Articles
THE PSYLLIDS OF PISTACHIO TREES IN IRAN
Article number
1028_30
Pages
191 – 194
Language
English
Abstract
Three psyllid species are associated with pistachio trees in Iran.
The common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae, is distributed throughout the country in both pistachio producing regions and wild pistachio growing areas.
In addition, two other psyllid species, the khinjuk psyllid, Agonoscena bimaculata, and the leaf-roller pistachio psyllid, Megagonoscena viridis, occur on Pistacia atlantica subspecies P. mutica, Pistacia khinjuk, and Pistacia vera. Agonoscena pistaciae is an indigenous insect in Iran and it is now the most serious pest throughout the pistachio-producing areas of the country.
The presence of large populations of psyllid nymphs and adults causes severe problems in kernel development, with subsequent bud drop and defoliation.
This damage affects not only the yields in the current year but also in the two subsequent years, and it therefore causes heavy economic losses. Agonoscena bimaculata is distributed in mountainous areas and lives mainly on P. khinjuk now.
It is not of economic importance in cultivated pistachio plantations, although it causes severe damage on P. khinjuk at some locations in the country.
It is multivoltine and mainly reproduces in concealed sites.
The psyllid colony usually occurs in the very dense fruit clusters, particularly early in the growing season, and then it builds a dense colony between leaves attached to each other by moth caterpillars from mid spring to late autumn. Megagonoscena viridis is an old pest on cultivated pistachio trees in Iran, and is a locally injurious pest.
It is univoltine and causes modification of growth in young and rapidly growing leaflet tissue, and forms irregular distortions of the leaflet from its edge in early spring.
The infested leaflets appear as a roll.
Egg diapause occurs in M. viridis, in which eggs laid in the angle between bud and twig in late May hatch the following April.
The common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae, is distributed throughout the country in both pistachio producing regions and wild pistachio growing areas.
In addition, two other psyllid species, the khinjuk psyllid, Agonoscena bimaculata, and the leaf-roller pistachio psyllid, Megagonoscena viridis, occur on Pistacia atlantica subspecies P. mutica, Pistacia khinjuk, and Pistacia vera. Agonoscena pistaciae is an indigenous insect in Iran and it is now the most serious pest throughout the pistachio-producing areas of the country.
The presence of large populations of psyllid nymphs and adults causes severe problems in kernel development, with subsequent bud drop and defoliation.
This damage affects not only the yields in the current year but also in the two subsequent years, and it therefore causes heavy economic losses. Agonoscena bimaculata is distributed in mountainous areas and lives mainly on P. khinjuk now.
It is not of economic importance in cultivated pistachio plantations, although it causes severe damage on P. khinjuk at some locations in the country.
It is multivoltine and mainly reproduces in concealed sites.
The psyllid colony usually occurs in the very dense fruit clusters, particularly early in the growing season, and then it builds a dense colony between leaves attached to each other by moth caterpillars from mid spring to late autumn. Megagonoscena viridis is an old pest on cultivated pistachio trees in Iran, and is a locally injurious pest.
It is univoltine and causes modification of growth in young and rapidly growing leaflet tissue, and forms irregular distortions of the leaflet from its edge in early spring.
The infested leaflets appear as a roll.
Egg diapause occurs in M. viridis, in which eggs laid in the angle between bud and twig in late May hatch the following April.
Authors
M.R. Mehrnejad
Keywords
psyllid, Agonoscena bimaculata, Agonoscena pistaciae, Megagonoscena viridis
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