Non-chemical Approaches Suppressed Damage and Oviposition Rate of Date Palm Hopper, Ommatissus lybicus

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Agricultural Jihad of Mohr (Varavi Division), Agricultural Organization of Fars province, Iran.

2 Plant Protection Research Department, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Abstract

Chemical application is the most common practice widely used against date palm hopper (DPH), Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin (Hem.: Tropiduchidae). Herein, we studied the efficiency of non-chemical approaches in suppressing DPH damage in the field condition. The study was carried out in a Randomized Complete Block design (RCB) with eight treatments, spraying micronized Kaolin (5% SP); Volck oil (1.5% EC); Citogate oil (1.5% EC); coconut oil soap (1.5% EC); yellow cards (six cards per 10 mature leaves and four cards per10 mature leaves); Diazinon (60% EC) and control, replicated three times. Results revealed that all treatments caused a sharp decrease in population of DPH (both adults and nymphs) up to the end of the third week and Diazinon was the most influential treatment (F = 623.92; df = 7; P <0.01, F = 367.71; df = 7; P <0.01, F = 121.11; df = 7; P <0.01 for the first, second and third week after the experiment, respectively). This result was also confirmed by a decrease in the number of eggs laid by females DPH (F= 53.89; d.f=7; P< 0.01). All treatments significantly diminished the egg laying of DPH compared with control. The two of non-chemical treatments, Kaolin and coconut oil soap showed high efficiency in decreasing population of DPH without destructive effects on the environment, we can suggest these two eco-friendly products  be used safely against Dubas bug. In addition, kaolin may contribute in decreasing the sunburn effects which is suggested to be studied by further research. 

Keywords