What do we know about the management of Megastigmus transvaalensis on Schinus terebinthifolia? A systematic review revealing research gaps in physical-based protection

Résumé

Abstract The exotic wasp Megastigmus transvaalensis Hussey, 1956 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) damages the drupes of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi, 1820 (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), reducing fruit quality and seed viability in native, restored, and commercial forests. Although physical exclusion methods based on agrotextiles have been successfully adopted for pest management in several horticultural crops, their application to the management of M. transvaalensis remains unclear. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize the available scientific evidence on the use of agrotextiles and other physical exclusion methods to reduce damage caused by M. transvaalensis in S. terebinthifolia. The review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A systematic search covering the period from 2014 to 2023 was conducted in multiple scientific databases using predefined search strategies. A total of 16,978 records were retrieved, of which 944 were retained after database filtering. Bibliometric mapping was performed using VOSviewer®, and the records were subsequently screened in Rayyan®, resulting in the exclusion of 890 studies according to predefined eligibility criteria. The remaining studies were analyzed to answer the following research question: What management strategies have been investigated for Megastigmus transvaalensis associated with Schinus terebinthifolia worldwide, and what knowledge gaps remain regarding agrotextile-based physical exclusion? The United States produced the largest number of publications, followed by Brazil and South Africa, while the United States Department of Agriculture was the leading institutional contributor. Despite the growing body of research on S. terebinthifolia management, no study evaluated the use of agrotextiles or related physical exclusion strategies for controlling M. transvaalensis. This finding reveals an important knowledge gap and indicates that physical exclusion remains an unexplored component of integrated pest management for this species. Future experimental studies should evaluate the effectiveness, technical feasibility, and economic viability of agrotextile-based strategies for protecting S. terebinthifolia fruits and improving sustainable production systems.

Citer ce document

Accès au document

Texte intégral en lecture en ligne, réservé aux abonnés SPHAERO et aux membres de l'institution. Se connecter

Auteur(s)

Statistiques

Consultations : 1

Téléchargements : 0