Biological control in Oman: Applications and potentials.

Biological control, the most important pillar of organic farming, depends on natural organisms that act as agents to control pathogens and diseases. Biological control agents include parasites and predators, microbial pesticides from fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and protozoa, insect pheromones, pesticides extracted from plants, and plants genetically modified to resist pests. In Oman, the three primary biological control methods were implemented successfully in the field. First, introducing new natural enemies and establishing a permanent population, i.e. classical biological control, in 1984, the parasitoid wasp, Encarsia opulenta Silvestri, imported from USA (Florida) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was introduced to target the citrus blackfly (CBF) Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), and during 1985, the coccinellid beetle, Chilocorus nigritus [Fabricius], was introduced from India in the south to target the coconut scale insect, Aspidiotus destructor Sign., (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Second, conservation of existing natural enemies, e.g. local Leptomastix dactylopii (Hymenoptera:Encyridae) is parasitic wasp that target Citrus mealybug. Third, mass rearing and periodic release, on a seasonal basis, e.g. Mass rearing program of Trichogramma that used to control (Lipidoptera) pomegranate butterfly, lesser date moth corn borer and eggplant shot & fruit borer. Notably, local agents are potentially better than introduced ones because of their adaptation to physical factors such as temperature and salinity. For example, Trichoderma asperellum. Therefore, more efforts should be invested in identification of new local agents to control challenging pathogens and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]