South African Sugarcane Research Institute
CHILO SACCHARIPHAGUS MANAGEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN
REGION,
a biosecurity story
Mike Way, Des Conlong & Stuart
Rutherford. all from SASRI…
ISSCT Entomology Workshop March 2011,
Mauritius.
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.
Chilo sacchariphagus challenge = develop systems to keep
stemborer in Mozambique, while controlling infestations in that
country.
Scenario
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.
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
1998 1850
Native
to Java
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.
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
ZIMBABWE
SWAZILAND
MAURITIUS
MALAWI
Durban
MafambisseSugarcane Estate
MOZAMBIQUE
SOUTH AFRICA Chilo-infested stalks?
N
1998
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.
Chilo-infested stalks?
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.
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
Side shoots on
side shoots
Side shoots on
side shoots
Side shoots on
side shoots
Side shoots on
side shoots
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.
(Goebel & Way, ISSCT 2007).
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
R&D: Developing optimum trapping techniques:synthetic pheromone and trapping device
Water trays Soft drink bottles
Drip trays Delta traps
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
Water trays
Drip trays
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
Results from monitoring – scouting & trapping
Prevention
Coordination
Enforcement & Implementation
Control & management
11 Facets of Biosecurity Programs
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
3-pronged Approach
Spread awareness propaganda, to empower partnerships & collaborators to be vigilant for the pest presence
Vigilance and phytosanitary legislation, to halt range expansion
R&D-orientated program (IPM, Biocontrol, SIT),
to address the problem at the source – Moz.
Develop incursion plan, to provide appropriate responses in the event of an incursion.
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
Awareness: mini – workshops were held
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!!
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
Mafambisse 5th Aug10.
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.
Control and Management
Review
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
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.
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
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.
Distribution & Biosecurity threat
Damage symptoms & Yield loss
Monitoring techniques & Results
Biosecurity plan
Review
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 The end
