Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets
<i>Tuta absoluta</i> is a major pest attacking tomato crops. This invasive species emerged in Europe (Spain) in 2006, and 3 years later it spread to Portugal. In 2009/2010, it was recorded for the first time in the Azores archipelago. <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> is a predator...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/118 |
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| author | Isabel Borges Luísa Oliveira Ana C. Durão Patrícia Arruda Elisabete Figueiredo José Carlos Franco Eric Lucas António O. Soares |
| author_facet | Isabel Borges Luísa Oliveira Ana C. Durão Patrícia Arruda Elisabete Figueiredo José Carlos Franco Eric Lucas António O. Soares |
| author_sort | Isabel Borges |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Tuta absoluta</i> is a major pest attacking tomato crops. This invasive species emerged in Europe (Spain) in 2006, and 3 years later it spread to Portugal. In 2009/2010, it was recorded for the first time in the Azores archipelago. <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> is a predator widely used as biological control agent against the tomato leaf miner. This study contrasted the life-history traits and population growth parameters of two feral populations of <i>M. pygmaeus</i>, one from Portugal mainland and one from the Azores archipelago. The predators were tested on single prey diet, either of <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> eggs, a factitious prey used for mass rearing of mirids, or <i>T. absoluta</i> eggs. We predicted that populations would express differences in its phenotypic characteristics, with the Azorean population displaying low performance due to likely low genetic diversity, as expected for insular populations. Our results revealed the inexistence of phenotypic differences in several life history traits, such as immature developmental time, female longevity, males’ body weight and sex ratio. Contrary to our predictions, traits with direct impact on fitness, such as lifetime fertility (95.78 ± 14.23 vs. 61.38 ± 13.52 nymphs), explain better performances for the population of the Azores. Azorean <i>M. pygmaeus</i> females were larger, matured earlier and reproduced at a higher rate for longer periods, than mainland females. Therefore, population growth parameters show a positive advantage for the population of the Azores, fed on <i>T. absoluta</i> (time required for doubling the population Azores, Ek: 8.42 ± 0.50, Ta: 5.76 ± 0.31 and mainland, Ek: 10.88 ± 1.94, Ta: 12.07 ± 3.15). Biological performance of <i>M. pygmaeus</i> was similar when fed with <i>T. absoluta</i> or <i>E. kuehniella</i> that could be beneficial both to optimize mass production of the predator and biological control of the pest. Our results are discussed as well in a fundamental perspective, seeking if differences in biological performance can be explained by lower genetic diversity driven by geographic isolation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:52:03Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:52:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-63ffbcddd314410ea97b0b085b0ef0a92023-11-30T20:49:10ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-12-0113111810.3390/agronomy13010118Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative DietsIsabel Borges0Luísa Oliveira1Ana C. Durão2Patrícia Arruda3Elisabete Figueiredo4José Carlos Franco5Eric Lucas6António O. Soares7cE3c-ABG-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes and Azorean Biodiversity Group & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rua da Mãe de Deus, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, PortugalCBA-Biotechnology Centre of Azores, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Rua da Mãe de Deus, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, PortugalServiço de Desenvolvimento Agrário de São Miguel, Quinta de São Gonçalo, 9500-340 Ponta Delgada, PortugalFaculty of Science and Technology, University of the Azores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, PortugalLEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLaboratório Associado TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLaboratoire de Lutte Biologique, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), CP 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, NA H3C 3P8, CanadacE3c-ABG-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes and Azorean Biodiversity Group & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rua da Mãe de Deus, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal<i>Tuta absoluta</i> is a major pest attacking tomato crops. This invasive species emerged in Europe (Spain) in 2006, and 3 years later it spread to Portugal. In 2009/2010, it was recorded for the first time in the Azores archipelago. <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> is a predator widely used as biological control agent against the tomato leaf miner. This study contrasted the life-history traits and population growth parameters of two feral populations of <i>M. pygmaeus</i>, one from Portugal mainland and one from the Azores archipelago. The predators were tested on single prey diet, either of <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> eggs, a factitious prey used for mass rearing of mirids, or <i>T. absoluta</i> eggs. We predicted that populations would express differences in its phenotypic characteristics, with the Azorean population displaying low performance due to likely low genetic diversity, as expected for insular populations. Our results revealed the inexistence of phenotypic differences in several life history traits, such as immature developmental time, female longevity, males’ body weight and sex ratio. Contrary to our predictions, traits with direct impact on fitness, such as lifetime fertility (95.78 ± 14.23 vs. 61.38 ± 13.52 nymphs), explain better performances for the population of the Azores. Azorean <i>M. pygmaeus</i> females were larger, matured earlier and reproduced at a higher rate for longer periods, than mainland females. Therefore, population growth parameters show a positive advantage for the population of the Azores, fed on <i>T. absoluta</i> (time required for doubling the population Azores, Ek: 8.42 ± 0.50, Ta: 5.76 ± 0.31 and mainland, Ek: 10.88 ± 1.94, Ta: 12.07 ± 3.15). Biological performance of <i>M. pygmaeus</i> was similar when fed with <i>T. absoluta</i> or <i>E. kuehniella</i> that could be beneficial both to optimize mass production of the predator and biological control of the pest. Our results are discussed as well in a fundamental perspective, seeking if differences in biological performance can be explained by lower genetic diversity driven by geographic isolation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/118tomato crop<i>Tuta absoluta</i><i>E. kuehniella</i>phenotypic variabilitylife-history traitspopulation growth parameters |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Borges Luísa Oliveira Ana C. Durão Patrícia Arruda Elisabete Figueiredo José Carlos Franco Eric Lucas António O. Soares Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets Agronomy tomato crop <i>Tuta absoluta</i> <i>E. kuehniella</i> phenotypic variability life-history traits population growth parameters |
| title | Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets |
| title_full | Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets |
| title_fullStr | Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets |
| title_short | Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of <i>Macrolophus pygmaeus</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets |
| title_sort | contrasting phenotypic variability of life history traits of two feral populations of i macrolophus pygmaeus i hemiptera miridae under two alternative diets |
| topic | tomato crop <i>Tuta absoluta</i> <i>E. kuehniella</i> phenotypic variability life-history traits population growth parameters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/118 |
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