CONTROLLING Metisa Plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) OUTBREAK USING Bacillus Thuringiensis at an OIL PALM PLANTATION in SLIM RIVER, PERAK, MALAYSIA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
JournalCONTROLLING of Oil Palm Metisa Research plana Walker Vol. (Lepidoptera: 29 (1) March Psychidae) 2017 OUTBREAK p. 47 – 54 USING Bacillus thuringiensis AT AN OIL PALM PLANTATION IN SLIM RIVER, PERAK, MALAYSIA DOI:JournalCONTROLLING https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2017.2901.05 of Oil Palm Metisa Research plana Walker Vol. (Lepidoptera: 29 (1) March Psychidae) 2017 OUTBREAK p. 47 – 54 USING Bacillus thuringiensis AT AN OIL PALM PLANTATION IN SLIM RIVER, PERAK, MALAYSIA CONTROLLING Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) OUTBREAK USING Bacillus thuringiensis AT AN OIL PALM PLANTATION IN SLIM RIVER, PERAK, MALAYSIA NOORHAZWANI KAMARUDIN*; SITI RAMLAH AHMAD ALI*; MOHAMED MAZMIRA MOHD MASRI; NOORHAZWANIMOHD NAJIB KAMARUDIN*; AHMAD*; CHE SITI AHMAD RAMLAH HAFIZ AHMAD CHE MANAN*ALI*; MOHAMED and NORMAN MAZMIRA KAMARUDIN* MOHD MASRI; MOHD NAJIB AHMAD*; CHE AHMAD HAFIZ CHE MANAN* and NORMAN KAMARUDIN* ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Aerial spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based biopesticides, Ecobac-1 (EC) was carried out at an Aerial spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based biopesticides, Ecobac-1 (EC) was carried out at an oil palm plantation in Slim River, Perak, Malaysia to control the outbreak of bagworm, Metisa plana. oil palm plantation in Slim River, Perak, Malaysia to control the outbreak of bagworm, Metisa plana. Close monitoring of bagworm census, precise timing and follow-up aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) Close monitoring of bagworm census, precise timing and follow-up aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) were important strategies for controlling the multi-stage bagworm outbreak. The first aerial spraying of were important strategies for controlling the multi-stage bagworm outbreak. The first aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) which was conducted on 11 October 2013 had successfully reduced the first generation Ecobac-1 (EC) which was conducted on 11 October 2013 had successfully reduced the first generation larvae population from 187.1 larvae per frond (LPF) eight days prior to treatment to 77.6 LPF at 14 days larvae population from 187.1 larvae per frond (LPF) eight days prior to treatment to 77.6 LPF at 14 days after treatment (DAT), indicating 56.0% reduction in bagworm population. The second aerial spraying of after treatment (DAT), indicating 56.0% reduction in bagworm population. The second aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) undertaken on 19 December 2013, had reduced the second generation larvae population from Ecobac-1 (EC) undertaken on 19 December 2013, had reduced the second generation larvae population from 358.7 LPF a day prior to treatment to 105.2 LPF at 14 DAT, which resulted in 70.7% reduction in bagworm 358.7 LPF a day prior to treatment to 105.2 LPF at 14 DAT, which resulted in 70.7% reduction in bagworm population. Whilst the third aerial spraying done on 7 March 2014 had further reduced the population from population. Whilst the third aerial spraying done on 7 March 2014 had further reduced the population from 51.3 LPF three days prior to treatment to 17.2 LPF at 14 DAT, indicated a 66.4% reduction. The three 51.3 LPF three days prior to treatment to 17.2 LPF at 14 DAT, indicated a 66.4% reduction. The three consecutive aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) to control the three generations of M. plana at an oil palm consecutive aerial spraying of Ecobac-1 (EC) to control the three generations of M. plana at an oil palm plantation in Slim River, Perak successfully reduced the overall bagworm population by 90.8%. Therefore, plantation in Slim River, Perak successfully reduced the overall bagworm population by 90.8%. Therefore, it is recommended for the management to conduct a constant vigilance and census for successive control of it is recommended for the management to conduct a constant vigilance and census for successive control of bagworm population below the economic threshold level. bagworm population below the economic threshold level. Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, biopesticides, Ecobac-1 (EC), aerial spray, Metisa plana. Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, biopesticides, Ecobac-1 (EC), aerial spray, Metisa plana. Date received: 14 January 2016; Sent for revision: 20 January 2016; Received in final form: 19 August 2016; Accepted: 24 January 2017. Date received: 14 January 2016; Sent for revision: 20 January 2016; Received in final form: 19 August 2016; Accepted: 24 January 2017. INTRODUCTION infestation was an important issue that affected INTRODUCTION theinfestation yield of wasoil palm an importantdue to procrastinated issue that affectedcontrol, Bagworms are important leaf-eating pests of oil palm especiallythe yield of among oil palm smallholders due to procrastinated (Tey and Cheong, control, inBagworms Malaysia. are Bagworm important infestations leaf-eating pests and ofoutbreaks oil palm 2013).especially According among to smallholders a previous study (Tey in and 1929, Cheong, Metisa havein Malaysia. occurred Bagworm in Malaysia infestations for over and five outbreaks decades plana2013). Accordingis ranked toas a previousthe first studymost ineconomically 1929, Metisa (Cheonghave occurred and Tey, in 2012). Malaysia This remainsfor over to fivebe a problemdecades significantplana is ranked insect pestas theof oil first palm most in Malaysia economically (Basri despite(Cheong the and fact Tey, that 2012). effective This remains control to measures be a problem are etsignificant al., 1988). insect A more pest ofrecent oil palm survey in Malaysia conducted (Basri by available.despite the Bagworm fact that effectiveinfestations control can measurescause about are Normanet al., 1988). and ABasri more (2007) recent indicated survey conductedthat M. plana by 33%-40%available. yield Bagworm losses (Basri,infestations 1993). Incan 2013, cause bagworm about wasNorman most andwidely Basri distributed (2007) indicated in oil palm that plantations M. plana 33%-40% yield losses (Basri, 1993). In 2013, bagworm inwas Peninsular most widely Malaysia distributed followed in oil by palm Pteroma plantations pendula. Basedin Peninsular on analysis Malaysia of historical followed records by Pteroma of bagworm pendula. * Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, infestationBased on analysis done by of Ho historical et al. (2011), records over of bagworm63 955 ha * MalaysianBandar Baru Palm Bangi, Oil Board,43600 6Kajang, Persiaran Institusi, infestation done by Ho et al. (2011), over 63 955 ha BandarSelangor, Baru Malaysia. Bangi, 43600 Kajang, of oil palm in 69 estates in Peninsular Malaysia Selangor,E-mail: [email protected] Malaysia. showedof oil palm M. planain 69 and estates P. pendula in Peninsular to be the Malaysia primary E-mail: [email protected] showed M. plana and P. pendula to be the primary 47 47 JOURNAL OF OIL PALM RESEARCH 29 (1) (MARCH 2017) pests (Ho et al., 2011). Bagworm has been declared MATERIALS AND METHODS as a dangerous pest on 15 of November 2013 under the Malaysia Act 167, Plant Quarantine Act 1976. Mass Propagation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Under this Act, planters who failed to control the bagworm infestation after receiving the notice will B. thuringiensis was mass produced using liquid be fined not more than RM 10 000 or to be jailed for state fermentation and laboratory prepared medium two years. in 5 to 500 litres bioreactors (Satrorius Stedim, Agrichemicals consumption in Malaysia was Germany) for 48 hr, 30°C at MPOB Microbial reported to increase from RM 328 million in year 2005 Technology and Engineering Centre (MICROTEC) to RM 563 million in 2012 (Malaysian Agricultural (Najib et al., 2012). Mass production of microbial Digest, 2013). The sale of insecticides in Malaysia insecticide based on local isolates known as MPOB recorded a significant 28% increase since 2008 Bt1 for controlling bagworm has been patented (Malaysian Agricultural Digest, 2013). Chemical (Patent No. PI2011000307) (Ramlah et al., 2011). control has become the major control mechanism in Ecobac-1 (EC) is an emulsified product derived from managing bagworm outbreaks in most plantations an indigenous strain of B. thuringiensis (MPOB Bt1) as compared to smallholdings (Hasber, 2010). Study (Ramlah and Basri, 1997). The active ingredients of conducted by Salim et al. (2015) showed the fastest Ecobac-1 (EC) comprised of spores and δ-endotoxins acting of chemical insecticide can be seen 30 days and standardised to 1600 IU mg-1. after a single application of chemical insecticides where the larval population dropped below Aerial Spray the economic threshold level (ETL). However, over reliance on chemical insecticides to control Aerial spray was conducted at timely intervals agricultural pests has often led to the development against the susceptible first to fourth larval instars of of other more persistent problems such as resistance M. plana at an oil palm plantation in Slim River, Perak of pests to treatment, abundance of harmful chemical in 2013-2014. The aerial spray is scheduled based on residues in the environment and the disruption of the generations of the bagworm. The average life beneficial insects populations. Biological control cycle for M. plana from eggs to adult is 103.5 days is a method of controlling pests in agriculture that (Chua et al., 2011). The first (G1), second (G2) and relies on natural agents rather than chemicals. third (G3) generations of the bagworm were aerial Biopesticides are natural biological agents used to sprayed on 11 October 2013, 19 December 2013 and control pests, derived from microbes and plants. 7 March 2014, respectively. The bagworm infested They are recommended for use in agriculture by area was GPS-mapped and aerial sprayed with 40 farmers because they are target specific and poses litres Ecobac-1 (EC) diluted in an aircraft tank using little or no hazard to mankind and the environment 1000 litres of water. Spraying was conducted by an (Sethi and Gupta, 2013). aerial spraying services company using an AgCat Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the best aircraft. strategy for controlling bagworm outbreaks in oil palm cultivated areas (Ramlah et al., 2013; 2007a,b; Bagworms Census Mohd Mazmira et al., 2010; Najib et al., 2013).