Population fluctuation of Acalitus essigi and Acalitus orthomerus (Acari: Eriophyidae) associated with inhibited ripening of blackberry (Rubus spp.)

The objective of this research was to confirm the identity of the mites associated with the disease known as inhibited ripening of blackberries, also known as redberry, in all phenological stages of three commercial varieties of blackberry ( Rubus spp.). The association of the mites with red berry is reported through an exhaustive analysis that includes the study of their fluctuation in the different morphological structures of the plant throughout its phenology, as well as taxonomic determination by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Acalitus essigi and Acalitus orthomerus were found in nine morphological structures of the plants, showing preferences for vegetative buds, reproductive buds, and polydrupes, where both species were frequently found in coexistence. Redberry occurred in the late stages of polydrupe harvest in Tupy and X001 varieties, while the SP-Erandy variety did not show symptoms of this disease. In addition, two additional species of the Eriophyoidea superfamily associated with Rubus sp. were identified, Diptacus rubuscolum and Aculus schlechtendali ; they infested the surface of leaves, being determined as vagrants.