SEMI-FIELD AND FIELD EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE RED PALM WEEVIL RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS
The objective of this study was to explore the efficiency of native isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the genera and Heterorhabditis in controlling the population of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that attack date palm trees Phoenix dactylifera L. in the Arabic region.
Semi-field studies showed that mortality in adults of the RPW infesting caged 5-year-old date palm trees reached 90 and 100% after 10 days of spraying the nematodes Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, respectively on and around the infested date palm trees.
Increasing the dose from 2×106 to 4×106 nematode infective juveniles (IJ)/tree did not result in a significant increase in the pest mortality.
Field studies indicated that tested EPNs induced highly significant mortality in cocoons of the RPW aggregated in leaf petioles of 10-year-old date palm trees. Mortality in prepupae and pupae inside these cocoons were higher (up to 100%) than that in adult stage (up to 66.6%). The tested heterorhabditid isolates were more effective against RPW cocoons than the steinernematid ones. Regardless of the insect stage, H. bacteriophora induced 98.3% mortality in cocoons, followed by H. indica (90.41%), Steinernema sp. S1 (60.35%), while the least effective nematode was Steinernema sp. S2 (51.17%). These results support the possibility of using EPNs to prevent the emergence of adults from RPW cocoons at the beginning of spring and, in turn suppress the population density of RPW in the surrounding.
Field studies indicated that tested EPNs induced highly significant mortality in cocoons of the RPW aggregated in leaf petioles of 10-year-old date palm trees. Mortality in prepupae and pupae inside these cocoons were higher (up to 100%) than that in adult stage (up to 66.6%). The tested heterorhabditid isolates were more effective against RPW cocoons than the steinernematid ones. Regardless of the insect stage, H. bacteriophora induced 98.3% mortality in cocoons, followed by H. indica (90.41%), Steinernema sp. S1 (60.35%), while the least effective nematode was Steinernema sp. S2 (51.17%). These results support the possibility of using EPNs to prevent the emergence of adults from RPW cocoons at the beginning of spring and, in turn suppress the population density of RPW in the surrounding.
Saleh, M.M.E., Kassab, A.S., Abdelwahed, M.S. and Alkhazal, M.H. (2010). SEMI-FIELD AND FIELD EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES IN THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE RED PALM WEEVIL RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS . Acta Hortic. 882, 407-412
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.45
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.45
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.45
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.45
Phoenix dactylifera, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Steinernema, Heterorhabditis.
English