Abstract
During 2007 and 2008, a survey on species diversity of Acari associated with pistachio trees and seasonal dynamics of the dominant injurious species was conducted in Mahvelat region for the first time. 8 varieties of pistachio including Akbari, Owhadi, Badami, Barg siah, Ghermez, Kalah ghochi, Germeh and Momtaz, commonly grown in the region were compared in terms of infestation to the two predominant species of injurious mites. As a result, 9 species of mites belonging to 9 genera, 7 families and 3 orders were identified, 4 of which were phytophagous. Of collected species, the eriophyid species, Shevtchenkella recki (Bagd.) and two species namely Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein & Arutunjan and Tyrophagus brevicrinatus Robertson were new for Iranian and the province fauna respectively. Among the phytophagous mites, Sh.recki and T. granati were the dominant species. ANOVA showed a significant difference between varieties of pistachio in terms of infestation to the dominant phytophagous mites. The highest and least level of pistachio infestation to phytophagous mites was observed on Ghermez, Owhadi, Kallah ghochi and Germeh variety respectively. In this study, the highest population of the dominant phytophagous mites was observed on August and September. Among the different varieties of pistachio the least and highest density of Sh. recki was observed on Germeh and Kallah ghochi varieties respectively. The least and highest density of Tenuipalpus granati Sayed was observed on Germeh and Owhadi varieties respectively. On all sampling dates, the density of both mite species on lower surface was higher than upper surface of leaves.
Key words: Pistachio, Harmful and beneficial mites, Population density, Tenuipalpus granati, Shevtchenkella recki, Pistachio varieties |
