Has Hirsutella thompsonii the wherewithal to counter coconut eriophyid mite scourge?
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2007-02
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Abstract
Coconut, an important plantation crop, is currently facing a serious threat from a newly reported mite pest, Aceria guerreronis, which was so far not known to exist in India. This mite which is microscopic, completes its life cycle hiding beneath the perianth of the coconut fruit. In the process, it sucks the sap from the tender nuts (two to seven months old) resulting in their malformations and ultimately 20-30% loss in terms of copra yield. The protected habitat of A. guerreronis shields it from the effect of the chemicals, thus limiting their use in the ongoing control programmes. A 'green' alternative to this, in the form of biological control, using an entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii, promises to be the answer for sustainable management of this minute pest. This article analyses the potential of this fungal candidate to tackle the pest in the light of the research work done in India and elsewhere.
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Current science 2001 v-80 i-7 p-831-836