Soil Nematodes as a Means of Conservation of Soil Predatory Mites for Biocontrol

Numerous lab and field studies have reported the potential of soil predatory mites for the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes and arthropods pests. Most of these studies have utilized biocontrol agents in augmentative releases, essentially controlling the pest with the released predators. While this may be a valid approach, we hypothesize that conservation of soil mite predators with available, suitable, and accessible free-living nematodes as prey, will provide better agricultural ecosystem performance and long-range sustainability. In this manuscript, we review the relevant studies on soil predatory mite-nematode interactions and highlight their potential for conservation biological control of soil-borne pests. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of implementing environmentally sound soil management practices for the sustainability and conservation of functional soil food webs.

Automated summary

Numerous studies have shown the potential of soil predatory mites for the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes and arthropods pests. Instead of augmentative releases, conserving soil mite populations by providing them with free-living nematodes as prey may offer better agricultural ecosystem performance and long-term sustainability.