Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Public and environmental health

Publication Details

https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/agrfood.2023040#:~:text=Compared%20to%20aphids%20and%20whiteflies,mealybugs%20affect%20virus%20transmission%20rates.

Abdul Razak Ahmed, Samuel Obeng Apori, Abdul Aziz Karim. Mealybug vectors: A review of their transmission of plant viruses and their management strategies[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2023, 8(3): 736-761.

doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2023040

Abstract

Mealybugs cause mechanical damage and diseases to plants. Through their feeding activities, they reduce the yield, quality and productivity of crops. This review discusses mealybug vectors of plant viruses, the economic losses they cause, mealybug species and their hosts. Among the numerous mealybug species, Planococcus species are the most effective vector of plant viruses, transmitting many Ampeloviruses. Diverse methods for the control and regulation of mealybugs are also discussed. Physical, cultural and biological control methods are labor-intensive but environmentally friendly compared to chemical methods. However, chlorpyrifos are one the active ingredients of insecticides effective against several mealybug species. Using plant products such as neem oil as a biocontrol method has been effective, similar to other insecticides. Notwithstanding, the biological method of controlling mealybugs is effectively slow but safe and highly recommended. The Anagyrus species have the highest success rate amongst other natural parasites of mealybugs. Also, farm sanitation and pruning as cultural methods help reduce mealybug populations.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2023040

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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