Maulenova R.S.

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

THE STRATEGY OF USING THE BIOCONTROL AGENTS (ENTOMOPHAGES) FOR PLANTS IN GREENHOUSE COMPLEX

Abstract. The effective implementation and application of biological control agents (entomophages) contributes to obtaining environmentally friendly products and increasing the crop yield in the manufacture of vegetable cultivation in the protected ground. Thus, it was found that the efficiency of application of predator Amblyseius swirskii in conjunction with the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa against the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum contributed to increase in production yield for 2 times compared with the chemicals.

Key words: biological control, beneficial insects, entomophages, IPM (Integrated Pest Management).

Introduction. In modern conditions, the role of plant protection in the farming systems due to the loss of crop production from pests (pathogens, weeds) sharply increases. The practice of the use of pesticides in the open and closed ground leads to contamination of open water reservoirs and groundwater, soil and the atmosphere, and also to the emergence of resistant populations of pests to pesticides and the damaging effects of pesticides on the natural ecosystem. In this regard, specialists and amateurs to grow plants need to know and always keep in mind the degree of a danger of chemical pesticides to the environment and humans. Therefore, they should endeavor to use alternative means and methods in the fight against pests and plant diseases. Primarily, it refers to the biological method. Thus, the purpose of research is the structuring of information and systematization of knowledge on the application of biological control in greenhouse complex for further development of efficient IPM protocol.

Materials and methods. As a practical basis, the experience of the greenhouse complex LLP “Green House – Зеленый Дом” in Tekeli city, Almaty region was used. Insects have a huge amount of natural enemies (entomophages), which are the main objects of biological plant protection. Thus, there are two systems that are used in mentioned greenhouse complex: Swirskii-system (Amblyseius swirskii – predatory mite) and Encarsia-system (Encarsia Formosa – parasitic wasp).

Statistics of crop yield and productivity – quantitative indicators characterizing crop production. Crop yield of a given culture is the total volume of products obtained from all over cultivated area. This volume of production is called the gross harvest. While productivity means the amount of products of a particular agricultural crop obtained per hectare (or m²) of crop. So, determination of these indicators helps specialists to obtain confirmation about efficacy of implementation and application of biocontrol in greenhouse complex.

Monitoring of population density of the pest as well as its antagonist, is one of the most important factors that determine the long-term success of plant protection in greenhouses. There are two means of monitoring that are used in practice: pheromone traps and sticky traps. Sticky traps, in its turn, are divided into diagnostic traps and rolled traps. Yellow sticky traps are used in mentioned greenhouse. It constitutes plates from water-repellent hard plastic, which on both sides an adhesive composition is applied. Holes for attaching are located in the upper part of the trap. Paper strips are pasted over the glutinous basis to protect the adhesive coating which is removed before placing a trap on a stationary spot

Results and discussion.

Greenhouse complex is divided into several small greenhouses; so, here is a table of average yield for each of it (Table 1):

Table 1. Average yield of greenhouses

Years/ Greenhouse	2013		2014		2015
	Productivity, kg	Cultivated area, ha	Productivity, kg	Cultivated area, ha	Productivity, kg	Cultivated area, ha
1-4	8,9	2	11,9	2	19,8	2
6	6,4	1,4	8,8	1,4	15,6	1,4
7	7,9	1,9	11,4	1,9	18,7	1,9

In order to calculate the average yield (productivity), we should use the formula of weighted arithmetic mean:

As we can see from the Table 4, in 2013 year this greenhouse complex used only chemical control against whiteflies.

Used insecticides are:

· Admiral (Active substance: pyriproxyfen): One treatment causes lethal disorder in each of the phases of development of the pest, which causes a decrease in the number of not only treated, but also future generations. The preparation, getting into an adult insect, does not kill it, but causes sterilization of adults and prevents the formation of harming phase of development. Getting into larvae, it violates the metamorphosis process, which leads to the death of immature phases of development. It can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, respiratory tract and skin. Prolonged and repeated exposure may cause dizziness and headache.

· Applaud (Active substance: buprofezin): Buprofezin violates the process of synthesizing of chitin by ingestion of the pest, as a result larvae do not molt and they die. The preparation has ovicidal properties. With a high degree of damage by pests it is recommended to use a mixture of the drug Applaud on the basis of buprofezin with synthetic pyrethroids, the most effective against the adult form of whitefly.

· Teppeki (Active ingredient: flonicamid): Stops feeding of sensitive insects immediately after use. It has a powerful systemic and translaminar activity, moves quickly on a leaf of protected culture providing a reliable and long-lasting protection.

So, the productivity of 1m² is 7,9 kg (Table 4) and cost for 1m² is 70 tenge. Consequently, gross harvest is 418700 kg (Table 5).

In 2014 year, this greenhouse used only Swirskii-system (Amblyseius swirskii) in appropriate IPM protocol, and as a result we can see that productivity increased until 10,9 kg from 1m² (Table 4). However, costs for biocontrol is also increased so, 98 tenge for 1m². Nevertheless, as a result we have 577700 kg (Table 5) of gross harvest which is obviously plus for greenhouse complex.

The following 2015 year, together with chief agronomist of greenhouse, Dutch agronomist and agronomists from Ukraine, using systematized information, we developed IPM protocol, which will probably help to increase production yields thereby contribute obtaining environmentally friendly products.

Thus, after using systematized and structured knowledge on biological control, it was established the good compatibility of application Encarsia-system (Encarsia formosa) with Swirskii-system (Amblyseius swirskii) (Table 4). So, by using this opportunity, greenhouse complex increased its productivity until 18,3 kg/m², herewith expending almost the same amount of costs (103 tenge for 1m²). Meanwhile, the gross harvest rose up to 969900 kg (Table 5).

As an example, here is recommended IPM protocol for 7^th greenhouse, which is 1,9 ha (Table 2):

Table 2. Recommended IPM protocol for 1,9 ha:

I introduction (in presence of pests):	Ø On seedling department in the phase of 3-4 true leaves; Ø 500,000 adult mites.
II introduction:	Ø After planting into greenhouse in the phase of flowering; Ø 1,850,000 mites.
III introduction:	Ø After 15-20 days depending on pest population; Ø 1,500,000 mites; Ø Encarsia-system: 70,000 species.

Given IPM protocol is successfully introduced into other greenhouses.

Here are calculations (Table 3) that evidence economic profitability of biocontrol application for enterprise. In order to demonstrate it, costs for 1 kg are calculated through a simple ratio (proportion):

Table 3

2013 year (use of chemicals):	2014 year (use of Swirskii-system):	2015 year (use of Swirskii-system + Encarsia-system):

When comparing 2015 year with the use of biocontrol and 2013 year with the use of chemicals (Table 3), it is clearly seen that the cost of 1 kg of the product (prime cost) is less (cheaper) for 3 tg, which is economically advantageous to the greenhouse complex.

Eventually, development and introduction of biological control in industrial production in accordance with the recommended IPM protocol contributed to increase of the yield and production of environmentally friendly products.

Table 4. Productivity and costs of 1m² for each year

Years of application		2013	2014	2015
Productivity, kg/1m²		7,9	10,9	18,3
Costs for 1m², tenge	Biocontrol		98	103
	Chemical control	70
Costs for 1 kg of product, tenge	Biocontrol		8,9	5,6
	Chemical control	8,8

According to Productivity of 1m², kg we can calculate the overall crop yield (Table 5) for each year (2013, 2014, 2015), and compare with each other. Here we should use the data about cultivated area, in our case: cultivated area – 5,3 ha (53000 m²). Using the following formula:

So, let’s calculate gross harvest for each year:

2013 year:

2014 year:

2015 year:

As a result we have following table:

Table 5. Gross harvest evidences for each year

Years of application	2013	2014	2015
Gross harvest, kg	418700	577700	969900

Thus, as a result of monitoring, it was found that the efficiency of application predator Amblyseius swirskii in conjunction with the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa against the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum contributed to increase in production yield for 2 times compared with the chemicals, as evidenced by the following data: in 2013 year the yield of 1m² was 7.9 kg by using chemical treatments, however by using an effective IPM protocol in 2015 year the yield of 1m² has increased up to 18.3 kg.

Conclusion: Eventually, this data is an evidence of successful and effective implementation and application of biological control (entomophages) in greenhouse complexes, which promotes the production of environmentally friendly products and increase production yields of vegetables grown in greenhouses. In 2016 year, this greenhouse complex is using fungal preparation “BotaniGard”. BotaniGard (mycoinsecticide) is an effective biological insecticide that is used to control whitefly, thrips, aphids, and many other insects. It is based on the highly successful fungus, Beauveria bassiana. Analysis of the results will be presented in another work – diploma project at Masters degree.

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Contact information:

Maulenova Raushan – 4^th course student on Biotechnology specialty

Department of Biotechnology

Faculty of Biology and biotechnology

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

e-mail: mraushans@gmail.com