Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Agricultural Linkage Programme (ALP)

Preliminary Proposal

1. Project Title : Management of mango pests with emphasis on

midges and hoppers damaging flowers and fruits.

2. Applicant’s Details

a)  Principal Investigator :

Name : Riaz Mahmood

Qualification : M.Sc.

Institution/Organization CABI Bioscience

Present position : Insect Biocontrol Specialist

Postal address : CABI Bioscience

Centre Pakistan, Data Gunj Bakhsh Road, Opposite 1-A, Satellite Town, P.O. Box 8, Rawalpindi

Tel: 9290332, 4451147

Email:

b. Co-Principal Investigator

Name : Dr. M. Ashraf Poswal

Qualification : Ph.D

Institution/Organization : CABI Bioscience

Present position : Centre Director

Postal Address : CABI Bioscience Centre, Pakistan, Data Gunj Bakhsh Road, P.O. Box 8, R.Pindi

c.  Other Team Members

Scientific Officer (Entomology) 1

Scientific Officer (Pathology) 1

3. Overseas Cooperating Scientist/Organization:

Name : J.E. Pena

Qualification : Ph.D

Institution : Tropical Research and Education Centre, University

of Florida

Postal address : Tropical Research Education Centre, University of

Florida, Gainsville Fl 32611, Florida, USA.

Tel: 352 392 0192, Fax: 352 392 0190

Email:

4. Duration : Three years (36 months)

5. Justification :

In increasingly health conscious world, Pakistan’s exports of fruits and vegetables are facing a serious threat due to extensive use of pesticides on farms. Japan banned the export of mango fruit from Pakistan. This ban, however, has recently been lifted with the condition of special treatment of fruit before import. Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka have also started subjecting imported fruits to pre inspection and need certification of fruits being free from pests and pesticides.

The massive thrust to increase the export of fruits from Pakistan to new markets in the world may suffer a set back unless government finds a solution to the pest attack other than pesticides. The problem seems intractible because the government has not encouraged the scientific research in this area whereas finding solutions to pest attack other than pesticides is the international top research priority.

Pakistani mango is a fruit very much liked at abroad and locally because of its taste, quality and nutritional values. Over the past years the acerage under cultivation increased from 83600 ha in 1992 to 92800 ha in 1999 (MFAL, 1999). Though cultivation area under mango has increased the average yield per ha is 10 tonnes and since 1998 it is on decline whereas in other countries like China, Mexico and India the yields are almost double because of improved plant protection and expansion in cultivation (Memon, 1998).

Cover sprays of insecticides, fungicides and weedicides in fruit orchards is now the countrywide strategy for controlling diseases, insect and plant pests. This use of pesticides may give temporary local control of key pests but is the main reason that several secondary pests have now assumed the status of key pests. As many as 180 species of insects have been reported on mango from Pakistan and the present strategy of total dependence on pesticides for controlling insects and diseases is creating more pest problem because of weakening of natural control. Hoppers, mealybugs, scale insects and fruitflies are consistent mango pests but recently midges have become the number one pest. Midges hitherto unknown on mango from Pakistan are causing more than 50% loss of spikes of mango inflorescences and are now the main reason for reduction in mango yield.

To increase the yields on farms there is need of better understanding of pest management and to bring radical changes in plant protection measures instead of dependence on cover sprays.

Research Needs

The insects and diseases which damage mango inflorescences and fruits are the main constraints in fruit production so the present proposal mainly addresses them. Research needs on pests associated with mango inflorescences and fruits are described briefly.

Hoppers

Basic studies on biology and ecology mango hoppers and their natural enemies in Pakistan were carried out by IIBC (Now CABI Bioscience) (1988 – 1991). The egg parasitoids are considered regulators of populations of mango hoppers and were found abundant in unsprayed orchards and the numbers of mango hoppers were very low whereas in sprayed orchards the hoppers were found consistently abundant and the insecticides sprays had to be made repeated by to control them. Taxonomy, distribution, host range, methods their mass rearing and encouragement of egg parasitoids are main researchable areas. The findings in these areas will help to utilize parasitoids in managing hoppers populations.

Midges

Midges have become most serious pests on mango destroying more than 50% spikelets of inflorescences thus they have direct impact on fruit yield.

No information is available in the country on midges identification, distribution, hosts and natural enemies associated with mango in Pakistan. Basic research on biology and ecology of midges and their natural enemies is a primary requirement for developing control strategies.

Lepidoptera

Several Lepidopterous, insects attack mango inflorescences. No information on extent of their damage to flowers exist, however, they are considered important in destroying inflorescences and newly formed fruits.

IPM of mango pests

Major diseases like powdry mildew, malformation and insects like hoppers, midges, scale insects, mealybugs, fruitflies and weeds have to be dealt with together. Control measures for different mango pests are to be combined in such a way that each control measure supplements is the other ultimately reducing poisons applications on farms.

For controlling midges, hoppers, scale insects and mealybugs which have good natural enemy complex, the environment will have to be created which encourage their natural enemies and reduce the host pests to subeconomic level.

For controlling fruitflies the male annihilation technique combined with burial of infested fruits is already known an effective control strategy and can be incorporated in IPM schemes. The studies on improvement of control strategies are being proposed in separate project on fruitflies.

Among diseases powdery mildew (Oidium magniferae) becomes serious on mango inflorescences in humid conditions destroying 100% flowers in some cases. At present fungicides applications seem the only answer to control this disease. In preliminary studies by IIBC (1991) it was found that in plots where fungicide Topsin M was applied and hoppers were present in invariable number the yield was almost double indicating that disease was more fatal and hoppers could be tolerated in some numbers without effecting yield. Research is needed on timing of application of fungicides for effective control of the disease. Resistance of the fungus to different fungicides is another researchable area.

Malformation is the other important disease on mango. No causal agent is known for this disease. Recent experiments in Pakistan by prunning malformed flowers and twigs, rescheduling irrigation and non cultivation of nitrogen fixing crops in orchards have proved effective in controlling this disease in southern Punjab. This practice can be incorporated in IPM of mango pests without disturbing natural control.

6.A Objectives :

1.  The main objective of this study is to collect the basic information on biology and ecology of insect pests, their natural enemies and pathogens associated with mango inflorescences and develop effective control strategies with minimum use of pesticides.

2.  Demonstration of effectivity of IPM technology for controlling mango pests.

6.B Goals

1. Achieve sustainability in fruit production in pesticides free environment.

2. Increase in mango yield from 10 to 15 tonnes p.ha with integration of low cost control measures mainly by conserving natural resources (The yield at present is below 10 tonnes per ha (inspite of consistent pesticides covers sprays).

3.  Training of farmers and extension workers for conservation of natural enemies and in decision making in applying plant protection measures.

7.  Plan of work

Yearwise break up of work plan is based on research priorities. Studies will be made at farmers fields at main mango growing areas.

Year 1

Insects

Midges

1.  Identification of midges and their natural enemies associated with mango inflorescences. (At present no information is available in the country on midges and their natural enemy complex therefore this is the first requirement for developing further work on their control).

2. Seasonal abundance of midges, their generations, overwintering habits.

(To introduce changes in environment which encourage natural enemies and discourage pests, it is necessary to understand their yearly population fluctuations and identify weaknesses in their life cycles so that strategies can be developed to hit the pests and create conditions which encourage natural enemies).

Hoppers

1.  Survey of hosts of egg parasitoids of mango hoppers. (Six species of parasitoids are known to attack eggs of mango hoppers. Nothing is known of their alternate hosts. Cicadellids found on plants growing in and around mango orchards will be surveyed so that strategies are developed to increase parasitoids populations).

2.  Mass rearing techniques of hoppers egg parasitoids (The mango hoppers which are host specific are difficult to rear in the laboratory therefore rearing of egg parasitoids in laboratory has become expensive. It is therefore necessary that alternate hosts which can be conveniently reared in laboratory be identified on the same lines as Trichogramma is reared in laboratory for controlling sugarcane pests.

Lepidoptera

Identification of Lepidoptera associated with inflorescences

Diseases

Powdry mildew

1.  Assess the extent of damage of fungus on flowers in unsprayed plots and the plots where fungicides are applied on flowers in different intervals at different locations.

Oidium managiferae develop fast in humid conditions. To control this fungus there is need to determine most effective timing of application of fungicide).

2.  Studies to determine resistance of pathogen to different fungicides.

Year 2

1. Determine economic threshold of mango hoppers.

(It has been found that in some unsprayed orchards the hoppers populations are very low because the natural enemies are abundant however, in sprayed orchards the natural enemies remain rare and hoppers being free of natural control increase tremendously and pesticides spraying become necessary to check them). Studies are proposed to determine economic threshold so that pesticides cover sprays are made only when they are needed and should be avoided if natural enemies are abundant.

2. Continuation of development of mass rearing techniques of egg parasitoids

of mango hoppers.

3.  Studies on biology of midges and their natural enemies.

4.  Continuation of studies on resistance of Oidium mangiferae to different fungicides.

5.  IPM of mango pests

Studies to be started on demonstration plots plots at Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Hyderabad where natural enemies of hoppers, midges are augmented and conserved, fruitflies are controlled by male annihilation technique combined with destruction of infested fruits, fungicides are applied for controlling powdry mildew, and for checking malformation, prunning of malformed plant parts along with the rescheduling of irrigation and non cultivation of leguminous crops are made.

Input costs and yields on IPM plots will be compared with pesticides covers and unsprayed plots to determine the cost effective control strategies.

Year 3

1.  Continuation of IPM studies.

2.  Improvement on rearing techniques of parasitoids of mango hoppers and midges.

3.  Continuation of studies on encouragement of natural enemies of mango pests.

4.  Continuation of studies on fungicides for controlling fungi on mango.

5.  Transfer of technology (workshops and seminars will be held)

References:

IIBC (1991) To develop integrated pest management of mango hoppers in Pakistan. International Institute of Biological Control, Pakistan Station, Final Report, 1988-91, 58 pp.

Memon, N.A. (1998). Fruits and vegetables : Use of pesticides threatening exports. The NEWS Monthly, August 1998.

MFAL (1999) Agriculture statistics, 1998-99. Ministry of Food Agriculture &

Livestock, Government of Pakistan.

8.  Proposed Budget

Million Rs.

Budget details

Rupees

·  The budget does not include the charges for travelling and perdiems of cooperating

scientist except the local hospitality charges.

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Agricultural Linkages Programme (ALP)

Preliminary Proposal

1. Project Title : Research and control of fruitflies with minimum use

of pesticides.

a.  Principal Investigator:

Name : Riaz Mahmood

Qualifiction : M.Sc

Institute/Organization : CABI Bioscience, Pakistan Centre, Rawalpindi