de resistencia al ataque de Tetranychus urticae Koch en plantas de fresa

Abstract

The two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is included among the phytophagous mites most frequently found in most strawberry-producing areas worldwide and it is capable of damaging the crop. Due to the damage caused in this crop, the need to look for alternatives to reduce the use of chemical products is highlighted, among which the use of natural enemies in biological control programs and the use of the natural resistance of plants stand out. In this research, the effect of the type and form of fertilization on the induction of resistance to the attack of Tetranychus urticae Koch in Albion variety strawberry plants were evaluated. The effect of four types of fertilization was evaluated (F1: 100% inorganic NPK fertilization at the recommended dose applied on leaf; F2: 100% inorganic NPK fertilization at the recommended dose applied in soil; F3: 50% fertilization inorganic NPK + biofertilizer applied in soil and F4: 50% of inorganic NPK fertilization + biofertilizer applied on leaf) on oviposition, longevity and antixenosis in T. urticae in strawberry plants variety Albion. These parameters were compared with the content of total polyphenols and flavonoids. Oviposition was not affected by fertilization and varied from 5.3 eggs/female in plants that were treated with the F3 treatment to 6.4 eggs/female in plants treated with F4. On the contrary, the longevity of T. urticae females was influenced by fertilization, being significantly lower when the females were reared on leaves of plants that were treated with F3. Additionally, an effect of the type of fertilization and the sampling date was observed on the number of mites present in strawberry plants of Albion, observing that the lower preference shown by T. urticae was observed in plants treated with F3, in which found 0.67 mites/leaf, followed by plants fertilized with F1, where the number of mites was 1.18 individuals/leaf and in plants treated with F4 with 1.64 mites/leaf. Fertilization also affected the content of both phenols and total flavonoids. According to the results, the biofertilizer improved the absorption of nutrients, making them more efficient in activating the resistance mechanisms of the plant, for which it could be used to take advantage of the benefits not only in crop fertilization but also in its potential use for pest management of economic importance.