Study of pest incidence on female oil palm inflorescences in West Africa.
Female oil palm inflorescences may be attacked by 3 pests: the curculionids Prosoestus minor and P. sculptilis and the pyralid Elaeidiphilos adustalis. The biological cycle of these insects was studied. They destroy the stigmata or mine a gallery inthe gynoecium of female flowers. In general, female inflorescences are attacked by at least 2 pest species, of which P. minor is the most frequent and most numerous. This species is accompanied by P. sculptilis or E. adustalis, or sometimes both species at the same time. Attack incidence was studied theoretically by insect introduction, then under natural conditions, using a visual observation scale. Damage caused by these insects invariably leads to very significant falls in the fruit weight:bunch weight ratio. The mesocarp/fruit weight is not affected, but the oil/fresh mesocarp rate can be in the event of severe P. sculptilis attacks. As a result, there can be a considerable reduction in oil extraction rates at the mill. Trials of chemical treatments show that it is possible to provide female inflorescences with effective protection against attack by such insects by spraying all the female inflorescences regularly with Evisect S [thiocyclam].
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| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | ng |
| Subjects: | Anatomía animal., Control de insectos., Control de plagas., Control químico., Curculionidae., elaeidiphilus, Fisiología vegetal., Inflorescencias., Insectos dañinos., Prosoestus, Pyralidae., Respuesta de la planta., Té., Palma de aceite, |
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