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Tropentag, September 17-19, 2014, Prague, Czech Republic “Bridging the gap between increasing knowledge and decreasing resources” Organic Pest Management Strategies to Control the Cocoa Mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.), Alto Beni, Bolivia Leone Miniato Ferrari 1 , Andr´ es Flores 2 , Fortunato Velasquez 3 , Monika Schneider 4 , Christian Andres 4 , Joachim Milz 5 , Germ´ an Trujillo 5 , Freddy Alcon 5 , Ingrid Fromm 1 1 Bern University of Applied Sciences, Swiss College of Agriculture, Dept. of International Agriculture, Switzerland 2 Siempre Association, Sapecho, Bolivia, 3 ECOTOP, Consulting on Successional Agroforestry, Bolivia 4 Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Dept. of International Cooperation, Switzerland 5 ECOTOP, Consulting on Successional Agroforestry, Bolivia Abstract The cocoa mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum ) is one of the major pests in cocoa culti- vation in Alto Beni, Bolivia. The most common control method is the manual removal of the nymphs. This practice is time-consuming, and therefore farmers often do not follow it. Hence there is an urgent need for more efficient practices to control this important pest. This study evaluated the pathogenicity of two strains of Beauveria bassiana for the control of Monalonion dissimulatum on cocoa: a non-native, commercialised strain (Pro- biobass MR, Probiotec S.R.L.), and a locally isolated, native strain of Alto Beni, which is not yet commercialised. Moreover, a silicon-based product (TECSIL PM R ) was tested. In addition, the effect of different degrees of infestation with Monalonion dissimulatum on different stages of cocoa pod development was examined. In order to investigate these que- stions, several field trials were carried out at the experimental station of Sapecho between June and September 2013. The foreign Beauveria bassiana strain was the most effective bio-pesticide with a mor- tality rate of 63.3 % in adults and 49.1 % in nymphs. Cocoa pods in their early stages of development were highly susceptible to attack by Monalonion dissimulatum. On the other hand, fully developed cocoa pods showed a rather strong resistance to attacks: no effects on cocoa wet bean yield were recorded up to about 70 % of damaged tissue on the surface of the cocoa pods. However, when the damage increased above 70 %, it had a strong im- pact on yield, amounting up to 50.4 % loss. Damaged pods started desiccating, and fully damaged pods completely desiccated causing total yield loss. It is concluded that the foreign strain of Beauveria bassiana may be the most efficient to control Monalonion dissimulatum in the field. More on-farm field trials need to be conducted over longer time periods of time in order to elucidate whether the observed effects will be reflected in higher cocoa yields in the farmer’s context. It is recommended to perform harvesting operations at regular intervals of two weeks in order to minimise losses caused by the desiccation of damaged cocoa pods. Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, Monalonion dissimulatum, organic pest management, Theobroma cacao Contact Address: Christian Andres, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Dept. of International Co- operation, Ackerstrasse 113, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland, e-mail: christian.andres@fibl.org
Transcript of Organic Pest Management Strategies to Control the Cocoa ...
Tropentag, September 17-19, 2014, Prague, Czech Republic
“Bridging the gap between increasing knowledge anddecreasing resources”
Organic Pest Management Strategies to Control the Cocoa Mirid(Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.), Alto Beni, Bolivia
Leone Miniato Ferrari1, Andres Flores2, Fortunato Velasquez3, Monika Schneider4,Christian Andres4, Joachim Milz5, German Trujillo5, Freddy Alcon5, Ingrid Fromm1
1Bern University of Applied Sciences, Swiss College of Agriculture, Dept. of International Agriculture,Switzerland2Siempre Association, Sapecho, Bolivia,3ECOTOP, Consulting on Successional Agroforestry, Bolivia4Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Dept. of International Cooperation, Switzerland5ECOTOP, Consulting on Successional Agroforestry, Bolivia
Abstract
The cocoa mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum) is one of the major pests in cocoa culti-vation in Alto Beni, Bolivia. The most common control method is the manual removal ofthe nymphs. This practice is time-consuming, and therefore farmers often do not follow it.Hence there is an urgent need for more efficient practices to control this important pest.
This study evaluated the pathogenicity of two strains of Beauveria bassiana for thecontrol of Monalonion dissimulatum on cocoa: a non-native, commercialised strain (Pro-biobass MR, Probiotec S.R.L.), and a locally isolated, native strain of Alto Beni, whichis not yet commercialised. Moreover, a silicon-based product (TECSIL PM R©) was tested.In addition, the effect of different degrees of infestation with Monalonion dissimulatum ondifferent stages of cocoa pod development was examined. In order to investigate these que-stions, several field trials were carried out at the experimental station of Sapecho betweenJune and September 2013.
The foreign Beauveria bassiana strain was the most effective bio-pesticide with a mor-tality rate of 63.3% in adults and 49.1 % in nymphs. Cocoa pods in their early stages ofdevelopment were highly susceptible to attack by Monalonion dissimulatum. On the otherhand, fully developed cocoa pods showed a rather strong resistance to attacks: no effectson cocoa wet bean yield were recorded up to about 70 % of damaged tissue on the surfaceof the cocoa pods. However, when the damage increased above 70 %, it had a strong im-pact on yield, amounting up to 50.4% loss. Damaged pods started desiccating, and fullydamaged pods completely desiccated causing total yield loss.
It is concluded that the foreign strain of Beauveria bassiana may be the most efficientto control Monalonion dissimulatum in the field. More on-farm field trials need to beconducted over longer time periods of time in order to elucidate whether the observedeffects will be reflected in higher cocoa yields in the farmer’s context. It is recommendedto perform harvesting operations at regular intervals of two weeks in order to minimiselosses caused by the desiccation of damaged cocoa pods.
Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, Monalonion dissimulatum, organic pest management, Theobromacacao
Contact Address: Christian Andres, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Dept. of International Co-operation, Ackerstrasse 113, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland, e-mail: [email protected]
Ferrari, L.a, Flores, A.b, Velásquez, F.b, Schneider, M.c*, Andres, C.c, Milz, J.d,Trujillo, G.d, Alcon, F.d, Studer, C.a, Fromm, I.aaBern University of Applied Sciences; bSIEMPRE association, Sapecho, Bolivia; cResearch Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of International Cooperation, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland; dEcotop Consult, La Paz, Bolivia
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rgForschungsinstitut für biologischen LandbauInstitut de recherche de l’agriculture biologique Research Institute of Organic AgricultureIstituto di ricerche dell’agricoltura biologicaInstituto de investigaciones para la agricultura orgánica
E X C E L L E N C E F O R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
Evaluation of organic pest management strategies to control the cocoa mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.), Alto Beni, Bolivia
Background� The cocoa mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.) is
the major pest in cocoa cultivation in Alto Beni, Bolivia (Figure 1).
� The most common control method is the manual remo-val of the nymphs. This practice is time-consuming, so farmers often do not follow it. Hence the urgent need for more efficient control practices.
Objective� To evaluate the pathogenicity of two strains of Beauveria
bassiana and a silicon-based product (TECSIL PM®) for the control of Monalonion dissimulatum. A non-native (Probiobass®) and a locally isolated, native strain of Alto Beni were tested.
� To examine the effect of different degrees of infestation with Monalonion dissimulatum on different stages of cocoa pod development.
Materials and methods
� Several field trials were carried out at the experimental station of Sapecho between June and September 2013.
Results� The non-native Beauveria bassiana strain was the most
effective product, showing a mortality rate of 63.3 % in adults and 49.1 % in nymphs (Figure 2A and B).
� Cocoa pods in their early stages of development were highly susceptible to attack by Monalonion dissimulatum (Figure 3).
� Fully developed cocoa pods showed a rather strong resistance to attacks: no effects on cocoa wet bean yield were recorded up to about 70% of damaged tissue on the surface of the cocoa pods. However, when the da-mage increased above 70 %, it had a strong impact on yield, amounting up to 50.4% loss (Figure 4).
Conclusion� More on-farm trials need to be conducted over longer
periods in order to elucidate whether the observed effects will be reflected in higher cocoa yields in the farmers’ context.
� It is recommended to perform harvesting operations at regular intervals of two weeks to simultaneously per-form manual control of Monalonion dissimulatum in or-der to minimize losses at early stage pod development.
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Figure 3: Cocoa pod (early stage) completely damaged by a cocoa mired’ nymph.
Figure 2B : Mortality rate of adults and nymphs induced by: BbN (Beauveria bassiana, native strain), BbNN (Beauveria bassiana non-native strain, Probiobass®), TEC (TECSIL PM®) and C (Control)
Figure 4: Loss of wet bean weight in different ranges of damaged tissue on the surface of cocoa pods
Figure 1: Adult of cocoa mirid (Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.)
Figure 2A: Adult of cocoa mirid killed by Beauveria bassiana (white part: mycelium)
Sistemas Integrales de Investigación y Producción Ecológica
FundingThis work has been conducted in the framework of long-term systems comparison program, which is financially supported by Biovision Founda-tion, Coop Sustainability Fund, Liechtenstein Development Service (LED) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
More informationhttp://www.systems-comparison.fibl.org/
