a biosecurity story CHILO SACCHARIPHAGUS MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION, South African Sugarcane Research Institute

Transcription

1 CHILO SACCHARIPHAGUS MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION, a biosecurity story Mike Way, Des Conlong & Stuart Rutherford. all from SASRI mike.way@sugar.org.za ISSCT Entomology Workshop March 2011, Mauritius. South African Sugarcane Research Institute

2 Scenario Chilo sacchariphagus challenge = develop systems to keep stemborer in Mozambique, while controlling infestations in that country. Possible? Yes, this task should be feasible because of the following favourable agronomic conditions, & because of the information that we have about the features of the insect. 1. Monophagus on sugarcane grown in island habitats in Moz. so mate disruption and SIT, cultural control practices can be used to eradicate it 2. Exotic pest = classical biocontrol candidate. Agents are known for eggs, larvae, pupae. 3. Are resistant & susceptible varieties Reunion (R570 = resitant/r579) & Moz. (N25 susceptible). So, avoid the susceptibles. 4. Animal can be monitored = scouting (clear damage symptoms) & pheromone trapping (sensative low moth popns.) 5. Easily identified past confusion with C. partellus based on morphological characters & damage symptoms, solved with molecular techniques.

3 Overview A strategy was developed, based on sound biosecurity priciples, and a multi-faceted approach of R&D into control options. However, a major problem that arose, was that management in Mozambique did not take this biosecurity issue seriously, and thus they failed to adere to the recommendations. As a result, despite our best efforts, the level of this biosecurity risk has increased.

4 So, let s look at some details under the following topics Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review of achievements & remaining gaps

5 Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Prior to 1998 the African continent is unaffected, but in the 1990 s when C. sacchariphagus moved further west, across the globe, to Africa, and when the sugar industry in Mozambique was redeveloped after the war, the pest became a major biosecurity threat in this region. Consequently a regional biosecurity program was established by SASRI Native to Java

6 C. sacchariphagus is unlikely to spread naturally from Mozambique, because the border along the Mozambican border is hilly & the pest only feeds on sugarane. However, it may be spread accidentally in transported stalks. MALAWI N ZIMBABWE 1998 MOZAMBIQUE Mafambisse Sugarcane Estate MAURIT SWAZILAND SOUTH AFRICA Durban Chilo-infested stalks?

7 Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Side shoots on side shoots The level of potential risk is high, and potentially disasterous, based on the high yield decline caused in the 2009/10 season by Chilo sacchariphagus damage in Mozambique.

8 Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Yield loss of 20 to 30 tons cane/ha to be expected on susceptible variety R579. (Goebel, ISSCT 2006). C. sacchariphagus has a major impact on cane growth, hence a reduction on height, diameter and final cane yield. 2007). (Goebel & Way, ISSCT

9 R&D: Developing optimum trapping techniques:synthetic pheromone and trapping device Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Water trays Soft drink bottles Drip trays Delta traps

10 Results from monitoring scouting & trapping 1. Senna, near Malawi - YES 2. Mafambisse: 54 km inland of Beira - YES 3. Xanavarn: approximately 136 km NW of Maputo - NO 4. Margara : approximately 100 km NW of Maputo - NO 5. Makatini/Ngwavuma region, along SA/Moz border - NO 6. Malawi sugar estates of Nchalo & Dwangwa - NO 7. Swaziland = Chilo partellus in N25 - NO 8. Massingir (Moz.) = Chilo partellus in N25 - NO Senna South Africa

11 Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Prevention Enforcement & Implementation Coordination Control & management Facets of Biosecurity Programs 11

12 3-pronged Approach R&D-orientated program (IPM, Biocontrol, SIT), to address the problem at the source Moz. Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Vigilance and phytosanitary legislation, to halt range expansion Spread awareness propaganda, to empower partnerships & collaborators to be vigilant for the pest presence Develop incursion plan, to provide appropriate responses in the event of an incursion.

13 Awareness: mini workshops were held Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review Objectives 1. Meet fellow biosecurity workers who are after all the most effective first line of defense!!! 2. Talk about what has been done about the SASRI chilo incursion plan and its future. 3. Maintain the pest (Chilo) and disease awareness level. 4. Ask field staff to look out for striped larvae (regional propaganda). 5. Mobilize field staff!! Mafambisse 5 th Aug10.

14 Review Control and Management Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review What has been done (achievements) 1 Wasp (Xanthopimpla stemmator) established as biocontrol agent. 2 Preliminary varietal resistant studies show differences, resistant varieties. different to Eldana saccharina-resistant ones. 3 Best management practices adopted, including harvesting young crops. 4 Preliminary mating disruption experiments carried out. What needs to be done (recommendations) 1 Correct selection of varieties, avoid N25, with balanced variety disposition and maximum of 30% of one variety. 2 Consider planting with tissue culture plantlets. 3 Test pre-release SASRI genotypes for Chilo-resistance in Mozambique. 4 Conduct loss trials for this pest. Establish research into sterile insect technique (SIT). 5 Confirm host specificity of this pest. 6 Study Wolbachia bacterium as a potential biocontrol agent.

15 Prevention What has been done (achievements) 1 Awareness propaganda implemented to inform stakeholders about damage symptoms caused by C. sacchariphagus so that the pest can be detected in time to restrict its spread and establishment in new areas. 2 Monitoring extended in South African using scouting & strategically sited grids of pheromone-based traps. 3 Surveillance system established in Swaziland to detect the possible presence of C. sacchariphagus. 4 Poster published to raise public awareness 5 Articles published in the LINK magazine in South Africa in order to raise and to maintain the levels of awareness 6 Information about the pest has been included in the Senior Certificate Course run by the South African sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) 7 Mini-workshops was to discuss what has already been done and to identify any other matters that might need addressing in future 8 Use of the local languages needs to be expanded in relevant media e.g. in the Zulu magazine Ingede in South Africa. What needs to be done (recommendations) 1 Additional biosecurity workshops are required from time to time to maintain awareness. 2 Extent of the surveillance along the South African/Mozambique border should be increased to include Makatini flats region near Pongola 3 Establish permanent chilo monitoring systems comprising pheromone-baited traps along this Malawi/Mozambique corridor. 4 Monitoring needs to be continued in Mozambique 5 Comprehensive South African pest incursion plan is required for C. Sacchariphagus 6 Need to standardise the C. sacchariphagus monitoring techniques. A reference manual is required and training courses are needed for the field staff.

16 Coordination and networking What has been done (achievements) 1 In South Africa E.O. s and Pest and Disease Officers in South Africa close to the border with Mozambique (Mpumalanga, Pongola) alerted. 2 Specialist researchers from SASRI (Entomologists and Pathologists), administrative staff (Director & Information Manger) alerted. 3 National Department of Agriculture in South Africa (NDA) alerted. 4 In Mozambique field managers from the Mafambisse sugar estate and senior policy makers from Tongaat-Hullet (local sugar producing company), field managers from the Mafambisse sugar estate and senior policy makers from Illovo Ltd (local sugar producing company), Provincial Rural Extension Services (SPERS) mobalised. 5 In Swaziland representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, E. O. s and senior managers from the technical services and the sugar estates of Simunya and Tabamkulu estates alerted. 6 In Zambia: estate managers from Nakambala informed. In Zimbabwe Entomologist from Zimbabwe Experiment Station(ZSA) contacted. 7 Crop protection workers in South Africa visited Mozambique to see C. sacchariphagus in the field. 8 Alerts published at SASTA 09, SASRI Scientific reports, Students Scientific Reports. Mini-workshops convened. What needs to be done (recommendations) 1 Legislation and biosecurity awareness in Mozambique must be addressed at District, Provincial and National level. 2 Engagement would be useful among the senior policy makers from the South African Sugarcane of Association (SASA) and NDA - National Department of Agriculture in South Africa with Associação dos Produtores de Açúcar de Moçambique (APAMO). MOU is in place. 3 More involvement by Local Pest, Disease and Variety Control Committees (LPD&VCC) in South Arica 4 Additional cooperation and collaboration between Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA) Millers and Growers and the Royal Swaziland Government. MOU is in place.

17 Enforcement and Implementation Distribution & Biosecurity threat Damage symptoms & Yield loss Monitoring techniques & Results Biosecurity plan Review What has been done (achievements) 1 Legislation is required to regulate the movement of seed cane within Mozambique with consideration must be given to a cordon santaire around the infested sugar estates in Sofala province, possibly using the Zambezi river in the north, and the river in the south 2 ad hoc visits were necessary to follow up on reports of characteristic damage (shot-holes) 3 procurement and certification of pest and disease free seed cane for these estates is needed 4 variety N25 is highly susceptible to C. sacchariphagus and consideration into degazetting this variety in Mozambique is warranted. What needs to be done (recommendations) 1 Movement of all sugarcane material across the border between Mozambique and South Africa needs to be prohibited. 2 C. sacchariphagus needs to be declared a registered pest in South Africa to allow implementation of controls such as pesticide applications in and outside sugarcane proclaimed areas. 3 Clarification is needed for the rules and procedures pertaining to financial compensation for growers when issued with plough-out orders due to hazardous pests or diseases in South Africa. 4 Formal letters and identification cards for all the LPD&VCC staff in South Africa authorizing entry to farms to inspect for pests and diseases are required. 17

18 Conclusions More coordination with agricultural infrastructure in Moz. needed. Maintainence and extention of surveillance campaign required. Additional knowledge dissemination is vital. Incentives to comply with regulations. Vigilance to keep this pest out of South Africa needs hightening. Need to match goals and achievements to identify shortcomings. The end