Arthropod pests of currant and gooseberry crops in the U.K.: their biology, management and future prospects

Abstract

1 Approximately 10-12 species of Ribes plants are cultivated for fruit production, mainly blackcurrants, red-and whitecurrants and gooseberries. These crops are increasingly recognized as rich sources of vitamin C and anthocyanins, with production rising by 24% It is anticipated that global climate change could lead to increases in the incidence of some aphids through increased overwintering survival and longer seasonal activity. Moreover, changes in management practices such as increased cropping densities (from 5400 ha −1 to 8700 ha −1 ) and machine harvesting could lead to pest outbreaks through optimal microhabitats and increased susceptibility to pest colonization. 4 Future management options are considered, focusing on integrated pest management approaches, including behaviour-manipulating semiochemicals, predictive models, biocontrol and improved plant resistance through breeding.

Migration Monitoring of Blackcurrant Gall Mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis Westw.) from Buds to Leaves on Several Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars

“…The big bud mite feeds inside blackcurrant buds for almost the entire season (Mitchell et al 2011). Therefore, such a situation makes the pest very difficult to control (Apenite et al 2012).…”

“…It is grown on a large scale mainly in the northern regions of the world (Mitchell et al 2011). Poland is a world leader in the production of this fruit species (Pluta et al 2012).…”

“…The blackcurrant gall mite (big gall mite), Cecidophyopsis ribis (Westwood) (Acarina: Eriophyidae), is the most important pest of blackcurrant crops world-wide (Cross & Ridout 2001;Alford 2007;Mitchell et al 2011;Łabanowska & Gajek 2013). It occurs on amateur cultivations, commercial and mother plantations and nurseries (Łabanowska 2011).…”

“…It is possible to apply this product twice during the growing season; from the beginning of flowering through to full flowering of the bushes (Plant Protection Program 2014). However, chemical protection is most effective during the migration period; that is when mites leave buds following overwintering and before they enter new buds to feed (Łabanowska & Gajek 1999;Mitchell et al 2011;Apenite et al 2012).…”

“…There is much information available on the life cycle of the mite (Massee 1928;Behrens 1964;Taksdal 1967;Gajek 1997;Apenite et al 2012), the annual cycle of egg (Collingwood & Brock 1959;Csapo 1992) and mite content of galls (Smith 1960a(Smith , b, 1961Mitchell et al 2011), and the migration of mites from galls in spring in order to colonize new buds (Łabanowska & Gajek 1999;Cross & Ridout 2001). Although, it has been long recognized that the timing of the migration of the gall mite is not closely associated with a particular growth stage of the plant, commercial acaricide applications are still timed according to plant growth stage (Apenite et al 2012).…”