THE STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF FULMEKIOLA SERRATA (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) IN SUGARCANE IN SOUTH AFRICALara MansfieldDoctorate DegreeDepartment of Zoology and Entomology,University of Pretoria,Supervisor: Dr. Prem Govender
Introduction • Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) - Orient region • 2004 – Mainland Africa • Currently - South African sugar belt • All stages found within leaf spindle • Damage • Piercing, sucking • Patches & streaks • Red-brown blemishes • Severe damage
Aims • Resolution of thrips species complex and pest status • Molecular identification • Compare - international samples • Taxonomic relationship & Origin • Genetic diversity • Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) – dominant and primary pest species?
Materials & Methods • Representative sample areas • Thrips collection • Spindles opened • Absolute ethanol • Target gene – mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) • Host-associated evolutionary lineages in Thrips (Brunner et al., 2004) • PCR amplification • Universal primers – TL2-N-3014 and C1-J-1718 (Simon et al. 1994) • Sequencing reactions
Tentative outline of PhD • Literature review • The genetic diversity and taxonomy • Mechanisms of sugarcane resistance to thrips • Yield loss and resistance / susceptibility • Control by an entomogenous fungus, Metarhisium anisopliae • Management package
Family Species Thrips tabaci Scirtothrips aurantii Frankliniela schultzei Frankliniela occidentalis Fulmekiola serrata Heliothrips sylvanus Haplothrips nigricornis Crop Cotton, Tobacco, Pineapples, Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Tomatoes Citrus, Macadamias, Mangoes, Proteas Pineapples, Proteas Vines Sugarcane Guavas, Grapevines Proteas, Aloes Thripidae Phlaeothripidae Literature review • Taxonomy
Understanding the mechanisms of sugarcane resistance to thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in South Africa • SASRI project • Aims: • Mechanisms - susceptibility / resistance • Secondary plant metabolites • Relationship between thrips and metabolites • Physical characteristics of leaf • Pilot study – 10 highly colonised & 10 sparsely colonised genotypes • Single analytical method • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (Schauer and Fernie, 2006; Ward et al., 2003) • High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) (Ward et al., 2003)
Yield loss & resistance / susceptibility • Status of susceptible & resistant genotypes • Replicated trials • Aim: • Confirm tolerance or susceptibility • Assess damage • Yield data • Materials & Methods: • Half highly colonised & half sparsely colonised genotypes • Monthly surveys • Termination (harvest) – yield data
An entomogenous fungus, Metarhisium anisopliae, for the control of Fulmekiola serrata (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) • Microbial insecticide - Thrips tabaci in Kenya • Improved efficacy • Isolate of M. anisopliae • Aim: • Strain of entomogenous fungus for control of F. serrata • Trial design: (Maniania et al., 2003) • Randomised block design with four replicates • Treatments • Random and destructive sampling • Incidence of mycosis in thrips recorded • ANOVA • Initial bioassay trials
Packaging a management strategy for sugarcane thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in South Africa • Assimilate information and findings • Control strategies - other crops • Management Package • Extent of economic importance of F. serrata in South Africa • Full scale IPM program could follow • Ultimate aim – develop management options for South African conditions
References • Brunner, P.C., Chatzivassiliou, E.K., Katis, N.I. and Frey, J.E. 2004. Host-Associated genetic differentiation in Thrips tabaci (Insecta; Thysanoptera), as determined from mtDNA sequence data. Heredity 93: 364 – 370. • Maniania, N.K., Sithanantham, S., Ekesi, S., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Baumgartner, J., Lohr, B. and Matoka, C.M. 2003. A field trial of the entomogenous fungus Metarhisium anisopliae for control of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci. Crop Protection 22: 553-559. • Simon C, Frati F, Beckenbach A, Crespi B, Liu H and Flook P. 1994. Evolution, weighing, and phylogenetic utility of mitochondrial gene sequences and a compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers. Ann Entomol Soc Am 87: 651–701. • Schauer, N. and Fernie, A.R. 2006. Plant metabolomics: towards biological function and mechanism. Trends in Plant Science 11(10): 508-516 • Ward, J.L., Harris, C., Lewis, J. and Beale, M.H. 2003. Assessment of 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis as a technique for metabolite fingerprinting of Arabidopsis thaliana. Phytochemistry 62: 949–957
Acknowledgements • SASRI - financial backing • Dr. Prem Govender - constant support and assistance • My parents and growers - assistance in the field.
