Hussein, Mohd. Yusof

Sajap, Ahmad Said

Salleh, Ghizan

Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository

UPM Research Report 1998: Volume 2DEVELOPMENT OF PESTICIDE-FREE IPM FORCONTROLLING CORN STALK BORERSM.Y. Hussein, Gi'Salleh and A.S. SajapFaculty of AgricultureUniversiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor,MalaysiaKeywords: com, stalk borers, IPM, Ostrinia, pest.IntroductionHigh crop loss in com production in Malaysia is largely dueto plant damage caused by the Asiatic com stalk borer, Os-trinia furnacalis Guenee (Hussein and Kamadeer, 1998).Pesticides are still widely applied in our cornfields to controlor suppress the borer populations. Presence of pesticide inthe com ecosystem, plants and harvested cobs are undesir-able and could pose a health hazard to human and other liv-ing things. A pesticide-free cornfield could be establishedthrough the integrated pest management (lPM) approach.The objectives of this project were to develop and integrateappropriate biological control method, particularly, the use ofegg parasitoids and cultural methods that preserve and en-hance the action of biotic agents and to reduce over-relianceon pesticides while protecting consumers and the living envi-ronment.Materials and MethodsThe project covers field surveys, laboratory studies and field-plot trials. While field studies using small plot (lOrnxlOm)were conducted to establish the moth's oviposition in relationto environmental factors, laboratory studies were focussed onmass rearing of parasitoids and bioassays of kairomones.Trapping to determine the presence and distribution of natu-ral parasitoid populations was done in various agro-ecosystems in the university farms. Data on the ovipositiontrends were correlated to rainfall and crop phenology forconsecutive croppings. The effects of ultraviolet light on thesuitability of the host eggs to parasitisation of Trichogrammapapilionis Nag was investigated under laboratory conditions(Loh, 1991). Variables tested include dosage ofUV, time ofexposure and age of host egg. Laboratory bioassays usingthe Y-tube glass olfactometer using extracts of com leaf,scales of adult moth and host eggs were carried out to deter-mine the presence of a kairomone that attracts or excite theadult parasitoids. Such a kairomone is crucial in maintaining30the optimum level of parasitisation is maintained in the eco-system for effective biological control.Results and DiscussionThe field studies have provided strong indication thatTrichogramma papilionis Nag's is the sole egg parasitoid ofOstrinia fumacalis in the com fields at UPM, Serdang(Hussein et al. 1996) the parasitoid population in the field isstrongly correlated with the peak of oviposition of host eggs.Rainfall had little or no effect on the host abundance(Hussein and Kamadeer, 1998). The abundance of Tricho-gramma may be influenced by the stage of com plant i.e. thewhorl stage which was the most preferred stage for oviposi-tion by Ostrinia (Hussein and Kamadeer, 1998). The naturalpopulations of Trichogramma were detected in specific agro-ecosystems especially where graminaceous plants werefound in abundance. Cornfield the highest parasitoid popu-lations followed by sugar cane and grasslands. The level ofparasitisation in these ecosystems were high (80-100%). Re-sults of t he laboratory bioassays indicated that corn leafcontains certain semiochemical (kairomone) which could at-tract adult parasitoids while searching for their hosts(Hussein et al. 1996). The use of ultraviolet light to treat theCorcyra eggs was shown to increase the level of parasitisa-tion in the mass rearing of Trichogramma in the laboratory(Loh, 1991).ConclusionsOverall, the use of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma papilionisis practical and effective in controlling com borer attacks.The parasitoid could be mass-reared for field releases pro-vided certain precautionary measures are taken such as stageof crop growth, surrounding vegetation, and pattern of rain-fall. Corcyra eggs need to be treated with UV-light to ensurehigh parasitoid production level.ReferencesHussein, M.Y. and Karnadeer, A.K. 1998. A field study on the ovi-position of Ostrinia fumacalis Guenee on maize in Selangor,Malaysia. Trop. Pest Mgt. 34: 44-47.Hussein, M.Y., Hassanjaya, Y.B. and Schilthuizen, M. 1996. A newegg parasitoid for possible biological control of Asiatic maizeborer. PertanikaJ. Trop. Agrie. Se. 19: 111-116.Loh, 1991. Ultraviolet treatment on Corcyra eephaloniea eggs formass rearing of Trichogramma papilionis. B.AgrSc. Res. Project,Universiti Putra Malaysia.Supported by IRPA Grant 01-02-04-0031

Development of pesticide-free IPM for controlling corn stalk borers

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Development of pesticide-free IPM for controlling corn stalk borers

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