Chlorophyll fluorometry as a method of determining the effectiveness of a biological control agent in post-release evaluations |
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| Authors: | Benjamin E Miller Julie Coetzee Martin Hill |
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| Institution: | 1. Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africamiller.benjamin93@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1409-690X;3. Centre for Biological Control, Botany Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0364-3349;4. Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-5298 |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTThe impact of the planthopper Megamelus scutellaris, a biocontrol agent of water hyacinth in South Africa, was assessed using chlorophyll fluorometry in a greenhouse study under two different eutrophic nutrient treatments and agent densities (high and low). The results indicated that plants grown in low nutrients with high densities of M. scutellaris showed the greatest reduction in the fluorescence parameters Fv/Fm and PIabs. The successful use of chlorophyll fluorometry for the detection of subtle insect damage to water hyacinth leaves could have future application in post-release studies to measure the impact of M. scutellaris in the field. |
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| Keywords: | Water hyacinth Megamelus scutellaris biocontrol chlorophyll fluorometer photosynthesis |
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1409-690X;3. Centre for Biological Control, Botany Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa