Chelongar, Y., N. Poorjavad, J. Khajehali, & M. M. Ardestani, . Assessing Damages of Collembolan Species to Some Vegetables in Greenhouses and Their Chemical Control. In Proceedings of the Zoological Society

Abstract

Some collembolan species can cause damage to greenhouse crops. This study investigates harmful effects of four different densities of springtails 0 (control), 20, 50, and 100 individuals at 22, 25, and 28 ˚C on germinating lettuce, radish, onion, and cucumber in laboratory (Petri dish) and semi-field pot experiments. Also, the effect of soil application of four pesticides (cypermethrin, fipronil, chlorpyrifos, and a biopesticide, matrine) was determined against collembolan individuals in cucumber and tomato greenhouses in Isfahan, Iran. The results of both laboratory and pot experiments showed that the collembolan species at low to high densities (20, 50, and 100 individuals per container) significantly reduced the seedling length and caused damage to lettuce, radish, onion, and cucumber plants at 22, 25, and 28 °C compared to that of control. In semi-field pot experiments, higher collembolan density (100 individuals per container) caused higher damage at low temperature treatment. Evaluation of soil applied pesticides in cucumber and tomato greenhouses showed that cypermethrin, fipronil, chlorpyrifos, and matrine significantly reduced population density of collembolan individuals compared to the control treatment. The results of this study demonstrated that the studied springtail species at various densities can cause damage to lettuce, radish, onion, and cucumber seedlings in greenhouses. The present study findings can be used in the integrated management of harmful springtails in the greenhouse crops.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society volume 75, pages456–462 (2022)

 New Delhi: Springer India.