World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 15 (5): 310-316, 2019 ISSN 1817-3047 © IDOSI Publications, 2019 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjas.2019.310.316

Sensitivity of Some Cultivars to Infestation with Lesser Date amydraula

1,2Hossam Ali Ali Metwally and 3 Abdulnabi Mohamed Basheer

1Central Laboratory for Research and Development of Date Palm, ARC, Egypt 2Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands “ACSAD”, Syria 3The Biological Control Research and Studies Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria

Abstract: This study was carried out through 2018 to study the food preference of the lesser date moth B. amydraula. Four date palm (Phoenix dectylifera L.) cultivars (Barhee, Medhjoul, Khalas and Nabbut Seif) in date palm orchards in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra, Homs governorate, Syria, through cooperation between the Central Laboratory for Research and Development of Date Palm, ARC, Egypt, the Arab center for the studies of arid zones and dry lands (ACSAD) and the Biological Control Research and Studies Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria. Five trees in each sampling date were randomly selected from each studied cultivar tests were monitored on bunches and the number of infected bunches was recorded of each palm cultivar tree and the number of infected trees were recorded. The numerical density of larvae or injury (Number of larvae / 100 strands), percentage of infection and the relationship between the number of fallen fruits as well as infested fruits and the number of larvae were recorded. The obtained results reviled that, the fallen fruits contained a number of larvae in different stages and there was a positive relationship between the number of larvae and the percent of fruits infestation differed according to the cultivar. The percentage of bunches infestation was higher in bunches of Medhjoul cv., (70.5%), followed by Nabbut Seif cv. (53.5%), while the lowest was Barhee cv. (16.6%). Medhjoul cv. recorded the highest infection rate in kimri ripening stage (73.2%) among the studied cultivars, followed by Khalas cv. (52.9%), Nabbut Seif cv. (50.9%) and Barhee cv. (42.1%). In addition, in the rutab ripening stages Medhjoul cv. was with the highest infection rate among the studied cultivars, the average infection was (5.7%); the second was Nabbut Seif (2.8%), Khalas (1.8%) and Barhee (1.7%). Estimation of the lesser date moth infestation was: too much infestation (Medhjoul and Khalas cvs.), much infestation (Nabbut Seif cv.) and mean infestation (Barhee cv.).

Key words: Lesser date palm moth Bunch and fruits infestation Date palm Medhjoul

INTODUCTION A good example of this change is the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick (: The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecales: ). Arecaceae)is an important food and cash crop thriving The lesser date moth is one of the most important well in hot arid [1]. It is believed to have originated in pests that attack date palm trees in several countries [5]. Mesopotamia () where it has been cultivated It is a pest that damages fruits in both field sand stores some6000 years ago [2]. The date palm has been carried [6]. Injury is inflicted by the larvae that spin a web around out from Mesopotamia to other parts of the world [3]. the fruits and attaches them to the strands or to other Factors such as monoculture of date palm, global warming fruits, then it's enter the fruit near its sepals, or less and unrestricted application of insecticides and global frequently at other sites and feed on the pulp and movement of date palm is planting materials have immature seeds. When small fruits are infested its usually influenced the pest complex and its natural enemies [4]. remain attached to the strand by silken threads. In their

Corresponding Author: Hossam Ali Ali Metwally, Central Laboratory for Research and Development of Date Palm, ARC, Egypt. E-mail: [email protected]. 310 World J. Agric. Sci., 15 (5): 310-316, 2019 first generation, the larvae infest several fruits before Percentage of Infection Fruits: The percentage of completing development, thus increasing the damage. infection fruits was determined according to fruit Large fruits usually drop after being attacked. Heavily ripening stages {hababouk, kimri, khalal (sometimes infested fruit bunches cease to grow and dry. Dates in named bisr), rutab and tamar}. Samples were randomly stores may also be affected [6-9]. selected from five date palm trees of each studied In Syria, this pest was recorded as a pest attacks cultivars. The samples were taken from beginning of date palm trees in different Oases. Bashher and Metwally each fruit ripening stage, where 10 fruits were taken [5] recorded that; B. amydraula was a frequent pest on from each tree for each cultivar and placed in special the date palm in Homs, Palmyra, Deir Ezzor, Albukamal packages on which recorded the - cultivar - fruit ripening and Damascus. Infested trees ranged between 51% and stage, the date of collection - temperature - relative 86% with a general mean 63%. There are no studies on the humidity and others. The samples were taken to the susceptibly of the different date palm cultivars to the laboratory, explained and examined by the infestation with the lesser date moth and the prevalence Binoculair. of this pest in different oases. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the The injury ratio was calculated by the following formula: extent of the spread of this pest, the nature of the damage and its percentage of loss in yield for date palms cultivars Injury ratio = Number of infected fruits in the sample/ (Barhee, Medhjoul, Khalas and Nabbut Seif) in Sabkhat Number of fruits in the sample ×100 Al-Mouh, Palmyra, Homs governorate, Syria. Larval Rate in Fallen Fruits and Percentage of Infection: MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted with the aim of finding a relationship between the fallen fruits on the ground, the This experiment was carried out in date palm orchards percentage of infected fruits and the number of larvae in in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra, Homs governorate, them for the purpose of use as a guide to the percentage Syria, during seasons (2018) through cooperation of infection on the palm. between the Central Laboratory for Research and 100 fallen fruits were taken on the ground from each Development of Date Palm, ARC, Egypt, the Arab Center palm (replicate) with five replicates and each was placed for Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) and in a paper bag and brought to the laboratory where the the Biological Control Research and Studies Center, infected fruits and that fallen for other reason were Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria. examined. The infected fruits were carefully dissected to This study was conducted on four cultivars of determine the number of larvae in them. Samples were date palms (Barhee, Medhjoul, Khalas and Nabbut Seif taken every ten days starting from the end of April until to study the food preference of the lesser date moth the end of July when the insect disappeared. All the B. amydraula. falling fruits on the ground and around the trunk were To study the food preference of the lesser date moth cleaned to avoid overlapping with the falling for the B. amydraula, three variables were studied: subsequent period of sampling. The relationship between the falling fruits on the Numerical Density of Larvae or Injury: Five trees were ground, the percentage of infected fruits and the number randomly selected from each cultivar, three bunches were of larvae in them was calculated using the straight line selected from each tree, of which ten strands were equation: selected, randomly, followed by the selection of ten fruits from each strand and placed in special containers Y = bx + a recorded the location, variety, fruit ripening stages, the date of collection, temperature, relative humidity and Y: Number of larvae / 100 infected fruit X: Percentage of others. Samples were taken to the laboratory and was infection a: Fixed coefficient, the value of the cut-off explained and examined by a (Binocular) and the severity portion of the. DR axisb: Regression coefficient. of the injury was determined according to the following equation: Estimation of the Lesser Date Moth Infestation: Lesser date moth infestation was estimated according to Severity of the injury = Number of larvae / 100 strands Machacek [10] as shown in Table (1).

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Table 1: Estimation of the lesser date moth infestations Data in Table (5) revealed that, in the rutab ripening Infestation quality Selective code Infestation amount stage, Medhjoul cv. was the highest infection rate (5.7%) No infestation 0 0 percentage among the studied cultivars, followed by Nabbut Seif Little infestation 1 0-25 percentage (2.8%), Khalas (1.8%) and Barhee (1.7%). Mean infestation 2 25-50 percentage Table (6) showed that, total infection percentage (%) Much infestation 3 50-75 percentage of the lesser date moth B. amydraula on the studied Too much infestation 4 Up to 75 percentage cultivars during fruits ripening stage arranged descending from Medhjoul cv. (89%), Khalas cv. (77.5%), Nabbut Seif Data Analysis: The Complete randomized design with cv. (67.9%) to Barhee cv. (47.5%). three replicates was followed. Statistical analysis of the These results are harmony with Aziz [14], which obtained data was carried according to Snedecor and indicated the difference in fruit infection percentage of Cochran [11]. L.S.D. test was used for comparing the data insect according to fruit ripening stages and the highest at the 5 % level of probability. infection rate was in kimri ripening stage. The same researcher pointed out a correlation between the weight RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and size of the fruit and the infection of the B. amydraula, where the weight and size of the fruit in the kimri ripening Numerical Density of Infested Bunches or Percentage of stage are less than in khalal ripening stage and rutab Injury: As shown in Table (2), the highest percentage of ripening stage. bunches infestation (70.5%) recorded with Medhjoul cv., Data in Table (7) cleared that, the highest percentage followed by Nabbut Seif cv. (53.5%), while the lowest of infection date palm trees (92.2%) found in Medhjoul cv. percentage(16.6%) found in Barhee cv. The results in Sabkhat Al-Mouh followed by (81%) with no showed that the damage by this pest is differ from one significant differences in between. While, the lowest cultivar to another, this agreed with the results obtained percentage (55%) found in Barhee cv. followed by by El–Haidari [12]. Nabbut Seif cv. (63.3%) with no significant differences in between. In this regard, Aljirradi and Bamiftah [15] Determination of the Percentage of Infested Date pointed out that the infection rate of lesser date moth Palm with Lesser Date Moth B. Amydraula in Sabkhat Batrachedra amydraula on the Hajri cultivar reached Al-Mouh, Palmyra: Through the study of infection rate 100%. Also, Harhash et al. [16] who found that, in Egypt of lesser date moth on the studied varieties during five there were different rates of insect infestation for three fruit recognized ripening stages, the result showed that date palm cultivars (Samani, Halani and Halawi), Samani the infection of B. amydraula starting during Hababok cv. was the least affected (22.68%), followed by Hailani stage, Medhjoul cv. recorded the highest infection rate in cv. (37.42%) and Halawi cv. (53.1%). kimri ripening stage (73.2%), followed by Khalas cv. (52.9%) with significant differences between them. Larval Rate in Fallen Fruits and Percentage of Infection: While, no significant differences recorded among Khalas The results showed that the fallen infected fruits contain cv. (52.9%), Nabbut Seif cv. (50.9%) and Barhee cv. a number of larvae of different ages. There was an (42.1%). These results are harmony with Khalaf [13], increase in the number of fallen fruits compared with the which indicated that the infection of B. amydraula total number of fruits. In addition, there was positive starting during Hababok stage and the highest infection correlation between the total number of fallen fruits and rate was in kimri ripening stage. the number of fallen fruits and the highest number of Data in Table (3) obtained that, infection rate of infested fallen fruits was in fruit ripening stages. lesser date moth on the studied varieties during kimri Concerning Medhjoul cv., the percentage of fallen ripening stage. fruits reached 58.64% of the total number of falling fruits. In khalal ripening stage the results were different; The results of the statistical analysis showed that, the Khalas cv. obtained the highest infection rate among the correlation among the number of larvae, the percentage of studied cultivars (22.8%), the second was Nabbut Seif cv. infection and the correlation coefficient was r = 0.982 this by average infection rate (14.2%) with significant means that 98% of the fall of the fruits is due to the differences between them, followed by Medhjoul cv. infection of lesser date moth B. amydraula and the (14.2%) and Barhee cv. (3.7%) as shown in Table (4). equation of the straight line is: y= 1.309x+43.166. (Fig. 1).

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Table 2: Percentage of bunches infestation for some date palm cultivars in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra Cultivars Number of tested trees Percentage of bunches infestation Medhjoul 100 70.5%a Nabbut Seif 100 53.5%a Khalas 100 23.5%b Barhee 100 16.6%b Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

Table 3: Percentage of infested date palm cultivars with lesser date moth B. amydraula at Kimri ripening stage in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra. Temperature °C ------Cultivars Minimum Maximum Relative humidity RH% Percentage of infection Medhjoul 25 40 34 73.2%a Khalas 25 40 34 52.9%b Nabbut Seif 25 40 34 50.9%b Barhee 25 40 34 42.1%b Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

Table 4: Percentage of infested date palm cultivars with lesser date moth B. amydraula at Khalal ripening stage in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra. Temperature °C ------Cultivars Minimum Maximum Relative humidity RH% Percentage of infection Medhjoul 17.5 38 53 10.1%c Khalas 17.5 38 53 22.8%a Nabbut Seif 17.5 38 53 14.2%b Barhee 17.5 38 53 3.7%c Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

Table 5: Percentage of infested date palm cultivars with lesser date moth B. amydraula at rutab ripening stage in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra Temperature °C ------Cultivars Minimum Maximum Relative humidity Rh% Percentage of infection Medhjoul 17 34 45 5.7%a Khalas 17 34 45 1.8%b Nabbut Seif 17 34 45 2.8b Barhee 17 34 45 1.7%b Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

Table 6: Infection percentage of the lesser date moth B. amydraula on date palm cultivars in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra, during fruits ripening stages Cultivars Infection percentage Medhjoul 89%a Khalas 77.5%ab Nabbut Seif 67.9%b Barhee 47.5%c Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

Table 7: Percentage of infection date palm trees in some date palm cultivars in Sabkhat Al-Mouh, Palmyra Cultivars Total number of trees Number of infested trees Percentage of infested Medhjoul 90 83a 92.2% Nabbut Seif 90 73a 81% Khalas 90 57b 63.3% Barhee 90 49b 55% Means followed by the same are no significantly different (P 0.05)

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Fig. 1: The relationship between the total number of deciduous fruits and the number of fallen fruits infected with the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula of the Medhjoul cultivar

Fig. 2: The relationship between the total number of deciduous fruits and the number of fallen fruits infected with the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula of the Nabbut Seif cultivar

Fig. 3: The relationship between the total number of deciduous fruits and the number of fallen fruits infected with the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula of the Khalas cultivar

Regarding to Nabbut Seif cv., the percentage of fallen infection and the correlation coefficient was r = 0.982 this fruits reached (54.14%) of the total number of falling fruits. means that (98%) of the fall of the fruits were due to the The results of the statistical analysis showed that, the infection of lesser date moth B. amydraula and the correlation among the number of larvae, the percentage of equation of the straight line is: y= 0.8605-24.524 (Fig. 2).

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Fig. 4: The relationship between the total number of deciduous fruits and the number of fallen fruits infected with the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula of the Barhee cultivar

Concerning Khalas cv., the percentage of fallen fruits and Zahidi cultivars and to the resistance in Sayer and reached 41.89% of the total number of falling fruits. Al- Buraim cultivars. On the other hand, results showed Results of the statistical analysis showed that, the that, there was no relationship between water content. correlation among the number of larvae and the There was a direct correlation between the low sugars in percentage of infection and the correlation coefficient was the cultivars in general and the percentage of infection. r =0.969 this means that 96.9% of the fall of the fruit is due In addition, Al-gorabii and Ba-Angood [19] determined to the infection of lesser date moth B. amydraula and the the sensitivity of nine Omani palm cultivars to infection equation of the straight line is: y= 0.6536x- 19.076 (Fig. 3). with lesser date moth B. amydraula, they found that the Concerning Barhee cv., the percentage of fallen Medhjoul cv. was the most sensitive species to infest by fruits reached 24.285% of the total number of falling fruits. the insect and the percentage of infested was 80%. The results cleared that the correlation between the Algebraic cv. was the least susceptible to infection with number of larvae and the percentage of infection and the B. amydraula, where the infection rate did not exceed 7%. correlation coefficient was r= 0.986 this means that The cultivars of Bernie, Abu Naranja, the Khalas Oman (98.6%) of the fall of the fruit is due to the infection of and the Khalas Al-Zahera were moderate sensitivity to lesser date moth B. amydraula and the equation of the infection with the B. amydraula where the rate of straight line is: y= 0.3473x- 6.3962 (Fig. 4). infection varieties ranged from 35 to 50%. This results were agree with El-Haidari [12, 17] stated that there were positive correlation between the fallen CONCLOSION fruits and infection with lesser date moth B. amydraula and the percentage of fallen infected fruits is differed Estimation of the lesser date moth infestation divided to: according to the variety, with note that there is a natural physiological fall occurs to the fruits of palm Particularly Too much infestation: Medhjoul and Khalas cvs. in kimri ripening stage. In this regard, Al-Jorany and Much infestation: Nabbut Seif cv. Al-Delamy [18], pointed out the relationship between the Mean infestation: Barhee cv. fallen fruits and the number of insect larvae on the Zahidi and Khastawi cvs. They found that, the fallen fruits So, Barhee had the lowest value numerical density of contains a number of larva with different stages and there infested bunches or percentage of injury (16.6%) as was a positive relationship between the number of larvae compared with Khalas cv. (23.5%), Nabbut Seif cv. (53%) and the percent of fruits infestation and that the infection and Medhjoul (70.5%). appeared at the beginning of May. These results are agreement with Aziz [14] who Through five fruit recognized ripening stages, it found that, there are significant differences in thedegree found that the studied date palm cultivars at Kimiri, of infestation of different palm varieties in Iraq with this Khalal and Rutab ripening stages differed in the insect, ranging from Too much infestation in Khistawi infestation percentages of the lesser date moth;

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