Flower Pests, Study

Flower pests, study

In the field of economy, export is the mechanism used to send a product or a good for commercial purposes at a destination to a foreign country, companies that are involved in these international activities are governed by a principle of commercial freedom, sometimes Some of these services or products require statistical surveillance. Its importance is based on economic growth (gross domestic product), productive (resource, investments) and labor of the country that performs this activity.

In Latin America, the goods that are mostly exported is oil, followed by minerals, metals, transport equipment and plant products (flowers and fruits). Specifically taking exports of plant products (flowers, fruits); In the latter, export figures are severely affected by the invasion of agricultural pests, its introduction in Latin America is easily produced due to climatic similarities, high populations, product exchange, enabled that species move from one country to another and manage to adapt greatly and quickly; These species are mainly represented by mites belonging to the order of corein; that show greater incidence in dry periods especially in greenhouses; causing intense damage if special measures are not implemented on time.

The latest figures obtained that have reference with the losses in agricultural production in Latin America caused by pests fluctuate from 20% to 40%; where about 10% are represented by insects especially mites; Its magnitude changes with respect to the region and the type of crop.

In recent years, in Ecuador agricultural losses are linked by insects-plagas; Considering mainly to the cultivation of export flowers, this problem affects it directly because the flowers are needed to present great quality to be exported, quality already recognized internationally, this activity generates great income to the productive sector and is considered one of the most items important with around 300 million dollars annually in export; One of the main flowers that are exported is the Ecuadorian rose (Rosa L) appreciated worldwide for its quality and unique characteristics (bright colors, large buttons, thick stems); It is exported more than 60 varieties and represents a large percentage in the annual export that surrounds 65% (German 2015). Another kind of economic importance in export is Dianthus L (Clavel) that are mainly directed to the United States of America, Japan, Germany, Holland representing 15% of Ecuadorian exports and the third species Gypsophila L that contributes about 8% of Ecuadorian exports, of the total national production of Gypsophila, 20% are exported to the United States, another 20% goes to Italy, the same amount arrives in Russia and the rest travels to Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Panama and most from European Union countries.

However, export figures and percentages decrease in seasons due to problems related to damage to flowers; This situation can lead to the risk that countries that buy them suspend imports from Ecuadorian flowers; Such was the case in 2012 that EE.UU. I had the idea of ​​suspending flower imports for having a high presence of plague mites.

German shows that there are phytosanitary problems in the production of export flowers that are affecting commercialization; One of the factors that condition quality is the presence of mites that inhabit and feed on the plant; causing an annual loss of 14% of exports.

In the country, there are numerous research on phytopathologies, however very few botanical studies are linked to the products that are exported, the characteristic damages of the-plague, the morphological characteristics after having caused the damage and how these influence at the time of The export.

The export of flowers in Pichincha represents 62% nationwide; where roses represent 68% of their production, followed by Dianthus with 10% and Gypsophila with 10% (CFN 2017); However, these crops in previous years were affected by mites-plagas initially manifesting in the coloration of their leaves and producing floral ampoules, floral abortions and shorter duration of the cut flower affecting exports.

The company denmar s.A. From Quito represents one of the main flower exporters especially towards destinations such as: United States and Canada; with a position of 811 for larger sales in the country; With an exported FOB value more than 50`000000 of dollars in 2018, where the flowers of greater demand in export represented the genus Rosa and Gypsophila, in its crops specific protocols are used for the management and control of mites in this way guarantees the phytosanity of its export flowers.

With all the above, it would be common to observe and study the qualitative damage associated with Tetranychus Sp. in ornamental plants that have export destination.