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Agriculture
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Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests
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Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 9214

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elisabetta Gargani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Interests: agricultural entomology; biological pest control IPM on agricultural pests; alien invasive pests; diagnostic entomology
Dr. Giuseppe Mazza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Interests: biological invasions; biocontrol agents; entomology pest control; behavioural ecology
Dr. Sauro Simoni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Interests: BCA; acarology; pest control; behavioural ecology; multi-trophic interactions.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The integrated management of crop diseases and pests represents a challenge for the agricultural system of many countries. European legislation has long since introduced the concept of plant protection from pests and diseases that is increasingly sustainable and compatible with safeguarding the environment and human health. The use of different control strategies through a combination of techniques such as biological control, the use of alternative substances that can interfere with the plants or their enemies, modification of cultural practices, and the use of resistant varieties allows a more effective solution to the issue of plant protection. The goal of integrated management is to minimize the harm of synthetic pesticides on people and the environment and control infestation at acceptable levels rather than eradicate all undesired populations of organisms and microorganisms harmful to plants.

This Special Issue aims to collect the results of the most recent research in the field of integrated pest and disease management in agriculture, taking into consideration the ever more stringent legislation and the ever-greater phytosanitary emergencies connected to climate change and the expansion of international trade.

I warmly invite all colleagues dealing with this important topic to submit the results of their research and any reviews on this topic.

Dr. Elisabetta Gargani
Dr. Giuseppe Mazza
Dr. Sauro Simoni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • IPM in fruit tree crops
  • IPM in annual crops
  • biological control of pests and diseases
  • agronomic practice to control pests and diseases
  • biotechnology application for IPM
  • IPM and its impact on the environment
  • IPM for invasive alien pests and diseases.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2574 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Management Strategies for Red Palm Weevil in Date Palm Settings, Emphasizing Sensor-Based Infestation Detection
by Zvi Mendel, Hillary Voet, Ilan Nazarian, Svetlana Dobrinin and Dana Ment
Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020260 - 06 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1734
Abstract
The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) inflicts widespread damage in date palm plantations and urban settings, leading to stand loss and safety concerns, intensified by the economic and ecological burdens of synthetic preventive treatments. A novel approach emphasizes detecting weevil-infested palms [...] Read more.
The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) inflicts widespread damage in date palm plantations and urban settings, leading to stand loss and safety concerns, intensified by the economic and ecological burdens of synthetic preventive treatments. A novel approach emphasizes detecting weevil-infested palms through sensors and targeting control efforts at colonized trees. This study analyzes two datasets: field manager-reported results from settings with preventive pest control versus seismic sensor-monitored units. Sensor data translate into damage index values, exploring curative treatments, attack likelihood based on infestation history, and the impact of sensor-based management on infestation incidence decline. Findings reveal lower weevil infestation in urban areas and preventive-treated palm settings. A strong correlation exists between sensor indications and grower decisions in date plantations. Palms previously infested are more prone to damage. Long-term sensor-based management reduces weevil-affected palm numbers significantly. The high infestation in sensor-equipped date palm settings stems from a gap between sensor-identified and preventively treated palms. Controlling weevils based on sensor indications aligns practically with grower curative treatments, preventing significant damage. Weevils target previously infested palms, optimizing pest control through a continuous strategy integrating sensor monitoring with prompt response treatments. This proves highly effective, offering a cost-efficient alternative to preventive treatment reliance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests)
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9 pages, 641 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Mechanical Traps for the Control of Aclees taiwanensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Fig Plants
by Ilaria Cutino, Claudia Benvenuti, Giuseppe Mazza, Barbara Conti, Daniele Marraccini and Elisabetta Gargani
Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112050 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 741
Abstract
The black weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a xylophagous insect native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Italy in 2005. Here, the species completes its entire life cycle on Ficus carica L., causing economic damage and leading to the plants’ [...] Read more.
The black weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a xylophagous insect native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Italy in 2005. Here, the species completes its entire life cycle on Ficus carica L., causing economic damage and leading to the plants’ death. Nowadays, there are no insecticides registered for its control. In this study, a commercial product based on Beauveria bassiana, Naturalis®, was associated with Rincotrap® tissue. Semi-field trials were carried out on fig seedlings by comparing two different concentrations (3% and 10%) of this entomopathogenic fungus distributed in suspension on Rincotrap® bands. The results showed that the fungal product had a biocidal effect in both treatments. Afterward, trials were conducted in a fig orchard in order to verify the effectiveness of this association in the field. The addition of Naturalis® at a 3% concentration to Rincotrap® bands did not alter the number of adults captured. The total mortality was 43.7% and 23.8%, respectively, in the treated and control plots. Among the total number of dead adults, only the mortality rates of B. bassiana exceeded 70% in both plots. Further long-term studies in several environments are necessary to improve this technique and create an integrated control system for the black fig weevil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests)
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12 pages, 1492 KiB  
Article
Temperature Requirements for the Colony Growth and Conidial Germination of Selected Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi of the Cordyceps and Paecilomyces Genera
by Cezary Tkaczuk and Anna Majchrowska-Safaryan
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101989 - 13 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of temperature on the colony growth and conidia germination of selected species of entomopathogenic fungi in the genus Cordyceps (C. farinosa, C. fumosorosea and C. coleopterorum) and one isolate of [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of temperature on the colony growth and conidia germination of selected species of entomopathogenic fungi in the genus Cordyceps (C. farinosa, C. fumosorosea and C. coleopterorum) and one isolate of Paecilomyces suffultus. In the first part of the experiment, selected isolates were grown on Sabouraud (SDA) medium at six temperatures: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C. Colony growth was observed every 3 days until day 18, by measuring the colony diameter. In the second part of the experiment, slides with an SDA medium and spores were placed in incubators with the above temperature and observations on conidia germination were carried out after 24 and 48 h. The results revealed that the thermal optimum for colony growth of the fungal isolates was within the temperature range of 15 °C and 25 °C. The optimum temperature for the growth of P. suffultus colonies was 15 °C, with 20 °C for C. farinosa and C. coleopterorum. The highest thermal requirements were demonstrated by the C. fumosorosea, which developed best at 25 °C. Cordyceps farinosa and C. fumosorosea developed in a wider temperature range, from 5 °C to 30 °C. In contrast, growth of C. coleopterorum and P. suffultus colonies was observed only at temperatures between 10 °C and 25 °C. After 24 h, spore germination of the fungal species was most intense at 25 °C. After both 24 and 48 h, the temperature of 5 °C stopped the spore germination of all fungal species, and in the case of C. farinosa and C. fumosorosea no germination was also found at 30 °C. This study on the effect of temperature on the growth and spore germination of the species C. coleopterorum and P. suffultus is the first research of its type. The fungal isolates tested in this work in terms of thermal requirements have shown high pathogenicity in relation to selected plant pests in previous studies, which indicates their potential usefulness in IPM programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests)
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Review

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20 pages, 3975 KiB  
Review
A Review on White Mango Scale Biology, Ecology, Distribution and Management
by Syed Turab Raza, Abid Hameed Khan, Asifa Hameed, Noor Muhammad, Abdul Ghaffar Grewal, Muhammad Tariq Malik, Muhammad Imran, Ghulam Mustafa and Atif Iqbal
Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091770 - 07 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3408
Abstract
The white mango scale (WMS) insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a polyphagous, multivoltine pest which is a serious threat to qualitative mango production and export. The WMS insect sucks sap from leaves, branches and fruits. The heavy infestation of this pest may [...] Read more.
The white mango scale (WMS) insect, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a polyphagous, multivoltine pest which is a serious threat to qualitative mango production and export. The WMS insect sucks sap from leaves, branches and fruits. The heavy infestation of this pest may cause the falling of young leaves, drying up of twigs, poor flowering, and, finally, reduce the quality of fruits by producing pink spots on fruits’ surface. This review paper was written to provide comprehensive information about pest biology, ecology and management in different parts of the world. WMS was first reported on the island of Formosa on Mangifera indica in 1929 and later on in the Caribbean Islands, India and Brazil. Now it is found in almost 69 mango-producing countries of the world. The thermal regime may affect the population of pests. In Australia, the life cycle is completed in 35–40 days in summer and 70–85 days in winter. Variety, age of plants, number of trees per acre, canopy size and sunlight penetration affect the density of WMS. Different Coccinellid beetles and parasitoid Encarsia femorosa feed on WMS; however, farmers most commonly use insecticides to get rid of this pest. In Pakistan, WMS is a growing threat to the export of mangoes; hence IPM plan is needed to reduce the pest numbers and enhance qualitative mango production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests)
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14 pages, 313 KiB  
Review
The Potential of Adjuvants Used with Microbiological Control of Insect Pests with Emphasis on Organic Farming
by Małgorzata Holka and Jolanta Kowalska
Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1659; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091659 - 23 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1572
Abstract
Biological plant protection is a crucial component of integrated pest management strategies. It is considered a safer alternative to chemical plant protection, with reduced risks to human health and the environment. The significance of biological plant protection has been on the rise, driven [...] Read more.
Biological plant protection is a crucial component of integrated pest management strategies. It is considered a safer alternative to chemical plant protection, with reduced risks to human health and the environment. The significance of biological plant protection has been on the rise, driven by the European Union’s mandate to decrease the reliance on chemical pesticides, the discontinuation of certain chemical active substances, and their limited availability. Microbiological plant protection products find application in organic farming systems. Among these, mycoinsecticides are prominent examples, utilizing insecticidal fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, Cordyceps fumosoroseus, C. farinosa, and Metarhizium anisopliae complex. Due to the high sensitivity of these organisms to unfavorable weather and environmental conditions, their use in the protection of field crops may not bring the desired effect. The enhancement of their efficacy may be accomplished through the use of adjuvants. Adjuvants are substances incorporated into plant protection products, including microbial insecticides, or used alone to enhance their effectiveness. They can play a pivotal role in improving the performance of mycoinsecticides by ensuring better coverage on plant surfaces and increasing the likelihood of successful pest control, thereby contributing to the overall success of biological methods of pest control. Consequently, it becomes imperative to investigate the impact of various adjuvants on the survival and effectiveness of microorganisms. Furthermore, there is no officially approved list of adjuvants for use in organic farming, the use of inadequate adjuvant may result in failure to obtain an organic certificate. The origin of adjuvants determines their classification, which significantly impacts for employment in organic farming practices. Included tables provide a list of adjuvants and additives known to enhance the efficacy of pest and disease control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests)
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