A residual bioassay technique was used to characterize the resistance of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) to the acaricide dicofol. Different concentrations of dicofol were sprayed on citrus leaf disks with a Potter spray tower. After treatment, each leaf disk was placed on an agar-water solution at the concentration of 2.3% in a petri dish. Adult mites were transferred onto the arena and bioassay dishes were kept at 25±1ºC, relative humidity of 70±10% and photoperiod of 14h. The mortality was assessed 24h after mite infestation. The estimated LC50s for susceptible and dicofol-resistant strains were 7.44 µg of dicofol / ml of distilled water [ppm (A.I.)] (95% CI 6.74 - 8.23) and 422.45 ppm (A.I.) (95% CI 369.41 - 482.80), respectively. The resistance ratio derived from LC50s was about 57-fold. Based on this difference, discriminating concentrations between 32 and 100 ppm (A.I.) were defined for monitoring dicofol-resistant B. phoenicis. A survey of different B. phoenicis populations collected from commercial citrus groves in the State of São Paulo showed significant differences between populations in relation to their responses to dicofol.
Citrus leprosis mite; Citrus sinensis; chemical control; resistance management
