Assessment of pheromone specificity in Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) populations with focus on pest monitoring and the regional rollout of the sterile insect technique in citrus
- Authors: Joubert, Francois D
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta , Pheromone traps , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Contol , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60665 , vital:27812
- Description: False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered the most important indigenous pest of citrus in southern Africa. It is recognized by several markets as a phytosanitary organism and the efficient control of this pest is now more important than ever. The pheromone communication between the male and female moths has been exploited in order to control FCM through the sterile insect technique (SIT). The sterilized males used for all SIT programmes across South Africa come from a colony that originates from wild material collected from the Citrusdal area of the Western Cape Province. The aim of this study was to determine if any differences in attractiveness of females to males exist between different geographical populations of FCM and if so what impact this would have on the male’s ability to locate females from other populations via the volatile sex pheromone released by the female. Laboratory trials with Y-tube olfactometers and flight tunnels tested the attraction of male moths to virgin females, but did not yield any consistent results. Field experiments were conducted with sterile male Citrusdal moths released and recaptured in yellow delta traps in two separate trials. For one trial, the traps were baited with live virgin females from five different geographical populations including Addo, Nelspruit, Marble Hall, Citrusdal and the Old colony, which is a mixture of several populations. For the other trial traps were baited with various synthetic pheromone blends including three regional blends which included South Africa, Ivory Coast and Malawi and three commercial blends including Pherolure, Isomate and Checkmate. For the virgin female trial the Citrusdal males showed a significant preference for females from their own population. There was also a significant difference in the recaptures from the different synthetic pheromones. The South African blend was the most attractive of all the regional and commercial blends. A cross-mating trial was also conducted under laboratory conditions in petri dishes with five different FCM populations including Citrusdal, Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin). Females produced more eggs when mated with males from the same population for the Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin) populations. The only case in which this was statistically significant was for the Marble Hall population. All the crosses produced viable eggs and the origin of the male or female did not influence egg hatch. The results from this study may lead to improvements in both the control and monitoring of FCM populations. The control methods include mating disruption, attract-and-kill and SIT. Tailoring these methods for a specific growing area with a pheromone blend originating from the area or releasing sterile moths from a colony that originates from the area may optimize the available monitoring and control options.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Joubert, Francois D
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta , Pheromone traps , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Contol , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60665 , vital:27812
- Description: False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered the most important indigenous pest of citrus in southern Africa. It is recognized by several markets as a phytosanitary organism and the efficient control of this pest is now more important than ever. The pheromone communication between the male and female moths has been exploited in order to control FCM through the sterile insect technique (SIT). The sterilized males used for all SIT programmes across South Africa come from a colony that originates from wild material collected from the Citrusdal area of the Western Cape Province. The aim of this study was to determine if any differences in attractiveness of females to males exist between different geographical populations of FCM and if so what impact this would have on the male’s ability to locate females from other populations via the volatile sex pheromone released by the female. Laboratory trials with Y-tube olfactometers and flight tunnels tested the attraction of male moths to virgin females, but did not yield any consistent results. Field experiments were conducted with sterile male Citrusdal moths released and recaptured in yellow delta traps in two separate trials. For one trial, the traps were baited with live virgin females from five different geographical populations including Addo, Nelspruit, Marble Hall, Citrusdal and the Old colony, which is a mixture of several populations. For the other trial traps were baited with various synthetic pheromone blends including three regional blends which included South Africa, Ivory Coast and Malawi and three commercial blends including Pherolure, Isomate and Checkmate. For the virgin female trial the Citrusdal males showed a significant preference for females from their own population. There was also a significant difference in the recaptures from the different synthetic pheromones. The South African blend was the most attractive of all the regional and commercial blends. A cross-mating trial was also conducted under laboratory conditions in petri dishes with five different FCM populations including Citrusdal, Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin). Females produced more eggs when mated with males from the same population for the Addo, Marble Hall, Nelspruit and Old (mixed origin) populations. The only case in which this was statistically significant was for the Marble Hall population. All the crosses produced viable eggs and the origin of the male or female did not influence egg hatch. The results from this study may lead to improvements in both the control and monitoring of FCM populations. The control methods include mating disruption, attract-and-kill and SIT. Tailoring these methods for a specific growing area with a pheromone blend originating from the area or releasing sterile moths from a colony that originates from the area may optimize the available monitoring and control options.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Baculovirus synergism: investigating mixed alphabaculovirus and betabaculovirus infections in the false codling moth, thaumatotibia leucotreta, for improved pest control
- Authors: Jukes, Michael David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Baculoviruses , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa , Pests -- Integrated control , Nucleopolyhedroviruses , Natural pesticides , Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61797 , vital:28061
- Description: Baculovirus based biopesticides are an effective and environmentally friendly approach for the control of agriculturally important insect pests. The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is indigenous to southern Africa and is a major pest of citrus crops. This moth poses a serious risk to export of fruit to foreign markets and the control of this pest is therefore imperative. The Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) has been commercially formulated into the products Cryptogran™ and Cryptex®. These products have been used successfully for over a decade as part of a rigorous integrated pest management (IPM) programme to control T. leucotreta in South Africa. There is however, a continuous need to improve this programme while also addressing new challenges as they arise. An example of a rising concern is the possibility of resistance developing towards CrleGV. This was seen in Europe with field populations of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), which developed resistance to the Mexican isolate of the Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV-M). To prevent such a scenario occurring in South Africa, there is a need to improve existing methods of control. For example, additional baculovirus variants can be isolated and characterised for determining virulence, which can then be developed as new biopesticides. Additionally, the potential for synergistic effects between different baculoviruses infecting the same host can be explored for improved virulence. A novel nucleopolyhedrovirus was recently identified in T. leucotreta larval homogenates which were also infected with CrleGV. This provided unique opportunities for continued research and development. In this study, a method using C. pomonella larvae, which can be infected by the NPV but not by CrleGV, was developed to separate the NPV from GV-NPV mixtures in an in vivo system. Examination of NPV OBs by transmission electron microscopy showed purified occlusion bodies with a single nucleopolyhedrovirus morphology (SNPV). Genetic characterisation identified the novel NPV as Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV), which was recently isolated from the litchi moth, Cryptophlebia peltastica (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). To begin examining the potential for synergism between the two viruses, a multiplex PCR assay was developed to accurately detect CrleGV and/or CrpeNPV in mixed infections. This assay was applied to various samples to screen for the presence of CrpeNPV and CrleGV. Additionally, a validation experiment was performed using different combinations of CrpeNPV and/or CrleGV to evaluate the effectiveness of the mPCR assay. The results obtained indicated a high degree of specificity with the correct amplicons generated for each test sample. The biological activity of CrpeNPV and CrleGV were evaluated using surface dose bioassays, both individually and in various combinations, against T. leucotreta neonate larvae in a laboratory setting. A synergistic effect was recorded in the combination treatments, showing improved virulence when compared against each virus in isolation. The LC90 for CrpeNPV and CrleGV when applied alone against T. leucotreta was calculated to be 2.75*106 and 3.00*106 OBs.ml"1 respectively. These values decreased to 1.07*106 and 7.18*105 OBs.ml"1 when combinations of CrleGV and CrpeNPV were applied at ratios of 3:1 and 1:3 respectively. These results indicate a potential for developing improved biopesticides for the control of T. leucotreta in the field. To better understand the interactions between CrleGV and CrpeNPV, experiments involving the serial passage of these viruses through T. leucotreta larvae were performed. This was done using each virus in isolation as well as both viruses in different combinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from recovered occlusion bodies after each passage and examined by multiplex and quantitative PCR. This analysis enabled the detection of each virus present throughout this assay, as well as recording shifts in the ratio of CrleGV and CrpeNPV at each passage. CrleGV rapidly became the dominant virus in all treatments, indicating a potentially antagonistic interaction during serial passage. Additionally, CrpeNPV and CrleGV were detected in treatments which were not originally inoculated with one or either virus, indicating potential covert infections in T. leucotreta. Occlusion bodies recovered from the final passage were used to inoculate C. pomonella larvae to isolate CrpeNPV from CrleGV. Genomic DNA was extracted from these CrpeNPV OBs and examined by restriction endonuclease assays and next generation sequencing. This enabled the identification of potential recombination events which may have occurred during the dual GV and NPV infections throughout the passage assay. No recombination events were identified in the CrpeNPV genome sequences assembled from virus collected at the end of the passage assay. Lastly, the efficacy of CrpeNPV and CrleGV, both alone and in various combinations, was evaluated in the field. In two separate trials conducted on citrus, unfavorable field conditions resulted in no significant reduction in fruit infestation for both the virus and chemical treatments. While not statistically significant, virus treatments were recorded to have the lowest levels of fruit infestation with a measured reduction of up to 64 %. This study is the first to report a synergistic effect between CrleGV and CrpeNPV in T. leucotreta. The discovery of beneficial interactions creates an opportunity for the development of novel biopesticides for improved control of this pest in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Jukes, Michael David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Baculoviruses , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa , Pests -- Integrated control , Nucleopolyhedroviruses , Natural pesticides , Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61797 , vital:28061
- Description: Baculovirus based biopesticides are an effective and environmentally friendly approach for the control of agriculturally important insect pests. The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is indigenous to southern Africa and is a major pest of citrus crops. This moth poses a serious risk to export of fruit to foreign markets and the control of this pest is therefore imperative. The Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) has been commercially formulated into the products Cryptogran™ and Cryptex®. These products have been used successfully for over a decade as part of a rigorous integrated pest management (IPM) programme to control T. leucotreta in South Africa. There is however, a continuous need to improve this programme while also addressing new challenges as they arise. An example of a rising concern is the possibility of resistance developing towards CrleGV. This was seen in Europe with field populations of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), which developed resistance to the Mexican isolate of the Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV-M). To prevent such a scenario occurring in South Africa, there is a need to improve existing methods of control. For example, additional baculovirus variants can be isolated and characterised for determining virulence, which can then be developed as new biopesticides. Additionally, the potential for synergistic effects between different baculoviruses infecting the same host can be explored for improved virulence. A novel nucleopolyhedrovirus was recently identified in T. leucotreta larval homogenates which were also infected with CrleGV. This provided unique opportunities for continued research and development. In this study, a method using C. pomonella larvae, which can be infected by the NPV but not by CrleGV, was developed to separate the NPV from GV-NPV mixtures in an in vivo system. Examination of NPV OBs by transmission electron microscopy showed purified occlusion bodies with a single nucleopolyhedrovirus morphology (SNPV). Genetic characterisation identified the novel NPV as Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV), which was recently isolated from the litchi moth, Cryptophlebia peltastica (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). To begin examining the potential for synergism between the two viruses, a multiplex PCR assay was developed to accurately detect CrleGV and/or CrpeNPV in mixed infections. This assay was applied to various samples to screen for the presence of CrpeNPV and CrleGV. Additionally, a validation experiment was performed using different combinations of CrpeNPV and/or CrleGV to evaluate the effectiveness of the mPCR assay. The results obtained indicated a high degree of specificity with the correct amplicons generated for each test sample. The biological activity of CrpeNPV and CrleGV were evaluated using surface dose bioassays, both individually and in various combinations, against T. leucotreta neonate larvae in a laboratory setting. A synergistic effect was recorded in the combination treatments, showing improved virulence when compared against each virus in isolation. The LC90 for CrpeNPV and CrleGV when applied alone against T. leucotreta was calculated to be 2.75*106 and 3.00*106 OBs.ml"1 respectively. These values decreased to 1.07*106 and 7.18*105 OBs.ml"1 when combinations of CrleGV and CrpeNPV were applied at ratios of 3:1 and 1:3 respectively. These results indicate a potential for developing improved biopesticides for the control of T. leucotreta in the field. To better understand the interactions between CrleGV and CrpeNPV, experiments involving the serial passage of these viruses through T. leucotreta larvae were performed. This was done using each virus in isolation as well as both viruses in different combinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from recovered occlusion bodies after each passage and examined by multiplex and quantitative PCR. This analysis enabled the detection of each virus present throughout this assay, as well as recording shifts in the ratio of CrleGV and CrpeNPV at each passage. CrleGV rapidly became the dominant virus in all treatments, indicating a potentially antagonistic interaction during serial passage. Additionally, CrpeNPV and CrleGV were detected in treatments which were not originally inoculated with one or either virus, indicating potential covert infections in T. leucotreta. Occlusion bodies recovered from the final passage were used to inoculate C. pomonella larvae to isolate CrpeNPV from CrleGV. Genomic DNA was extracted from these CrpeNPV OBs and examined by restriction endonuclease assays and next generation sequencing. This enabled the identification of potential recombination events which may have occurred during the dual GV and NPV infections throughout the passage assay. No recombination events were identified in the CrpeNPV genome sequences assembled from virus collected at the end of the passage assay. Lastly, the efficacy of CrpeNPV and CrleGV, both alone and in various combinations, was evaluated in the field. In two separate trials conducted on citrus, unfavorable field conditions resulted in no significant reduction in fruit infestation for both the virus and chemical treatments. While not statistically significant, virus treatments were recorded to have the lowest levels of fruit infestation with a measured reduction of up to 64 %. This study is the first to report a synergistic effect between CrleGV and CrpeNPV in T. leucotreta. The discovery of beneficial interactions creates an opportunity for the development of novel biopesticides for improved control of this pest in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Elevated CO2 determines cell damage and nitrogen allocation in barley subjected to aphid herbivory
- Authors: Gallagher, Sean
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64337 , vital:28535
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Gallagher, Sean
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64337 , vital:28535
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Isolation, identification and genetic characterisation of a microsporidium isolated from the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
- Authors: Lloyd, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pyralidae , Pyralidae -- Genetics , Pyralidae -- Phylogeny , Pyralidae -- Pathogens , Cladistic analysis , Transmission electron microscopy , Carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61894 , vital:28075
- Description: Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an economically important pest, yet its biology and pest status on citrus in South Africa was, until recently, poorly understood. A study was initiated to determine the cause of collapse of a laboratory carob moth colony that was established to investigate the biology of carob moth on citrus and to develop integrated management strategies for the pest. An organism was isolated from deceased larvae and was morphologically identified as a microsporidium, based on transmission electron microscopy. Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that have been found to infect almost all eukaryotes. Several Nosema species have been isolated from economically important insect pests, yet little genetic information is available from online databases for identification. Mature spores were recovered and measured using transmission electron microscopy. Spores were ovocylindrical with a wrinkled exospore, and had a length of 2.8 ± 0.02 pm and a width of 1.6 ± 0.04 pm. The identity of the microsporidium was confirmed by PCR amplification, sequencing and analysis of the regions encoding the ribosomal RNA. BLAST analysis of the different rRNA regions amplified showed that the microsporidium shared a 96 - 99 % identity with Nosema sp. M-Pr, Nosema carpocapsae, Nosema oulemae, Nosema sp. CO1, Microsporidium 57864, and Nosema bombi. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU and LSU rRNA genes showed that the microsporidium clustered with the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade, supported by a bootstrap value of 100. The organisation of the RNA cistron was determined by PCR amplification using the primer set 18f and L1328r to be 5’-SSU-ITS-LSU-IGS-5S-3’, which confirms the placement of the microsporidium within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade. Because the BLAST results showed a close relationship with Nosema carpocapsae, a microsporidium infecting codling moth, the pathogenicity of the microsporidium was tested against codling moth by inoculating artificial diet with a high spore concentration of 1.1 x 107 spores/ml and a low spore concentration of 1.1 x 104 spores/ml. DNA was extracted from deceased larvae inoculated with the high concentration, and PCR of the SSU rRNA gene and bacterial 16S region was performed. Mortality in the high concentration experiment was significant (p = 0.05), but the cause of infection was determined to be a bacterium, through sequencing and BLAST analysis of the bacterial 16S rDNA. The bacterium shared a 99 % identity with Bacillus cereus. Percentage mortality (p = 0.09), larval mass (p = 0.09) and instar (p = 0.24) did not differ significantly between treatments in the low concentration experiment. DNA was extracted from the larvae and PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA gene was performed to determine whether microsporidia were present. No SSU bands were observed in any of the treatments and percentage mortality was not significant, thus it was determined that no infection occurred. This is the first study to report the genetic characterisation of a microsporidium isolated from carob moth and provides important genetic information for classification of microsporidia within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade. It is also one of few studies in which the complete rRNA cistron of a species within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade has been sequenced. The identification of a microsporidium from a laboratory colony of carob moth is important as it provides information about pathogens infecting the carob moth and constraints to carob moth rearing, which is useful for further studies on rearing carob moth and for establishment of a clean colony for research purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Lloyd, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pyralidae , Pyralidae -- Genetics , Pyralidae -- Phylogeny , Pyralidae -- Pathogens , Cladistic analysis , Transmission electron microscopy , Carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61894 , vital:28075
- Description: Carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an economically important pest, yet its biology and pest status on citrus in South Africa was, until recently, poorly understood. A study was initiated to determine the cause of collapse of a laboratory carob moth colony that was established to investigate the biology of carob moth on citrus and to develop integrated management strategies for the pest. An organism was isolated from deceased larvae and was morphologically identified as a microsporidium, based on transmission electron microscopy. Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that have been found to infect almost all eukaryotes. Several Nosema species have been isolated from economically important insect pests, yet little genetic information is available from online databases for identification. Mature spores were recovered and measured using transmission electron microscopy. Spores were ovocylindrical with a wrinkled exospore, and had a length of 2.8 ± 0.02 pm and a width of 1.6 ± 0.04 pm. The identity of the microsporidium was confirmed by PCR amplification, sequencing and analysis of the regions encoding the ribosomal RNA. BLAST analysis of the different rRNA regions amplified showed that the microsporidium shared a 96 - 99 % identity with Nosema sp. M-Pr, Nosema carpocapsae, Nosema oulemae, Nosema sp. CO1, Microsporidium 57864, and Nosema bombi. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU and LSU rRNA genes showed that the microsporidium clustered with the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade, supported by a bootstrap value of 100. The organisation of the RNA cistron was determined by PCR amplification using the primer set 18f and L1328r to be 5’-SSU-ITS-LSU-IGS-5S-3’, which confirms the placement of the microsporidium within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade. Because the BLAST results showed a close relationship with Nosema carpocapsae, a microsporidium infecting codling moth, the pathogenicity of the microsporidium was tested against codling moth by inoculating artificial diet with a high spore concentration of 1.1 x 107 spores/ml and a low spore concentration of 1.1 x 104 spores/ml. DNA was extracted from deceased larvae inoculated with the high concentration, and PCR of the SSU rRNA gene and bacterial 16S region was performed. Mortality in the high concentration experiment was significant (p = 0.05), but the cause of infection was determined to be a bacterium, through sequencing and BLAST analysis of the bacterial 16S rDNA. The bacterium shared a 99 % identity with Bacillus cereus. Percentage mortality (p = 0.09), larval mass (p = 0.09) and instar (p = 0.24) did not differ significantly between treatments in the low concentration experiment. DNA was extracted from the larvae and PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA gene was performed to determine whether microsporidia were present. No SSU bands were observed in any of the treatments and percentage mortality was not significant, thus it was determined that no infection occurred. This is the first study to report the genetic characterisation of a microsporidium isolated from carob moth and provides important genetic information for classification of microsporidia within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade. It is also one of few studies in which the complete rRNA cistron of a species within the Nosema / Vairimorpha clade has been sequenced. The identification of a microsporidium from a laboratory colony of carob moth is important as it provides information about pathogens infecting the carob moth and constraints to carob moth rearing, which is useful for further studies on rearing carob moth and for establishment of a clean colony for research purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The implementation of a push-pull programme for the control of Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in sugarcane in the coastal regions of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Authors: Mulcahy, Megan Marie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pyralidae -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Pests -- Integrated control , Sugarcane -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Stem borers -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Insect-plant relationships -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63290 , vital:28390
- Description: Eldana saccharina, an indigenous lepidopteran stemborer, is considered the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa. Researchers have advocated the use of an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme as a means of improving the control of this pest. A push-pull strategy was developed as a component of this AW-IPM approach. The push-pull strategy in sugarcane is a habitat management method of pest control that uses plants that are both repellent (Melinis Minutiflora) and attractive (Cyperus dives, Cyperus papyrus and Bt-maize) to E. saccharina. Previous research into push-pull has shown that this strategy is an effective tool for the control of E. saccharina. Push-pull has been implemented successfully in the Midlands North sugarcane growing region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Despite the proven efficacy of push-pull, very little push-pull research has been conducted in the coastal sugarcane growing regions of KZN, and adoption of this technology has been poor in these regions. Therefore, the aim of this research was to facilitate the implementation of push-pull for the management of E. saccharina in sugarcane in the coastal regions of KZN. This was done by focussing on on-farm field trials and farmer participatory research. On-farm push-pull field trials were conducted on five model farms in the North and South Coast sugarcane growing regions of KZN. High levels of E. saccharina were recorded during this study. The push-pull treatment sites showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on four of the five farms used in the study. Mean percentage of stalks damaged decreased by up to 50 % in the presence of the repellent grass species, M. minutiflora. The number of E. saccharina found per 100 stalks also decreased significantly at these farms. The farm which did not show a significant reduction in E. saccharina populations or damage had low numbers of this pest in the sugarcane throughout the experiment. This demonstrates that push-pull is more effective in areas that have high levels of E. saccharina. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed that high numbers of E. saccharina were found within the pull plants, C. papyrus and C. dives, in comparison to the push-pull sites. This verifies that the pull plants do work efficiently to attract E. saccharina away from sugarcane. Additionally, eight parasitoids emerged from E. saccharina larvae collected in wetland sedges. The beneficial roles that push-pull plants play in attracting and maintaining natural enemies in the agroecosystem are discussed, and these findings further demonstrate the important ecosystem, and pest management services that wetlands provide on sugarcane farms. The success of the push-pull trials in this study show that this technology can be an effective tool for controlling E. saccharina in the coastal sugarcane growing regions. The timing of the planting of push-pull plants was shown to play a role in the efficacy of this technology. The study also confirmed that push-pull should be used as a component of AW-IPM in conjunction with good crop management practices. Surveys were undertaken to determine large-scale sugarcane growers' (LSGs) knowledge and perceptions of E. saccharina and other pests. Research regarding the farmers' perceptions of push- pull was also conducted to better understand the drivers and barriers to adoption of push-pull, and other new technologies. The surveys found that large-scale farmers in the coastal regions suffer from high infestations of E. saccharina. As such there is scope for the introduction of new pest management practices such as push-pull in this area. Farmers also demonstrated a good basic knowledge of E. saccharina and IPM. However, LSGs had a poor understanding of push-pull and how it works, as well as the plants that make up the push-pull system that is being implemented against E. saccharina in South Africa. A dearth in practical knowledge regarding the implementation of push-pull was seen as a major barrier to the adoption of this strategy, as was financial instability, farmer attitudes and poor institutional support. Farmers recommended collaboration amongst stakeholders, improved education, proof of the efficacy of push-pull and incentives as tools to improve the implementation of this strategy in the coastal sugarcane growing regions of KZN. Farmers preferred direct contact with extension personnel and experiential learning opportunities when acquiring information about push- pull and other new pest management practices. If opportunities for push-pull education are increased through direct contact with extension personnel, and through on-farm demonstrations, and if inputs are provided in the form of push-pull plants, it is likely that push-pull will succeed amongst coastal LSGs, especially since farmers had an overall positive attitude towards the technology. Surveys amongst small-scale sugarcane growers (SSGs) showed that sugarcane is important in the lives of these farmers. The SSGs perceive pests to be a major constraint to their farming systems, and they identified E. saccharina as a major pest of sugarcane. The farmers also demonstrated good knowledge of sugarcane pests and vegetable pests. However, SSGs lacked knowledge regarding pest management practices and beneficial insects. Extension and advisory services should to continue concentrating on pest management practices to educate SSGs on the variety and application of pest control strategies. SSGs were found to employ complex, diverse and integrated agricultural systems that are well-suited to the implementation of IPM technologies such as push-pull. Since insect pests act were found to be a major constraint to SSG sugarcane production, push-pull was deemed a feasible pest management strategy for coastal farmers and its implementation by SSGs should be further explored. SSGs in this study were also concerned about vegetable pests, therefore if push-pull can be adapted to help protect additional crops, adoption of this technology by small-scale growers will improve.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mulcahy, Megan Marie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pyralidae -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Pests -- Integrated control , Sugarcane -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Stem borers -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Insect-plant relationships -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63290 , vital:28390
- Description: Eldana saccharina, an indigenous lepidopteran stemborer, is considered the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa. Researchers have advocated the use of an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme as a means of improving the control of this pest. A push-pull strategy was developed as a component of this AW-IPM approach. The push-pull strategy in sugarcane is a habitat management method of pest control that uses plants that are both repellent (Melinis Minutiflora) and attractive (Cyperus dives, Cyperus papyrus and Bt-maize) to E. saccharina. Previous research into push-pull has shown that this strategy is an effective tool for the control of E. saccharina. Push-pull has been implemented successfully in the Midlands North sugarcane growing region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Despite the proven efficacy of push-pull, very little push-pull research has been conducted in the coastal sugarcane growing regions of KZN, and adoption of this technology has been poor in these regions. Therefore, the aim of this research was to facilitate the implementation of push-pull for the management of E. saccharina in sugarcane in the coastal regions of KZN. This was done by focussing on on-farm field trials and farmer participatory research. On-farm push-pull field trials were conducted on five model farms in the North and South Coast sugarcane growing regions of KZN. High levels of E. saccharina were recorded during this study. The push-pull treatment sites showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on four of the five farms used in the study. Mean percentage of stalks damaged decreased by up to 50 % in the presence of the repellent grass species, M. minutiflora. The number of E. saccharina found per 100 stalks also decreased significantly at these farms. The farm which did not show a significant reduction in E. saccharina populations or damage had low numbers of this pest in the sugarcane throughout the experiment. This demonstrates that push-pull is more effective in areas that have high levels of E. saccharina. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed that high numbers of E. saccharina were found within the pull plants, C. papyrus and C. dives, in comparison to the push-pull sites. This verifies that the pull plants do work efficiently to attract E. saccharina away from sugarcane. Additionally, eight parasitoids emerged from E. saccharina larvae collected in wetland sedges. The beneficial roles that push-pull plants play in attracting and maintaining natural enemies in the agroecosystem are discussed, and these findings further demonstrate the important ecosystem, and pest management services that wetlands provide on sugarcane farms. The success of the push-pull trials in this study show that this technology can be an effective tool for controlling E. saccharina in the coastal sugarcane growing regions. The timing of the planting of push-pull plants was shown to play a role in the efficacy of this technology. The study also confirmed that push-pull should be used as a component of AW-IPM in conjunction with good crop management practices. Surveys were undertaken to determine large-scale sugarcane growers' (LSGs) knowledge and perceptions of E. saccharina and other pests. Research regarding the farmers' perceptions of push- pull was also conducted to better understand the drivers and barriers to adoption of push-pull, and other new technologies. The surveys found that large-scale farmers in the coastal regions suffer from high infestations of E. saccharina. As such there is scope for the introduction of new pest management practices such as push-pull in this area. Farmers also demonstrated a good basic knowledge of E. saccharina and IPM. However, LSGs had a poor understanding of push-pull and how it works, as well as the plants that make up the push-pull system that is being implemented against E. saccharina in South Africa. A dearth in practical knowledge regarding the implementation of push-pull was seen as a major barrier to the adoption of this strategy, as was financial instability, farmer attitudes and poor institutional support. Farmers recommended collaboration amongst stakeholders, improved education, proof of the efficacy of push-pull and incentives as tools to improve the implementation of this strategy in the coastal sugarcane growing regions of KZN. Farmers preferred direct contact with extension personnel and experiential learning opportunities when acquiring information about push- pull and other new pest management practices. If opportunities for push-pull education are increased through direct contact with extension personnel, and through on-farm demonstrations, and if inputs are provided in the form of push-pull plants, it is likely that push-pull will succeed amongst coastal LSGs, especially since farmers had an overall positive attitude towards the technology. Surveys amongst small-scale sugarcane growers (SSGs) showed that sugarcane is important in the lives of these farmers. The SSGs perceive pests to be a major constraint to their farming systems, and they identified E. saccharina as a major pest of sugarcane. The farmers also demonstrated good knowledge of sugarcane pests and vegetable pests. However, SSGs lacked knowledge regarding pest management practices and beneficial insects. Extension and advisory services should to continue concentrating on pest management practices to educate SSGs on the variety and application of pest control strategies. SSGs were found to employ complex, diverse and integrated agricultural systems that are well-suited to the implementation of IPM technologies such as push-pull. Since insect pests act were found to be a major constraint to SSG sugarcane production, push-pull was deemed a feasible pest management strategy for coastal farmers and its implementation by SSGs should be further explored. SSGs in this study were also concerned about vegetable pests, therefore if push-pull can be adapted to help protect additional crops, adoption of this technology by small-scale growers will improve.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The thermal physiology of Stenopelmus rufinasus and Neohydronomus affinis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), biological control agents for the invasive alien aquatic weeds Azolla filiculoides and Pistia stratiotes respectively
- Authors: Mvandaba, Sisanda F
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Beetles -- South Africa , Curculionidae -- South Africa , Azolla filiculoides -- South Africa , Water lettuce -- South Africa , Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Stenopelmus rufinasus , Neohydronomus affinis
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62362 , vital:28158
- Description: Water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae), and red water fern, Azolla filiculoides Lam. (Azollaceae), are floating aquatic macrophytes that have become problematic invaders in numerous South African waterbodies. Two weevils, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache 1926 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyllenhal 1936 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are successful biological control agents of these two species, respectively, in South Africa. However, nothing is known about the thermal physiology of these two species Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the thermal physiologies of these two species to explain their establishment, distribution and impact in the field. Laboratory based thermal physiology trials showed that both weevils were widely tolerant of cold and warm temperatures. The CTmin of N. affinis was determined to be 5.5 ± 0.312°C and the CTmax was 44 ± 0.697°C, while the CTmin of S. rufinasus was 5.4 ± 0.333°C and the CTmax was 44.5 ± 0.168°C. In addition, the lower lethal temperatures were -9.8 ± 0.053°C and -7.2 ± 0.19°C, and the upper lethal temperatures were 42.8 ± 0.053°C and 41.9 ± 0.19°C respectively. These results suggest that both species should not be limited by cold winter temperatures, as previously thought. This is evident in the field, where S. rufinasus has established widely on A. filiculoides, despite local cold climates in some areas of the plant’s distribution. Even though N. affinis has a similar thermal range, and should therefore theoretically reflect a similar distribution to S. rufinasus throughout South Africa, its distribution is limited by the range of its host, which is restricted to the warmer regions of the country, as is its biocontrol agent. Using the reduced major axis regression method, the development for N. affinis was described using the formulay=12.976x+435.24, while the development of S. rufinasus was described by y=13.6x+222.45. These results showed that S. rufinasus develops much faster, in fact almost twice as quickly, than N. affinis. Using these formulae and temperature data obtained from the South African Weather Service, N. affinis was predicted to complete between 4 and 9 generations per year in South Africa, while S. rufinasus was predicted to complete between 5 and 14 generations per year around the country. This study showed that although the native range of these two species is warm temperate to tropical, they possess sufficient thermal plasticity to not only establish, but also damage their respective host plants in far cooler climates. Thus, in South Africa N. affinis and S. rufinasus are limited by the distribution of their target weeds and not climate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mvandaba, Sisanda F
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Beetles -- South Africa , Curculionidae -- South Africa , Azolla filiculoides -- South Africa , Water lettuce -- South Africa , Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Stenopelmus rufinasus , Neohydronomus affinis
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62362 , vital:28158
- Description: Water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae), and red water fern, Azolla filiculoides Lam. (Azollaceae), are floating aquatic macrophytes that have become problematic invaders in numerous South African waterbodies. Two weevils, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache 1926 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyllenhal 1936 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are successful biological control agents of these two species, respectively, in South Africa. However, nothing is known about the thermal physiology of these two species Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the thermal physiologies of these two species to explain their establishment, distribution and impact in the field. Laboratory based thermal physiology trials showed that both weevils were widely tolerant of cold and warm temperatures. The CTmin of N. affinis was determined to be 5.5 ± 0.312°C and the CTmax was 44 ± 0.697°C, while the CTmin of S. rufinasus was 5.4 ± 0.333°C and the CTmax was 44.5 ± 0.168°C. In addition, the lower lethal temperatures were -9.8 ± 0.053°C and -7.2 ± 0.19°C, and the upper lethal temperatures were 42.8 ± 0.053°C and 41.9 ± 0.19°C respectively. These results suggest that both species should not be limited by cold winter temperatures, as previously thought. This is evident in the field, where S. rufinasus has established widely on A. filiculoides, despite local cold climates in some areas of the plant’s distribution. Even though N. affinis has a similar thermal range, and should therefore theoretically reflect a similar distribution to S. rufinasus throughout South Africa, its distribution is limited by the range of its host, which is restricted to the warmer regions of the country, as is its biocontrol agent. Using the reduced major axis regression method, the development for N. affinis was described using the formulay=12.976x+435.24, while the development of S. rufinasus was described by y=13.6x+222.45. These results showed that S. rufinasus develops much faster, in fact almost twice as quickly, than N. affinis. Using these formulae and temperature data obtained from the South African Weather Service, N. affinis was predicted to complete between 4 and 9 generations per year in South Africa, while S. rufinasus was predicted to complete between 5 and 14 generations per year around the country. This study showed that although the native range of these two species is warm temperate to tropical, they possess sufficient thermal plasticity to not only establish, but also damage their respective host plants in far cooler climates. Thus, in South Africa N. affinis and S. rufinasus are limited by the distribution of their target weeds and not climate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
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