Efficacy of four systemic insecticides against the green pit scale insect (Palmapsis phoenicis Ramachandra Rao) (Homoptera: Asterolecaniidae) infesting date palm in Northern Sudan By MAHDI ABDELRHMAN AHMED MOHAMED B.Sc. (Agric.), University of Zagazig, Egypt, 1988 M. Sc. (Agric.), University of Khartoum, Sudan, 1998 A thesis Submitted to the University of Khartoum in fulfillment for the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) MainSupervisor: Dr. Azhari Omer Abdelbagi Co-Supervisor: Dr. Hamadttu Abd Elfarag ELshafie Department of Crop Protection Faculty of Agriculture University of Khartoum December 2008 ﻭﺟﻌﻠﹾﻨﺎ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺟ ﻨ ﺎ ﺕ ﻣ ﻦ ﻧ ﺨ ﻴ ﻞﹴ ﻭ ﺃﹶ ﻋ ﻨ ﺎ ﺏﹴ ﻭﻓﹶﺠﺮﻧﺎ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻣ ﻦ ﺍ ﻟﹾ ﻌ ﻴ ﻮ ﻥ ﻟ ﻴ ﺄﹾ ﻛﹸ ﻠﹸ ﻮ ﺍ ﻣ ﻦ ﺛﹶ ﻤ ﺮﹺ ﻩ ﻭﻣﺎ ﻋ ﻤ ﻠﹶ ﺘ ﻪ ﺃﹶ ﻳ ﺪ ﻳ ﻬﹺ ﻢ ﺃﹶﻓﹶﻼ ﻳ ﺸ ﻜﹸ ﺮ ﻭ ﻥﹶ ﺳﻮرة ﻳﺲ اﻵﻳﺎت ﻣﻦ ٣٤-٣٥ Efficacy of four systemic insecticides against the green pit scale insect (Palmapsis phoenicis Ramachandra Rao) (Homoptera: Asterolecaniidae) infesting date palm in Northern Sudan By MAHDI ABDELRHMAN AHMED MOHAMED ﻣﺴﺘﻠﺨﺺ اﻻﻃﺮوﺣﺔ ﺗﻢ اﺟﺮاء ﺳﻠﺴﻠﻪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرب اﻟﺤﻘﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺼﻐﺮة ﺑﻤﺸﺮوع اﻟﻐﺎﺑﺔ اﻟﺰراﻋﻲ وﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﻘﻮﻟﺪ ﺧﻼل ﻣﻮﺳﻤﻲ 2003/2004-2004 /2005 ﺑﻬﺪف ﺗﻘﻮﻳﻢ ﻓﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ أرﺑﻌﺔ ﻣﺒﻴﺪات ﺟﻬﺎزﻳﺔ ،اﻣﻴﺪاآﻠﻮﺑﺮﻳﺪ ﻓﻰ هﻴﺌﺔ (Rinfidor 20%SL, Confidor 200SL وComodor 20%SL) وﺛﻴﺎﻣﻴﺜﻮآﺜﺎم ﻓﻲ هﻴﺌﺔ (Actara 25WG) ﺿﺪ ﺣﺸﺮة اﻟﻨﺨﻴﻞ اﻟﻘﺸﺮﻳﺔ اﻟﺨﻀﺮاء اﻟﺤﺎﻓﺮة (Palmapsis phoenicis Ramachandra Rao) ﺑﻤﺸﺮوع اﻟﻐﺎﺑﺔ اﻟﺰراﻋﻲ وﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﻘﻮﻟﺪ وذﻟﻚ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺘﻴﻦ ﻟﻠﻤﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ ( ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ و ﺣﻘﻦ اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪ ﻓﻲ ﺳﺎق اﻟﻨﺨﻠﺔ ).أﺳﺘﻬﺪﻓﺖ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرب ﺗﺤﺪﻳﺪ اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺔ اﻟﻔﻌﺎﻟﺔ وﻓﺘﺮة ﺛﺒﺎت هﺬﻩ اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪات (Persistence) وآﺬﻟﻚ اﻷﺛﺮ اﻟﻤﺘﺒﻘﻲ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺜﻤﺎر واﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ واﻟﺰراﻋﺎت اﻟﺒﻴﻨﻴﺔ. أﺳﺘﺨﺪﻣﺖ اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺎت ﺻﻔﺮ، 20، 25 و35 ﻣﻞ\ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ و 10 ,15 و20 ﻣﻞ /ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺒﻴﺪات ( Rinfidor 20%SL و Comodor 20%SL ) ﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ واﻟﺤﻘﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺘﺮﺗﻴﺐ . اﻣﺎ ﻣﺒﻴﺪ Actara 25WG ﻓﻜﺎﻧﺖ ﺟﺮﻋﺎﺗﻪ هﻲ9, 12, 15 و18 ﺟﺮام /ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ و 6 ,8 و10 ﺟﺮام /ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ ﻟﻄﺮﻳﻘﺘﻲ ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ واﻟﺤﻘﻦ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺘﺮﺗﻴﺐ اﻣﺎ ﻣﺒﻴﺪ آﻮﻧﻔﻴﺪور Confidor 200 SL اﺳﺘﺨﺪم ﺑﺎﻟﺠﺮﻋﺔ 35 ﻣﻞ /ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ آﻤﺒﻴﺪ ﻗﻴﺎﺳﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﻪ و ﺑﺎﻟﺠﺮﻋﺎت 10 ,15 و20 ﻣﻞ /ﻟﻠﻨﺨﻠﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺤﻘﻦ. ﺗﻢ ﺗﺨﻔﻴﻒ ﺟﺮﻋﺎت اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪات (ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ ) ﻓﻲ (8) ﻟﺘﺮ ﻣﺎء ووزﻋﺖ ﺑﺎﻧﺘﻈﺎم ﺣﻮل ﺟﺬع اﻟﻨﺨﻠﺔ ﺑﻌﺪ أﺟﺮاء ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺎت اﻟﺘﺤﻮﻳﺾ (ﺑﻘﻄﺮ 3م) واﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﻢ ﺛﻢ اﻟﺮى ﺑﺎﻧﺘﻈﺎم آﻞ (10) أﻳﺎم. اﺳﺘﺨﺪم اﻟﻨﻈﺎم اﻟﻌﺸﻮاﺋﻲ آﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﻘﻄﺎﻋﺎت ﺑﻌﺪد ارﺑﻌﺔ ﻣﻜﺮرات (ﺳﺘﻪ ﻧﺨﻼت ﺗﻤﺜﻞ آﻞ ﻣﻜﺮر). ﺗﻢ ﺗﻌﺪاد آﻞ اﻻﻃﻮار اﻟﺤﺸﺮﻳﺔ ( ﺳﻢ2 /ورﻳﻘﺔ) ﻓﻲ ﺛﻤﺎﻧﻴﺔ ورﻳﻘﺎت ﻣﻦ آﻞ ﻧﺨﻠﺔ ﺑﻌﺪ آﻞ اﺳﺒﻮﻋﻴﻦ ﻣﻦ ﺑﺪاﻳﺔ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ. آﺬﻟﻚ ﺗﻤﺖ دراﺳﺔ اﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ اﻟﻤﻜﺎﻓﺤﺔ .ﺗﻢ ﺗﻘﻮﻳﻢ ﻗﺎﺑﻠﻴﺔ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻻﺻﻨﺎف ﻟﻼﺻﺎﺑﺔ آﻤﺎ ﺗﻢ ﻣﺴﺢ ﻟﻼﻋﺪاء اﻟﺤﻴﻮﻳﺔ. أﻇﻬﺮت ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻓﺤﺺ ﻋﻴﻨﺎت اﻟﺠﺮﻳﺪ اﻟﻤﺄﺧﻮذة آﻞ أﺳﺒﻮﻋﻴﻦ واﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻢ ﻓﺤﺼﻬﺎ ﺗﺤﺖ اﻟﻤﺠﻬﺮ ، أن أﻋﺪاد اﻟﺤﺸﺮات اﻟﻤﻴﺘﺔ (إﻧﺎث ﺑﺎﻟﻐﺔ + أﻃﻮار ﻏﻴﺮ ﺑﺎﻟﻐﺔ ) ﻟﻜﻞ( ﺳﻢ)2/ ﻟﻠﻮرﻳﻘﺔ زاد زﻳﺎدﻩ واﺿﺤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻧﺴﺒﺔ اﻟﻤﻮت ﻓﻲ آﻞ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻼت ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﺎهﺪ وﻗﺪ وﺻﻠﺖ أﻋﻠﻲ ﻣﻌﺪﻻﺗﻬﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ أﺳﺒﻮﻋﻴﻦ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ واﻧﺨﻔﻀﺖ ﺗﺪرﻳﺠﻴﺂ ﺑﻌﺪ ذﻟﻚ ﺣﺘﻲ ﺗﺴﺎوت ﺟﻤﻴﻊ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻼت ﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﻀﻲ (12) أﺳﺒﻮع ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ . وﻗﺪ اﻋﻄﺖ اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺎت اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪات اﻟﻤﺨﺘﺒﺮة ﻓﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﺿﺪ اﻟﺤﺸﺮة اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻬﺪﻓﻪ ﻟﻮﺣﻆ أن اﻟﻨﺨﻴﻞ اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪات ﺗﺤﺖ اﻻﺧﺘﺒﺎر ﻗﺪ أﺳﺘﻌﺎد ﻧﻤﻮﻩ وﺗﺤﻮل ﺳﻌﻔﻪ (ﺟﺮﻳﺪﻩ) إﻟﻰ اﻟﻠﻮن اﻷﺧﻀﺮ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ وﻗﺪ ازداد اﻻﺧﻀﺮار آﻠﻤﺎ أﺗﺠﻬﻨﺎ اﻟﻲ ﻗﻠﺐ اﻟﻨﺨﻠﺔ آﻤﺎ ان اﻟﺘﻤﻮر ﻧﻀﺠﺖ ﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺎ ﺣﻴﺚ أﻋﻄﺖ اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺪات زﻳﺎدة ﻓﻲ اﻻﻧﺘﺎﺟﻴﺔ وﺻﻠﺖ ﻻآﺜﺮ 70% ﻣﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺸﺎهﺪ . آﺬﻟﻚ ﻟﻢ ﻳﺘﻢ اﻟﻜﺸﻒ ﻋﻦ وﺟﻮد أي أﺛﺮ ﻣﺘﺒﻘﻲ ﻋﻠﻲ اﻟﺜﻤﺎر اﻟﻤﺄﺧﻮذة ﻟﻠﺘﺤﻠﻴﻞ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺘﻲ اﻟﺮﻃﺐ واﻟﺘﻤﺮ وآﺬﻟﻚ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ واﻟﺰراﻋﺎت اﻟﺒﻴﻨﻴﺔ آﻤﺎ ﻟﻮﺣﻆ ﺗﻮﻗﻒ ﻧﺸﺎط ﺁﻓﺔ اﻷرﺿﺔ واﻟﻨﻤﻞ اﻷﺣﻤﺮ. اﻇﻬﺮت ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ اﻟﺘﺤﻠﻴﻞ اﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدي رﺑﺤﻴﺔ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ اﻟﻤﻜﺎﻓﺤﻪ هﺬﻩ ﺣﻴﺚ آﺎن اﻟﻨﺎﺗﺞ اﻟﺤﺪي اﻟﺤﺮج (M.R.R) 364 % ﻟﻠﻤﻜﺎﻓﺤﺔ ﺑﻤﺒﻴﺪات اﻣﻴﺪاآﻠﻮﺑﺮﻳﺪ. أﻇﻬﺮت ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻣﺴﺢ اﻻﻋﺪاء اﻟﺤﻴﻮﻳﺔ وﺟﻮد ﻣﻔﺘﺮﺳﻴﻦ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺨﻨﺎﻓﺲ ﻣﺮﺗﺒﻄﻴﻦ ﺑﺘﻮاﺟﺪ اﻻﻓﺔ . اوﺿﺤﺖ دراﺳﺔ ﻗﺎﺑﻠﻴﺔ ارﺑﻌﺔ اﺻﻨﺎف ﻟﻠﻼﺻﺎﺑﺔ ان اﻟﺼﻨﻒ ﻗﻨﺪﻳﻠﺔ ﻗﺪ اﻇﻬﺮ ﻗﺎﺑﻠﻴﺔ آﺒﺮى ﻟﻼﺻﺎﺑﺔ ﺑﻴﻨﻤﺎ اﻟﺼﻨﻒ ودﻟﻘﺎي آﺎن اﻗﻞ اﻻﺻﻨﺎف ﺗﺎﺛﺮا ﺑﺎﻻﺻﺎﺑﺔ . Efficacy of four systemic insecticides against the green pit scale insect (Palmapsis phoenicis Ramachandra Rao) (Homoptera: Asterolecaniidae) infesting date palm in Northern Sudan By MAHDI ABDELRHMAN AHMED MOHAMED ABSTRACT A series of small scale field experiments were carried out in Elgaba scheme, and El Golid area during seasons, (2003/2004- 2004/2005) to evaluate the efficacy of four systemic insecticides; imidacloprid as Confidor 200SL, Rinfidor 20%SL and Comodor 20% SL and thiamethoxam as Actara 25WG, against the green pit scale insect (Palmapsis phoenicis Ramachandra Rao). Two methods of application, soil application and trunk injection were used. The insecticide thiamethoxam as Actara 25WG was tested at 9, 12, 15 and 18g /palm and 6, 8 and 10g/palm for soil application and trunk injection, respectively. While imidacloprid as Rinfidor 20% SL and Comodor 20% SL was tested at 20, 25 and 35 ml/palm and 10, 15 and 20 ml/palm for soil application and trunk injection, respectively. Confidor 200SL (imidacloprid) was used as standard (35ml/palm) for soil application and 10, 15 and 20 ml /palm for trunk injection The specific dose was diluted with eight liter of water in a container and drenched around the date palm tree (3m id) and then irrigation scheduled every 10 days . The Completely Randomized Design with six replicates (one palm = replicate) was used. The insects (all developing stages) were counted (cm2/leaflet). Eight leaflets from each palm were inspected at biweekly intervals. Dates yield and quality were determined at harvest. Residue analysis was carried out on dates, soil and intercropped plants twice (at rutab stage and harvesting). The economics of control using this method were studied .Varietal susceptibility and expected natural enemies were also investigated. Results indicated that the % mortality (adult and immature stages) were significantly higher in insecticides treatments than the untreated control by the two application methods. Results of residue analysis indicated that, no residues of both imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were detected in dates, soil and intercropped plants when treated with the high doses. The higher doses remained effective throughout the experimental period. Date palm treated with the higher doses of tested insecticides, developed normally and the dates reached maturity (ripening) and the yield was increased by more than 70% compared with the untreated control. All insecticides checked termites and many other pests, but did not affect mites. The two methods of application were found highly economical and safe for the users with minimal environmental impacts. Partial budget analysis indicated the profitability of the two packages as indicated by the marginal rate of returns of 364 % for imidacloprid. Survey of the natural enemies recorded two beetles associated with the pest. Among the four varieties tested Gondiella was the most susceptible variety while the least susceptible variety was Wad laggi. To the soul of my parents, To my lovely Children Mohammed and Alaa To my Brothers, Sisters, and Haj Elagib Family To my Wife, with love i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My full praise to Allah for enabling me to complete my study. This is a real blessing from Him and thanks to Him in the way that suits His supreme greatness, will and power. Blessings and peace from Allah to be upon our prophet Mohammed and all his Family and companions. My sincere appreciations go to my supervisor, Associate professor Dr. Azhari Omer Abdelbagi, who was a great source of inspiration and encouragement throughout the period of my study. Also I would like to express my deepest gratitude to him for his systematic guidance, advice, patience, constructive criticisms and continuous supervision until the completion of the study. Iam also indebted to my co-supervisor, Associate professor Dr . Hamadttu Abd Elfarag ELshafie, for his valuable contributions and suggestions that added interesting new knowledge and validity to this study. All his contributions are truly appreciated. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), especially its chairman and the staff of the Crop Protection Research Center, especially professor Dr. Gaafar Elzorgani,Dr. Alamin M. Alamin, Dr.Hassan O.Kanan, Dr. Ehissan Abbas And Ms. Rawda Elhabieb for the extensive assistance offered throughout the duration of my study and for residues analysis. Thanks also go to Date Palm Research Center of King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A), especially Professor Salah Bin Alied ,Professor Jameel Al khairi and Dr. Abdelgadir Assalam ii and Professor Nabil Hammid Basher of Gazira University for their kind cooperation and advice during the study. Also I would like to express my deepest thanks to my colleagues Rasheed Fagerri,Abdelrheem Hussien, Dr. Eltaeb M. Abdel Gadir, Dr. Errneo Blassio, Mr. Solom S. Kumodan, Levi Yassin , Mohamed Elshiek, Nazar Khaliel, Nagmeldeen A. Nouri, and the staff of Dongola Research Station and to the Departments of Technology Transefer and Extension and Plant Protection Directorate (PPD) of Ministriy of Agriculture , Animal Wealth and Irrigation , Northern State and to the people of Elgaba ,El Golid and Old Dongola for their appreciated contributions when conducting my study. Special thanks to Abdelrheem Benawi, Shiek Makkawi Habeeb, Abderhaman Mergani and Shiek Elkair Mohamed, Shiek Mahdi Mohi Eldin, Shiek Abbdalla Mohi Eldin and Mahdi Salah,Mohamed Essa and Osman Elkhabier. I would like to express my special thanks, deepest appreciation and gratitude to my dear wife Siham Mohamed Yosif for her whole hearted assistance and sacrifice throughout this study. Her patience and encouragement always remained as my inspiration to complete this degree. Finally, I owe thanks to my brothers, sisters, Haj Alagib Family and all Gissmalab for their spiritual and moral support. Financial support by National Training Center and chemicals provided by chemical companies (Bayer, Syngenta, Green Deel and Riham) is appreciated. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No DEDICATION………………………..…………………………………… i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………..……………………………….. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………….. iv LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………….…………… vii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………….……………………. ix ARABIC ABSTRACT……………………………………………………. x ENGLISH ABSTRACT……………………………………..…………… xi 1: INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………... 1 2: LITERATURE REVIEW…………..…………………………………… 4 2.1 The date palm tree ………………………………………………….