COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is planning to use two beneficial insects to tackle rugose whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus), an invasive alien insect ravaging coconut plantations across the state.
The university plans to multiply Chrysoperla and Encarsia that will act as parasitoids (insects that eat other insects) and supply them to coconut farmers.
Director of the Centre of Plant Protection Studies at TNAU K Prabakar said the university has facilities in Coimbatore and Aliyar to multiply the parasitoids, but not enough to cover the whole state. “So, we have proposed a Rs 50 lakh-project to the Coconut Development Board to multiply the parasitoids and distribute them to farmers. We also plan to tie up with the agriculture department to train personnel for parasitoid breeding stations in all districts,” he said.
Rugose whitefly, an invasive pest from Florida, was first detected in the state in 2016. “It was first seen in Pollachi and then spread to other states,” Prabakar said. “The pest has also been reported in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, among other states. It has affected 15% of the 4.4 lakh hectares of coconut plantations in the state, affecting yield.”
TNAU had come up with an integrated pest management method to control whitefly. It includes placing sticky yellow polythene sheets that attract the insects and act as traps, placing light traps, releasing parasitoids as a biological control method, spraying water on the leaves to wash the pest away, and, if the attack is heavy, spraying neem oil on the affected leaves. Of these, thrust is on the parasitoids.
The presence of the pest also brings in sooty mold, which turn the leaves black, said Prabakar. “On seeing this, farmers spray pesticides, killing the parasitoids.”
Coconut farmers should grow yellow flowers that have nectar to attract parasitoids. “An increase in parasitoid population will be beneficial,” Prabakar added.
As many as 300 coconut farmers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh attended a workshop on whitefly control at TNAU on Monday.
The university plans to multiply Chrysoperla and Encarsia that will act as parasitoids (insects that eat other insects) and supply them to coconut farmers.
Director of the Centre of Plant Protection Studies at TNAU K Prabakar said the university has facilities in Coimbatore and Aliyar to multiply the parasitoids, but not enough to cover the whole state. “So, we have proposed a Rs 50 lakh-project to the Coconut Development Board to multiply the parasitoids and distribute them to farmers. We also plan to tie up with the agriculture department to train personnel for parasitoid breeding stations in all districts,” he said.
Rugose whitefly, an invasive pest from Florida, was first detected in the state in 2016. “It was first seen in Pollachi and then spread to other states,” Prabakar said. “The pest has also been reported in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, among other states. It has affected 15% of the 4.4 lakh hectares of coconut plantations in the state, affecting yield.”
TNAU had come up with an integrated pest management method to control whitefly. It includes placing sticky yellow polythene sheets that attract the insects and act as traps, placing light traps, releasing parasitoids as a biological control method, spraying water on the leaves to wash the pest away, and, if the attack is heavy, spraying neem oil on the affected leaves. Of these, thrust is on the parasitoids.
The presence of the pest also brings in sooty mold, which turn the leaves black, said Prabakar. “On seeing this, farmers spray pesticides, killing the parasitoids.”
Coconut farmers should grow yellow flowers that have nectar to attract parasitoids. “An increase in parasitoid population will be beneficial,” Prabakar added.
As many as 300 coconut farmers from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh attended a workshop on whitefly control at TNAU on Monday.
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