Articles
Recent developments in the biological control of legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) on yard-long bean
Article number
1102_17
Pages
143 – 150
Language
English
Abstract
Yard-long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) is one of the most popular traditional vegetable legumes in Southeast Asia.
Legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) is one of the major production constraints of yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
More than 90% of growers rely on chemical pesticides as a prophylactic measure to control M. vitrata in food legumes.
Sustainable management strategies for M. vitrata are needed to reduce pesticide misuse on yard-long bean.
Field surveys in East and Southeast Asia have identified an egg-larval parasitoid, Phanerotoma syleptae, in Thailand, which has been introduced into Benin, Taiwan and Vietnam.
In addition, two other larval parasitoids, Therophilus javanus and T. marucae that are widely present in Southeast Asia complement the performance of P. syleptae. Laboratory and field experiments during 2010-2013 confirmed that Bacillus thuringiensis-based biopesticide formulations are a promising component for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies against M. vitrata on yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
Among the entomopathogenic fungi, isolates and formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae are effective in reducing the population of M. vitrata. Although neem-based biopesticides do not cause any acute mortality, they significantly reduce egg-laying, and also slow down normal growth and development of M. vitrata larvae.
Thus, an IPM strategy based on parasitoids and biopesticides is now readily available to manage M. vitrata on yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
Legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) is one of the major production constraints of yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
More than 90% of growers rely on chemical pesticides as a prophylactic measure to control M. vitrata in food legumes.
Sustainable management strategies for M. vitrata are needed to reduce pesticide misuse on yard-long bean.
Field surveys in East and Southeast Asia have identified an egg-larval parasitoid, Phanerotoma syleptae, in Thailand, which has been introduced into Benin, Taiwan and Vietnam.
In addition, two other larval parasitoids, Therophilus javanus and T. marucae that are widely present in Southeast Asia complement the performance of P. syleptae. Laboratory and field experiments during 2010-2013 confirmed that Bacillus thuringiensis-based biopesticide formulations are a promising component for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies against M. vitrata on yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
Among the entomopathogenic fungi, isolates and formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae are effective in reducing the population of M. vitrata. Although neem-based biopesticides do not cause any acute mortality, they significantly reduce egg-laying, and also slow down normal growth and development of M. vitrata larvae.
Thus, an IPM strategy based on parasitoids and biopesticides is now readily available to manage M. vitrata on yard-long bean in Southeast Asia.
Authors
R. Srinivasan, S. Yule, M.Y. Lin, C. Khumsuwan
Keywords
yard-long bean, parasitoids, biopesticides, integrated pest management
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