Compliance of survey report on the status and incidence of new invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW) on Coconut and other crops in

In compliance to the instructions issued by PPA/APPA(IPM), DPPQ&S, Faridabad to conduct survey to ascertain the existence and spread of Rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW) - Aleurodicus rugioperculatus in coconut plantations and other host plants such as banana, mango, guava, other palms and ornamentals in various places of coastal regions of A.P. In this context, Shri.M.K.Sankar Rao, PPO(E) and Dr.R.Senthil, APPO(PP), CIPMC, Vijayawada has conducted a survey on the incidence and spread of Rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW) on coconut crop in coastal regions of Neeladripuram, Kommugudem, chikkala, kurukuru, Pallantla, Korumamidi, Tadimalla, Kalvalapalli, and Kadiyapulanka, , East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh state and adopted the advisory measures for management of RSW in coconut during 17th – 18 th February, 2018.

Survey Route:

In order to assess the incidences of invasive Rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW) on coconut, the following survey routes were chalked out.

Survey Route for Day - I (17.02.2018):

• Vijayawada – – Tadepalligudem- Neeladripuram - Kommugudem – Chikkala- Kurukuru - Pallantla - Korumamidi – Tadimalla – Kalvalapalli - Chagallu - Rajahmundry- Kadiyapulanka

Survey Route for Day – II (18.02.2018)

• Rajahmundry - Kovvuru – Deverapalli – Yernagudem- Nallajerla- Bhimadolu – Eluru -Vijayawada

Survey Methodology:

• Random selection of Coconut & oil palm gardens in every 10 kms (Approx) were made for observation of damage symptoms of RSW. In each garden approximately 5 trees were randomly selected for observations such as frond infestation, Population of RSW adult, Natural Enemy complex and Alternate Hosts etc.

Survey Team Observations and Diagnostics  The survey team visited the various palms and nurseries of West and East Godavari viz., Neeladripuram, Kommugudem, Chikkala, Kurukuru, Pallantla, Korumamidi, Tadimalla, Kalvalapalli, Chagallu, Kadiyapulanka, Kovvuru, Deverapalli, Yernagudem, Nallajerla, Bhimadolu and observed the incidence and spread of Rugose Spiralling whitefly (RSW) on oil palms & coconut trees and other crops like cocoa, banana, guava, mango, custard apple, ornamental plants and finally field crops like Maize crops etc.,  RSW severe infestation occur on oil palm trees and coconut trees in Neeladripuram, Kommugudem, Chikkala, Kurukuru, Pallantla, Korumamidi, Tadimalla, Kalvalapalli, Chagallu, Deverapalli, & nursery seedlings like coconut, oilpalm, guava, mango, and ornamentals plants of kadiyapulanka village.

 Interestingly, survey team found the incidence and egg masses on the under surface of leaves of maize crops and weeds of Physalis minima & Solanum nigrum etc.,

 Nymphs and adults suck sap by the direct feeding especially on under surface of leaves / leaflets.

 Numerous colonies of spiralling whitefly with immature stages occur on the under surface of coconut leaves/ leaflets

 Adults produce prodigious excess quantities of honey dew excretions which in turn completely darken the leaves through by secondary fungal infections of Sooty mould development on leaves

 Rugose Spiralling whitefly (RSW) established successfully with concentric waxy spiralling symptoms with active adult whiteflies on oilpalm & Coconut, cocoa, guava, papaya and other ornamentals etc.

 Black Sooty mould colony development was noticed on oilpalm & coconut leaflets/leaves and growing ornamentals nurseries which are under the shade of infested coconut trees.

 RSW incidence was observed in Banana, mango, citrus, papaya, cocoa, guava and jack fruit etc., and Ornamental plants like Areca palm ( Dypsis lutescens ), Spider lilly, Ixora, Fish tail palm, water Bamboo, Table Palm, Heliconia, Travellers Palm and cabbage tree (Pisonia alba) were noticed  Interestingly, survey team noticed natural parasitization with aphelinid parasitoids Encarsia sp. was occurs more population in coconut garden of Kalvalapalli village of Chagallu mandel of West Godavari. From that, conservation and augmentation of Encarsia sp. supplied to the farmers and released in infested gardens of konaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh

 Natural parasitization with aphelinid parasitoids Encarsia sp. was very low in the infested coconut and ornamentals plants in kadiyapulanka village and moderate population of Encarsia sp. observed in Neeladripuram, Kommugudem, Chikkala, Kurukuru, Pallantla, Korumamidi, Tadimalla villages

Management strategies for RSW  Import of coconut & oilpalm seedlings from Kerala to Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country should be under strict quarantine procedures.  Coconut and other seedlings should not allowed to export from the infested nurseries of Kadiyam mandel of East Godavari and West Godavari to various part of Andhra Pradesh  Enforcement of strict domestic quarantine in East Godavari and of Andhra Pradesh and insistence of phytosanitary certificate  Application of 1% starch solution on leaflets to flake out the sooty moulds  Spraying of forcefully jet-off water on leaflets to wash out the sooty moulds colonies in infested plants  Field Sanitation and destruction of infested crop residue in the field  Avoid coconut leaves and husks in packaging during transit from pest-infested locations and fumigation of vehicles in trans-boundary strategic areas  Arresting or restricting of human activities or agricultural operations in the infested nurseries  Installation of yellow sticky traps on the palm trunk to trap adult whiteflies.  Encourage parasitization build-up of aphelinid parasitoids Encarsia sp., chrysopid sp. and coccinellids sp.  In severe case, spray neem oil 30 ml / lit or Azadiractin 1% (2 ml/lit) or NSKE 5% is recommended  Fertilizers dosage should be optimized  No insecticide is recommended

Future thrust 1. Create awareness programme to the farmers, exporters and nursery growers 2. Sensitization programme focusing on the natural build of the parasitoid, Encarsia sp. chrysopid sp. and coccinellids sp. 3. Formation of Incursion Management Team with scientists from all discipline 4. Regulate the biosecurity net work between the SAUs, ICAR Institutes and Govt. Bodies 5. Establishment of domestic quarantine between states 6. Encourage the conservation and augmentation of natural parasitoids 7. Understanding the pest and host interactions of RSW

Photographs taken during Survey on Rugose Spiralling Whitefly on Coconut, Oil palm gardens and others crops

Survey team visited RSW infested nurseries RSW infested on coconut

Pupal Parasitation of Encarsia sp. RSW laid egg on nurseries

Adults of RSW on Oil palm leaf Sooty mould development on coconut

Rugose Spiralling whitefly (RSW) infestation on fruit trees and maize

RSW infestation on banana RSW infestation on banana fingers

RSW infestation on Papaya RSW infestation on Cocoa

RSW infestation on Mango RSW infestation on Maize Rugose Spiralling whitefly (RSW) infestation on ornamental plants

RSW Infestation on Heliconia sp. RSW Infestation on Areca palm

RSW Infestation on Traveller palm RSW Infestation on Water bamboo

RSW Infestation on Fish tail palm RSW Infestation on Fax tail palm