LE3 .A278 1998

1998

Smith, Rob
Toews, Dan

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

Many agricultural crops are susceptible to pests at the early stages of fruit development, which usually occur early in the growing season. In Nova Scotia, the tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), an important pest of apple and strawberry, overwinters as an adult, and its emergence time in the spring corresponds with the vulnerable stages of fruit development for both crops. One of the objectives of this study was to verify the number of generations of TPB in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada, and determine which generations attack apple and strawberry. Although there are two adult summer generations (a possible third on some hosts), only the overwintered adults attack apple, and these adults and the first generation nymphs attack strawberry. Fruit quality and overall yield for both crops can be significantly reduced by TPB feeding. The second area of research focused on the overwintering of the TPB in Nova Scotia, focusing particularly on the potential of an ice-nucleating bacterium for its control. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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