SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF BROWN SPIDER MITE (Oligonychus punicae Hirst) DAMAGE IN AVOCADO USING SPATIAL ANALYSIS BY DISTANCE INDICES (SADIE)

Abstract

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a perennial crop that belongs to the Lauraceae family. This crop is affected by various pests, the most important of which is the spider mite Oligonychus punicae Hirst (Acari: Tetranychidae), also known as the brown avocado spider. The damage begins with reddish spots that spread throughout the leaf, eventually tanning the foliage and staining the fruit, resulting in its rejection in the market. As a result, understanding its spatial distribution is critical for growers to plan and implement integrated pest management programs effectively, reducing their economic and environmental impacts. This study used spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) to determine the spatial distribution of damage to the Hass avocado crop caused by brown spider mite populations in Coatepec Harinas and Donato Guerra, two municipalities in the State of Mexico, Mexico. Spatial behavior allows for the development of preventive or corrective control measures for the use of precision farming techniques. Spatial distribution maps were created using the geostatistical technique of ordinary Krigeing, and the mean and variance of damage caused by the brown spider mite in avocado were examined. The findings revealed a clustered spatial distribution with several aggregation centers that shift over time and correlate with the plots’ terrain and climate. No homogeneous pattern was found in any plot, indicating the need to continue this type of research to better understand concentration conditions and implement specific actions in the field.