Endang Sulistyowati

Conopomorpha cramerella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in the Malay Archipelago: Genetic Signature of a Bottlenecked Population?

Abstract Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is a devastating pest of cacao, Theobroma cacao L. (Sterculiaceae), in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Malay Archipelago. We surveyed genetic variation at two unlinked loci, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and nuclear elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), in C. cramerella from throughout most of their known geographic range. Given the enormous area sampled, COI variation is extremely low; EF-1α variation may be low as well, but this is more difficult to assess due to the lack of appropriate data sets for comparison. Our results strongly suggest that sampled C. cramerella populations have experienced at least one bottleneck in their recent past, although the possibility that COI variation has been reduced by a selective sweep cannot be excluded based on available data. We suggest that one or more bottlenecks likely occurred when C. cramerella from an as yet unknown source population, either within or outside the Malay Archipelago, became established on cacao, which is not endemic to this region (Conopomorpha is an Old World genus and cacao originated in the New World). Identification of the source of this pest could be important in efforts to identify natural enemies for biological control.

On-farm selection for quality and resistance to pest/diseases of cocoa in Sulawesi: (i) performance of selections against cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella

In Sulawesi, Indonesia, cocoa smallholdings are seriously affected by the cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella, CPB). CPB is detrimental to both cocoa production and bean quality, and is a major concern to cocoa smallholders, processors, exporters and the international market. An Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-funded project was initiated to develop a locally applicable, farmer-participatory methodology for selecting and testing promising cocoa genotypes on farms. In a trial established on a farm in South-East Sulawesi, local Indonesian and international cocoa selections were propagated clonally by side-grafting onto mature trees of mixed genotype and evaluated for 2 years for pod value, quality and resistance to pest/diseases. Local selections were based on the observations of farmers, extension officers or researchers and included a number of clones specifically selected for resistance (or susceptibility, as checks) to CPB. Our results on the CPB-infestation of 34 clones in the trial indicate the potential of employing on-farm selection and testing to improve cocoa farms. Severity of infestation was determined in ripe pods according to whether the proportion of beans damaged by CPB larvae was light (less than 10%), moderate (10–50%) or severe (over 50%). Total CPB incidence in ripe pods for most of the clones was high, exceeding 75%, and was correlated with severe and light incidence, both of which varied more. The data support a model that predicts severe infestation inflicting bean losses occurs above a critical threshold of total CPB incidence. The cumulative CPB incidence in infested pods was significantly lower in a local selection, Aryadi 2, which also had fewer larval entry holes and a low exit/entry ratio indicating a degree of resistance to CPB. The incidence of lightly infested pods was significantly lower in the susceptible controls. Pod hardness was moderately high in Aryadi 2. However, VSD3 (a local selection), Scavina12, KKM22 and BR25, had low levels of severe infestation and/or high incidences of light infestation, but had relatively soft pods. This suggests that factors in addition to pod hardness might be involved in resistance, a possibility also supported by the positive correlation of CPB incidence in ripe pods with that in immature pods and the larger seasonal fluctuations of CPB incidence observed in resistant clones, compared to susceptible clones. In a mixed genotype stand, the lower CPB incidence observed in some clones might be explained partly by pest non-preference.

The Effectiveness of Lemongrass, Garlic, and Tree Marigold as Botanical Insecticides in Controlling of Cocoa Mirid,Helopeltis antonii

Control of cocoa mirid, Helopeltis antoniiso far uses chemicalinsecticides as the main alternative. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the environment friendly control techniques. Lemongrass, garlic, and tree marigold have been known as an efectiveness botanical insecticides for horticulture. A research with aim to study the effectiveness of lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus), garlic (Allium sativum) and tree marigold (Tithonia diversifolia)for controlling H. antoniihave been carried out in cocoa plantation at Kaliwining experimental garden of Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute. The research was arranged in split plot design in three replication, with the main plot infestation time of H. antoniiand sub-plot kind of botanical insecticides. Concentration of botanical insecticides used in this study was 5% and applied on 12 cm cocoa pod in length by using knapsack sprayer. Infestation of H. antonii nymphes were conducted before and after insecticide applications. Observation was conducted on the mortality and the lesion of H. antonii. The results of orthogonal contrast test on feeding activity based on the number of lesion and percentage of mortality of H. antoniishowed that there were significantly different between insecticide treatment and control, between chemical insecticide and botanical insecticides, but there was no significant different on kind of botanical insecticides. The lowest number of lesion due to H. antonii was shown by chemical insecticide with an average 34.0, followed by garlic and lemongrass botanical insecticide with number of lesion were 51.2 and 64.7 respectively, whereas the number of lesion in the control reached 84.2. The highest percentage mortality of H. antoniiwas shown by chemical insecticide with active ingredient teta-cypermethrin at 84.3%, followed by garlic, lemon grass and tree marigold botanical insecticide were 65.8%; 65.0%; and 63.8% respectively and significantly different with control by 8,3%. Based on no significantly different on the effect of time investation of H. antoniion their feeding activity and mortality, it can be concluded that the three botanical insecticides tested have a mode of action both as a repellent and contact poison. Key words: cocoa, Helopeltis antonii, botanical insecticide, lemongrass, garlic, marigold, teta-cypermethrin

Development of Monitoring Technique for Cocoa Pod Borer(Conopomorpha cramerella Snell.)

Effectiveness and effiency of CPB control were influenced by the right time of control. To decided this methods, information about CPB infestation was needed. An experiment had been conducted to get a simple and accurate technique for CPB monitoring. The experiment was located in Tirawuta, a smallholder cocoa plantation in Kolaka district, South-East Sulawesi. The evaluated monitoring pods techniques using observing all ripe cocoa pod as standard method, i.e. pod colour changes as an indicator of CPB attack, observation on 100 pods during harvesting, moth trapping and observation on the presence of the holes caused by CPB. The collected data expressed as the percentage of CPB attack and compared with each other. Based on the Chi 2 value and time consumed for monitoring, it could be concluded that the observation of 100 attacked pods during harvesting was the most accurate technique closest to the standard method, with a lowest 2 value and not significantly different to standard method. On the contrary the visual observation on the pod colour showed the less accurate technique with  2 value of 242,25–335,33 followed by the bservation on the present of holes on the pod with  2 value of 243,45–282,87. Furthermore, monitoring technique by moth trapping could not be compared with the other techniques since their unit was unequal. However, no insect could be trapped during a night trapping using either chemical trapping or sticky trap. Development of sticky trap by variation in trap colour could be trapped of CPB moth during more than one week. Red trap was the most interesting (preferred) for the CPB followed by the yellow, white and blue ones. There was significant correlation between number of tree sample and the time needed for observation. Larger size of tree sample consumed a longer time for the observation, but in visual symptom and entry/exit hole observation methods, larger sample size did not significantly influence its accuracy. It’s concluded that both of monitoring technique were not a converge estimation. Key words : Cocoa, cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella, Integrated Pest Management, monitoring technique.