Prospects of classical biological control of papaya mealybug in Kenya: Performance of its exotic parasitoid, Acerophagus papayae, under laboratory and field conditions
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Date
2023
Authors
Opisa, Selpha
Makale, Fernadis
Nyasani, Johnson O.
Muvea, Alexander
Kabole, Mellon
Chacha, Duncan
Agboyi, Lakpo Koku
Asudi, George O.
Rehman, Abdul
Luke, Belinda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
Papaya mealybug (PMB), Paracoccus marginatus, native to Mexico and Central America, invaded Kenya in 2016
causing severe yield losses of between 57% and 91% and £2224/ha household economic losses annually. A
classical biological program for PMB involved the importation of Acerophagus papayae, a koinobiont endoparasitoid, from Ghana into the quarantine facility at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization,
Muguga. Laboratory bioassays were conducted to evaluate the suitability of A. papayae to parasitize PMB.
Parasitism rates, sex ratio and development time of the parasitoid were evaluated under choice and no-choice
experimental conditions. High parasitism rates of 72.5 ± 5.9 and 75.0 ± 3.8% were recorded in third instar
and adult female PMB, respectively, and lower parasitism rates of 43.8 ± 4.6 % were recorded in second instars,
under no-choice test conditions. Significant differences in host choice were noted when A. papayae was offered
several host stages, with third instars being preferred over second instars. Adult females were preferred over
third instars. Adult parasitoids were released and monitored for their establishment at six papaya farms in the
Coastal region of Kenya from December 2021 to November 2022. Parasitoid establishment was recovered within
the first month of release. Parasitism levels varied across the sites with the highest parasitism of 72.89 %
recorded in Kwale. Findings from this study highlight the potential of A. papayae as a good candidate for biological control of PMB in Kenya and Africa beyond.
Description
Article
Keywords
Classical biological control, Parasitism rate, Sex ratio, Coastal Kenya, Developmental time, Invasive pest
Citation
Opisa, S., Makale, F., Nyasani, J. O., Muvea, A., Kabole, M., Chacha, D., ... & Rwomushana, I. (2024). Prospects of classical biological control of papaya mealybug in Kenya: Performance of its exotic parasitoid, Acerophagus papayae, under laboratory and field conditions. Crop Protection, 175, 106476.