Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published December 2021 | Volume 9, Issue 12. pp. 276-281.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v9i12.21.168

 

Occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes to manage coffee thrips, Diarthrothrips coffeae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Kenya

 



 

 

MUGO Harrison M.*

NDOIRU Samuel K

 

Email Author
Tel: 0722-257858.

 

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Coffee Research Institute (KALRO - CRI), Box 4 – 0232, Ruiru, Kenya.


……....…...………..........................…………....………............…............……...........……........................................................………...……..…....……....…

Citation: Mugo HM, Ndoiru SK  (2021). Occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes to manage coffee thrips, Diarthrothrips coffeae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Kenya. J. Agric. Crop Res. 9(12):276-281. doi: 10.33495/jacr_v9i12.21.168.

……....…...………..........................…………....………............…............……...........……........................................................………...……..…....……....…



 Abstract 


Coffee thrips, Diarthrothrips coffeae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major pest that adversely affects the yield and quality of coffee in Kenya. Its control mainly by application of insecticides has been a challenge. The use of Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as a component of biological control agents is anticipated to be a more viable option for the management of thrips hence the need to establish the species of EPNs locally available in Kenya. The existing local EPNs were established from the soil samples collected from shaded and un-shaded coffee farming systems from coffee estates managed by Coffee Research Institute. The samples were collected along the coffee drip lines at a depth of 0 to 20 cm in an area of 25 m2 (5 m × 5 m) by using a garden hoe. The EPNs were extracted from the soil using the baiting technique. The colour of the cadavers was used to distinguish the type of EPNs collected from the soil samples. The soil moisture content for each sampling site was measured using a soil moisture probe meter. The soil samples were also analyzed for pH in the laboratories. Two types of Entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema spp and Heterorhabditis spp were identified and established to occur locally under shaded and un-shaded coffee farming systems. Their distribution diverged with coffee habitats. The two species preferred the un-shaded coffee when compared to shaded ones. Of the two types of EPNs, Steinernema spp (62.5%) was the predominant when compared with Heterorhabditis spp (37.5%). The soils from un-shaded coffee had significantly (P < 0.05) lower moisture content than shaded coffee. This factor was found to contribute more to the EPNs under un-shaded coffee than shaded ones. The study showed that EPNs occurred in both un-shaded and shaded coffee farming systems. Following the establishment and the occurrence of the EPNs that can manage D. coffeae, the authors recommend further research in order to determine their pathogenicity.

Keywords  Diarthrothrips coffeae   Entomopathogenic nematodes   Steinernema spp.   Heterorhabditis spp.  

 

 

Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.or(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

  References 

 

Coffee Research Foundation, (2009). Management of coffee thrips, Diarthrothrips coffeae (Williams), Technical Circular No. 409.

 

Edgington S, Buddie AG, Moore D, France A, Merino L, Hunt DJ (2011). Heterorhabditis atacamensis n. sp (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from the Atacama Desert, Chile. J. Helminthol. 85:381-394.

 

Grewal PS, Ehlers RU, Shapiro-Ilan DI (2005). Nematodes as Biological Control Agents. Wallingford: CABI Publishing.

 

Kawaka JF, Kimenju JW, Ayodo G, Mwaniki SW, Muoma JO, Okoth SA, Orinda GO (2011). Impact of land use on the distribution and diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Embu and Taita Districts, Kenya. Trop. Subtrop. Agroecosyst. 13:59-63.

 

 Kaya HK, Gaugler R (1993). Entomopathogenic nematodes. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 38:181-206.


Kung SP, Gaugler R, Kaya HK (1991). Effects of soil temperature, moisture, and relative humidity on entomopathogenic nematode persistence. J. Invertebrate Pathol. 57:242-249.

 

Kung SP, Gaugler R, Kaya HK (1990). Influence of Soil pH And Oxygen on Persistence of Steinernema spp. J. Nematol. 22:440-44.

 

Lacey LA, Frutos R, Kaya HK, Vail P (2001). Insect pathogens as biological control agents: do they have a future? Biol. Control, 21:230-248.

 

Laznik Ž, Tóth T, Lakatos T, Vidrih M, Trdan S (2010). Control of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say]) on potato under field conditions: a comparison of the efficacy of foliar application of two strains of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and spraying with thiametoxam. J. Plant Dis. Protect. 117:129-135.

 

Le Pelley RH (1968). Pests of Coffee. Longmans, Green and Company Limited, London, United Kingdom, p. 590.

 

Mugo HM, Kimemia JK, Mwangi JM (2013). Severity of Antestia bugs (Antestiopsis spp.) and other key insect pests under shaded coffee in Kenya. Int. J. Sci. Nat. 4(2):24-327.

 

Mugo HM, Irungu LW, Ndegwa PN (2012). Population Dynamics of Predacious Phytoseiid Mites, Euseius kenyae and Coffee Thrips, Diarthrothrips coffeae and their Interactions in Coffee Agro-Ecosystems in Kenya. Int. J. Sci. Nat. 3(20):316-323.

 

Mugo HM, Irungu LW, Ndegwa PN (2011). The insect pests of coffee and their distribution in Kenya. Int. J. Sci. Nat. 2(3):564-569.

 

Nguyen KB, Buss EA (2011). Steinernema phyllophagae n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Florida, USA. Nematology, 13:425-442.

 

Orozco RA, Hill T, Stock SP (2013). Characterization and phylogenetic relationships of Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. sonorensis (gamma-Proteobacteria: Enterobacteriaceae), the bacterial symbiont of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis sonorensis (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae). Curr. Microbiol. 66:30-39.

Pesticide Action Network (1998). Growing Coffee with IPM. Pesticide Action Network UK, London. Pest Management Notes No. 9: 1- 4.www.pan-uk.org.

 

Plichta KL, Joyce SA, Clarke D, Waterfield N, Stock SP (2009). Heterorhabditis gerrardi n. sp (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae): the hidden host of Photorhabdus asymbiotica (Enterobacteriaceae: Gamma-Proteobacteria). J. Helminthol. 83:309-320.