Aspects of the influence of exogenous methyl jasmonate on strawberry plantsand on the population size of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch)

Abstract: In two experiments conducted on strawberry plants, exogenous methyl jasmonate(JA-Me) was investigated as to its effect on the population size of the two-spotted spider mite(Tetranychus urticae Koch) as well as on plant growth, flowering and yield. Experiments wereconducted on strawberry plants of the Kent cultivar growing under glasshouse conditions. In thefirst experiment, a negative influence of the JA-Me treatment of plants on growth of thepopulation of the two-spotted spider mite was observed. The second experiment was carried outfor two years. In the first year of the study, all flowers of the strawberry plants were removed andno effect of JA-Me treatment on total leave area of the plants was observed. However, in thesecond year of the study, when plants were allowed to flower and fruit, reduction of plant growthwas recorded after JA-Me treatment. No influence of JA-Me was observed on flowering andyield of strawberry plants.