Biological Control of Powdery Mildews of Greenhouse Ornamentals

Abstract

The mycophagous mite, Orthortydeus lambi (Acari: Tydeidae) is very abundant on several woody perennial species found in New York (e.g. wild grape, Vitis riparia, ornamental linden, Tilia cordata, paper birch, Betula papyrifera), and we have demonstrated that this mite can effectively and dramatically reduce the incidence and severity of powdery mildew of grape, Uncinula nectator. Moreover, once established this mite offered continual control on grape in the presence of high inoculum pressure. We are examining the impact of O. lambi on powdery mildews of two common greenhouse floral crops grown in New York.