KOCHI: The State Agriculture Department will release parasitoids shortly in its attempt to curb the crop destruction caused by Papaya mealybug, an invasive pest.
The parasitoids, multiplied in the laboratories of the Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, will be released by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran on December 9 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Malappuram.
They will be released in areas where the infestation has been reported most. The department is also planning to hand over nucleus cultures to the principal agricultural officers in all the districts and heads of research organisations free of cost for release, according to a communication from the University.
The bug is an invasive insect pest infesting more than seventy species of host plants, including vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, plantations, forest and other non crop plants in Kerala. Though the presence of the species was first recorded in early 2009 in Kerala, the State later witnessed a phenomenal spread in population.
The bugs had caused widespread destruction of crops in the State during the past few months. It was the heavy rain that the State received during this year that helped in controlling the infestation to a considerable extent. The agricultural experts fear that the invasion would reach alarming proportions once there is a let-up in rain. The symptoms of infestation include crinkling, cupping, drying and outright death of the infested plants. The affected plants and the ones in its surroundings will have sooty mould, scientists said.
Source: The Hindu, 9-12-2010
The parasitoids, multiplied in the laboratories of the Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, will be released by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran on December 9 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Malappuram.
They will be released in areas where the infestation has been reported most. The department is also planning to hand over nucleus cultures to the principal agricultural officers in all the districts and heads of research organisations free of cost for release, according to a communication from the University.
The bug is an invasive insect pest infesting more than seventy species of host plants, including vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, plantations, forest and other non crop plants in Kerala. Though the presence of the species was first recorded in early 2009 in Kerala, the State later witnessed a phenomenal spread in population.
The bugs had caused widespread destruction of crops in the State during the past few months. It was the heavy rain that the State received during this year that helped in controlling the infestation to a considerable extent. The agricultural experts fear that the invasion would reach alarming proportions once there is a let-up in rain. The symptoms of infestation include crinkling, cupping, drying and outright death of the infested plants. The affected plants and the ones in its surroundings will have sooty mould, scientists said.
Source: The Hindu, 9-12-2010
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