One of The Applied Biological Control Programs For Using Biological Control of Potato Tuber Moth ) Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) In Stores

• Awad A. Sarhan
• Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismelia, Egypt.

Abstract

Potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller is considered one of the most serious pests on plants of the family Solanaceae, like (Potato, Solanum tuberosum, Tomato, Lycopersicum esculantum, eggplant, Solarium melongena and pepper, Capsicum annum) either in the field or in stores. So, the presented study aimed to protect potato tubers in stores from the infestation with P. operculella using some of the advanced control methods without side effects on human health and the environment such as natural enemies (parasitoids, predators and pathogens) to determine their efficiency. Results indicated that the best treatment for reducing infestation in stores during the storing period was by using the bio-pesticide Agerin (Bacillus thuringienesis product) with the recommended dose (150 gm/ton) in combination with the predators (Blaptostethus piceus and/or Orius albidipennis in the fourth, fifth nymphal instars and adults, and also by using the true egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanesces. The reduction of infestation ratio was 96.7, 95.9 and 94.9 %, respectively. So, the results show that using predators either individually or with Agerin had a significant effect on the reduction of infestation than in the control treatment (artificial infestation only), and the survival potential of the predators with the pest was so clear. In addition, the potato tubers were free from pesticides residues and help in keeping the environment clean from pollution, which allow exporting important economic yield to Arabian and European countries.