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Winter flooding of California rice fields reduces immature populations of Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the spring.

Authors :
Aghaee MA
Godfrey LD
Source :
Pest management science [Pest Manag Sci] 2017 Jul; Vol. 73 (7), pp. 1538-1546. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Feb 06.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Background: In California, rice fields are flooded over the winter months (November to March) to facilitate degradation of post-harvest rice straw and to provide temporary habitat for migratory waterfowl. Prior research showed that winter flood rice fields had fewer rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus), larvae and pupae during the rice production season than fields that were left unflooded in the winter. A series of experiments were conducted to provide further support for these trends under controlled conditions and to find a mechanism for this phenomenon.<br />Results: Under winter flooded conditions there was a 50% reduction in populations of weevil immatures compared with the untreated control (no straw or winter flood). These same conditions corresponded to a 20% increase in the amount of silicon found in plant tissues in 2014 and a 39 to 90% decrease in methane production in the soil from 2013 to 2014, respectively.<br />Conclusion: Evidence from previous field research and these controlled studies supports winter flooding as an appropriate tactic for controlling L. oryzophilus populations in the spring. However, the mechanism that would explain why winter flooding adversely affects L. oryzophilus immatures remains unclear. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.<br /> (© 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1526-4998
Volume :
73
Issue :
7
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Pest management science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
27990749
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4507