Title: Biodiversity of beneficial arthropods in tropical tuber crops ecosystem in India

Biography:

MS Palaniswami is a Research Advisory Member of the ICAR – Sugarcane Breeding Institute and Central Potato Research Institute and is the Chief Editor of the journal “ENTOMON” by the Association for Advancement of Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, India. Served as the Head, Division of Crop Protection and as National Project Co-ordinator (Tuber Crops). He has officiated as in charge/Acting Director, CTCRI. USDA/ USIF, NATP and AP Cess Fund projects yielded commendable output. The USDA, Washington awarded special appreciation certificate.  The contribution to biocontrol agents, sex pheromone and kairomone of Cylas formicarius F. and biotypes and biocontrol agents of Bemisia tabaci G. are noteworthy. Received the Chaudhary Devi Lal Outstanding AICRP Award 2007 from the ICAR.  Authored six books, 25 chapters and170 publications in journals. Guided scholars for doctoral, Post- Doctoral and MSc and one of his students received Jawaharlal Nehru Award for the outstanding research doctoral thesis – 2006. Distinguished Service Award – 2015 from the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science. ICAR - AICRPTC Golden jubilee award 2018 for valuable contributions

Abstract

Tropical tuber crops play an important role in catering the food needs especially in the context of burgeoning population. Sweet potato, cassava, elephant foot yam, taro and yams are major tropical tuber crops. Many insects and mites are associated with these crops either as pests causing economic damage or as beneficial ones as natural bio-control agents. More than 150 species of insect and mite infest these crops andimportant are - sweet potato weevil and vine borer damaging vines and tubers; cassava scale insects, mites, mealy bugs and whiteflies causing defoliation; aphids, mealy bugs and caterpillars on taro & elephant foot yam, and scale insects and leaf feeders on yams. Major natural enemies of sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius are - ectoparasitoids - Rhaconotus menippus N., Bracon sp., Pachybracon sp. & Spathius dido N. and predators - Tetramorium smithi, Tetramorium bicarinatum (Ny), Monomorium destructor (J), M. pharaones, Solenopsis geminate and Euborellia stali D. Many more parasitoids and predators are also reported as beneficial arthropods of sweet potato pests. Cassava scale Aonidomytilus albus (C) infests stems, shoots and even sometimes leaf petioles and leaf undersides. Scale insects brown scale Saissetia nigra, Saissetia coffeae (W), Parasaissetia nigra N. and Lepidosaphes sp also infest cassava. Larvae and adults of coccenellids – Chilocorus nigritus F. Syemnus quimeti Muls., Chilomenus sexmaculatus F. and  Stethorus pariepunctatus Kapur prey on the scales. As many as 50 natural enemies are known to attack the whiteflies in different locations. Aphelimid parasitoids often regulate the field population of whitefly up to 12.1%. Parasitoids recorded on B. tabaci include Encarsia transvena (Tim), E. bimacualata (H&Po), E. nigriphala (Do), E. strenua (S), E. haitiensis (Do), E. guadeloupe (V), E. azimi (Ha), E. pergandiella (Ho), Eretmocerus mundus (Mer) and Eretmocerus sp.  On spiraling whitefly, Encarsia quadeloupae V and E. haitiensis are important. Predators mostly generalists and few host specific have been recorded in India. The major predators are coccinellids and chrysopids.  Among the coccinellids, Anegleis cardoni (We), Anegleis perrotteti (Mu), Axinoscymnus puttarudriahi Ka & Mu, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F), Jauravia spp. and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mu are common. Mealybug - Paracoccus marginatus is known to attack many crops including cassava and Acerophagus papaya parasitoid play an important role in its management. Madeira mealybug - Phenacoccus madeirensis damage cassava in parts of Karnataka and the parasitoids noted are Allotropa sp., Anagyrus sinope, Anagyrus quadrii and Anagyrus loeckii.  Biotic agents of spidermites include Coccenellids- Pharoscymnus hornii Weise, Stethorus gilvifrons Muls., thrips – Scolothrips indicus P. and phytoseiid mites – Amblyseius longispinosus Evans.  Aphids - Aphis gossypii Glov and Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq., infest aroids. Aphelinus mali H., Aphelinus sp., Coccophagus cowperi Gir. and Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus May. are parasitoids on aphids.  Aphidophagous predators are Menochilus sexmaculatus F., Verania discolor F., Pseudospidimerus circumflexus Mots., V. inops Muls., Ischiodon scutellaris F.  and spiders. Aspidiella hartii is a key pest of Yam (Dioscorea Spp.) in field and storage. Two parasitoids Adelencyrtus moderatus H. and Physcus comperi H often regulate pest population. Beneficial arthropods found in these crops are largely the natural enemies of the insect and mite pests. Natural enemies are indispensable mortality factors operating in any ecosystem. Conservation and utilization of indigenous parasitoids and predators are paramount necessity and can provide a long term sustainable ecologically safe pest management.