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Detection and analysis inter- and intra-specific variability of common pest and predatory mites using new molecular and imaging tools (DetanMite)
Start date: May 1, 2011, End date: Apr 30, 2014 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The plant parasitic mites represent major pests in agriculture throughout the world. Widespread use of the insecticides and acaricides can cause serious ecological problems. These chemicals kill non-target organisms including predators, and threaten human health. The major threats include residual chemicals on crops, as well as the evolution of resistance to these chemicals among spider mite populations. However, the exceedingly high levels of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetable products may pose significant problems. The EU Parliament and of the Council decided reducing the risks and impacts of pesticides on human health and the environment and promoting the use of IPM and of alternative approaches or techniques such as non-chemical alternatives to pesticides. For improving effective mite control, the key factor is new diagnostic methods which include taxonomic way, new techniques, and coordination of the studies between mite and host relationship and predator- prey associations. Addditionally, alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their unexpected negative effects, and biological control provides the one of the best options. Predatory mites, Phytoseiidae, are excellent biological control agents that suppress spider mites as well as other pests in agricultural areas. The main aim of this research is professional European scientist capacity building through exchanging young scientist about new, classical and rapid diagnostic methods for tetranychid and phytoseiid mites based on both molecular markers (DNA) and comprehensive morphological review using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The partners of DetanMite have high level scientific expertise about plant parasitic and predatory mites and good complementarily in competences and skills. This project brings together a very strong team who will produce solutions to agricultural and environmental problems due to supporting biological control in agricultural production of EU and the world.
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