Back to Search
Start Over
Nitrogen and water inputs to tomato plant do not trigger bottom-up effects on a leafminer parasitoid through host and non-host exposures.
- Source :
- Pest Management Science; Mar2018, Vol. 74 Issue 3, p516-522, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Bottom-up and top-down forces are major components of biological control against pests in an agro-ecosystem. Understanding the multi-trophic interactions between plants and secondary consumers would help optimize pest control strategies. We manipulated nitrogen and/or water inputs to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) to test whether these manipulations could trigger bottom-up effects on the parasitoid Necremnus tutae via host (Tuta absoluta) and/or non-host (Bemisia tabaci) exposures, and compared the control efficacy of N. tutae on T. absoluta in the presence and absence of B. tabaci. RESULTS: The results showed no cascading effects of plant nitrogen and/or water inputs on N. tutae via either host or non-host exposure. The bottom-up force was mitigated by chewing or sap-feeding insect consumers at the second energy level. By contrast, the top-down force on T. absoluta from parasitoids was enhanced by an additionally provided non-host, which could produce alternative food sources extending N. tutae longevity and enhancing the fitness of its offspring. CONCLUSION: Our results provided evidence for the combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches in tomato integrated pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1526498X
- Volume :
- 74
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Pest Management Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 127892669
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4750