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Influence of Weather on Sugarcane Mealybugs and Their Natural Enemies

Md. Nur Alam Miah
Planning and Development Division, Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute, Ishwardi-6620, Pabna, Bangladesh.

Md. Ramiz Uddin Miah
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.

Md. Zinnatul Alam
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.

Md. Mofazzal Hossain
Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was conducted in two insect-prone areas viz., Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), Pabna and Regional Sugarcrop Research Station (RSRS), Thakurgaon to study the influence of weather on sugarcane mealybugs and their natural enemies during the 2013-14 cropping season. A positive linear relationship was observed between mealybugs infestation with and relative humidity 51% (R²=0.514) but a negative correlation was found with temperature and rainfall. The infestation was higher at Thakurgaon than at Pabna during almost the entire cropping season but a little higher at Pabna in November. At Pabna, the lowest infestation (6.30%) was recorded in May and the highest (34.71%) in November. At Thakurgaon, the lowest infestation (7.48%) was found in May and the highest (29.30%) in September. Results revealed that the percent loss in weight of sugarcane was 4.76 to 36.50 at 10% and 100% infestation level in Pabna. On the other hand, 6.57 to 33.55% loss of cane weight was caused at 10% and 100% infestation level in Thakurgaon. The results proved that, as expected, weight loss generally increases with a stronger level of infestation. Different natural enemies viz., parasitic wasps, ladybird beetles, hoverflies, brown lacewings, spider, Cryptochaetum sp. were found to be abundant in the study plot during the month of June to August.

Keywords: Mealybugs; Natural enemies; Population dynamics; Sugarcane.

Location: Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), Pabna and Regional Sugarcrop Research Station (RSRS), Thakurgaon

Start Date: 00-00-2013

End Date: 00-00-2014

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Sugarcane

Objectives:

To find out the influence of weather on mealybugs, the prevalence of natural enemies, and assessing the extent of yield loss.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in two insect-prone areas, namely Pabna which belongs to the Agro-ecological zone-11 under high Ganges river flood plain soils, and Thakurgaon which belongs to the Agro-ecological zone-1 under the old Himalayan piedmont plain soils. The physiographic unit of this zone is 25⁰38′ N latitude and 88⁰41′ E longitude. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The size of the plots was 12 m × 8 m, block to block distance was 2 m, and plot to plot 1 m. The sugar cane variety used was Isd 36 planted in December. Two budded setts were planted in each trench through the conventional method [9]. All recommended doses of fertilizers were applied following the procedures of the fertilizer recommendation guide [10]. The study was undertaken in natural conditions i.e., without any insecticide application. were recorded from each experimental site from plantation to harvest. The percent infestation of sugarcane by mealybugs was recorded at fortnight intervals from the vegetative stage to harvest. Total numbers of healthy and infested canes were counted from the whole plot and percent infestations were calculated by the following formula: Infestation (%) = Number of infested cane/Total number of healthy cane x 100. Maximum and minimum air temperature, monthly average rainfall, relative humidity, physical characteristics, and chemical composition of soils The cane's weight loss was recorded at harvest. The data were collected from a 10 m² plot. Canes were sorted into several groups including the healthy and infested at different levels of infestations. At harvest, samples of ten canes were sorted having uninfested and infested comprising 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% randomly. The investigation consists of eleven treatments including one untreated (uninfested canes). Ten sweeping was done per fortnight interval to observe the existing natural enemies. The treatments were replicated thrice and statistical analysis was done by Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) 9.1 Windows version for comparison.

Source of Information: Asian Research Journal of Agriculture -11(1): 1-9, 2019

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.9734/ARJA/2019/v11i130045

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Seasonal influences on the abundance of mealybugs showed higher infestation at RSRS (Thakurgaon) than BSRI (Pabna). The lowest infestation was recorded at Pabna in May and the highest in November. At Thakurgaon, the lowest infestation was in May and the highest in November and September. Although there were positive relationships between infestation and relative humidity, the inverse relationship was evident with temperature and rainfall. Natural enemies of mealybugs were found to be abundant during the month of June to August.

Knowledge Management: Journal