Effects of trichomes of plant surface on mites and its enlightenment on biological control of pest mites
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Key Words：surface of plants, trichomes, mites, biological control
Abstract：The trichomes on plant surfaces fall into two categories: unicellular and multicellular ones. They have direct or indirect effect on the mites on plant surface. The effects of the trichomes demonstrate either physical or chemical aspect. The physical features may affect the activities of mites, provide adherence, furnish camouflaging shelter, improve the micro-environment, and offer food supplies to the mites. The latter is that the influence on the growth and survival of mites by the chemical substances which are produced by trichomes originally or generated after the trichomes are under attack. And the chemical effect also lies in the fact that the chemical substances can serve as an indication of the existence of the pest mites, hence affecting predacious mites. Research on the effects of the trichomes on mites is seldom conducted in China and relevant research in foreign countries is mainly focused upon the effects of trichomes of
different plant species on spider mites such as Tetranychus urticae and predacious mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis. The trichome effects on the mites are fairly complicated and knowledge on the subject can be of utmost importance for us to gain insight into the biological control of pest mites.