Research results in gerbera

Research on the use of Amblyseius swirskii in gerbera began in March 2005. With financing from the Horticultural Commodity Board, WUR Greenhouse Horticulture is looking at the potential of various species of predatory mite in combating glasshouse whitefly.

 

During a collaborative project between WUR Greenhouse Horticulture and Koppert, A. swirskii was released on two practising enterprises. One enterprise was a breeding company, where A. swirskii was released in a seed production department of 1200 m². The second enterprise was a production enterprise for small-flowering gerberas, where A. swirskii was released in four sections measuring 500-1000 m².

 

A. swirskii was released in the breeding company in March and June in four different dosages (0, 50, 100 and 150/m²). A. swirskii was released in the production enterprise in March in two different dosages (2*25 and 2*50/m²).

 

A. swirskii was able to establish itself well in both test enterprises. Few or no whitefly or thrips were detected in the breeding company. Here, however, the predatory mite was able to live on pollen. At the production enterprise, glasshouse whitefly was already present in the crop when the predatory mites were released. It was striking that the combination of A. swirskii and Eretmocerus eremicus was able to effectively keep the whitefly under control in the sections with a low whitefly infestation level at the start of the trial. A number of hot-spots did develop in the sections with higher infestation levels to start with; these required a one-off correction. After the correction, a biological equilibrium generally developed again quickly.

 

At this moment (October 2005), WUR Greenhouse Horticulture is carrying out a cage trial comparing different species of predatory mite as natural enemies for glasshouse whitefly.

Results

• A. swirskii can establish itself well in gerbera crops.

• A. swirskii can combat low levels of whitefly effectively in gerbera crops

• A. swirskii has difficulty in controlling hot-spots of whitefly in gerbera crops

 

research report Koppert A. swirskii in gerbera (pdf)