Influence of Armenian Cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus) Varieties on the Performance and Behaviour of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

Salma Bouker; Monia Ben Halima-Kamel; Moham Braham

doi:10.56027/JOASD.032026

Auteurs-es

Salma Bouker LR21 AGR05. Laboratoire Gestion des Espèces Horticoles en Mode Biologique et Conventionnel, Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), University of Sousse, Tunisia.
Monia Ben Halima-Kamel LR21 AGR05. Laboratoire Gestion des Espèces Horticoles en Mode Biologique et Conventionnel, Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem (ISA-CM), University of Sousse, Tunisia.
Moham Braham LR21AGR03 : 2PHD. Production et Protection Durable, Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (CRRHAB). Chott-Mariem. University of Sousse, Tunisia.

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.56027/JOASD.032026

Mots-clés :

Aphis gossypii, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, Cucumis melo var. flexuosus, Tri-trophic interactions, Biological control, Morpho-physiological traits, Host-plant resistance

Résumé

Host plant traits can strongly mediate tri-trophic interactions and influence the efficacy of biological control agents. This study evaluated the effects of three Armenian cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus) varieties (Vert d’Armenie, Mornagui and Arbi) on the behaviour and performance of the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) parasitizing Aphis gossypii Glover. Laboratory bioassays were conducted under controlled conditions to assess parasitoid fitness parameters (mummification rate, adult emergence, and sex ratio) and behavioural responses (antennal contacts, oviposition activity, and patch residence time) under both choice and no-choice conditions. Despite the quantitative assessment of morpho-physiological traits revealing that the Arbi variety possessed significantly higher leaf chlorophyll content and trichome density compared to other cultivars, statistical analysis indicated no significant variation in parasitoid biological or behavioral parameters (P > 0.05). This suggests a degree of robustness in L. testaceipes performance across the tested host-plant architectures. Subsequent greenhouse trials focusing on the tolerant Mornagui variety characterized the population dynamics of A. gossypii and the functional activity of natural enemies following a single inundative release of mass-reared L. testaceipes. A peak parasitism rate of 18.6% was recorded during the fourth week of monitoring. These findings underscore the potential of integrating varietal tolerance with the release of L. testaceipes as a sustainable strategy for aphid management in Tunisian protected crops.

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