Comparative life table analysis of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on ten rose cultivars

Abstract

Life history parameters of plant feeders are useful tools to evaluate resistance or susceptibility of host plants including different cultivars. This study compared population growth parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch on 10 rose cultivars, including Bella Vita, Cool Water, Dolce Vita, Maroussia, Orange Juice, Pink Promise, Roulette, Tea, Valentine, and Persian yellow in laboratory conditions at 24+/-1°C, 65+/-5% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The results revealed that mite survival rate varied from 66.5% on Bella Vita to 85.9% on Persian yellow. The immature development time was different among the tested rose cultivars and ranged from 9.35 days on Orange Juice to 12.30 days on Bella Vita. The highest fecundity rate was recorded on Pink Promise. Consequently, population growth parameters were also significantly affected. The lowest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was recorded on Roulette and this parameter was relatively higher on Cool Water, Orange Juice, and Persian yellow. In addition, the highest net reproductive rate (R0) was observed on Pink Promise, which was significantly higher than Roulette, Tea, and Valentine cultivars. The longest mean generation time (T) was calculated on Roulette and the shortest on Cool Water, Tea, and Orange Juice. The lowest performance of the two-spotted mite on Roulette could indicate that this is a suitable cultivar against mite infestation. Differences in mite susceptibility of tested rose cultivars here highlighted have the potential to be used for integrated pest management of T. urticae in ornamental rosa cultivations.