TITLE:
Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin
AUTHORS:
A. Coffi, R. Philippe, I. Glitho
KEYWORDS:
Coelaenomenodera lameensis; Leaf Miner; Oil Palm; Elaeis spp
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.9,
August
29,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Preferences of
different oil palm crosses in the station of Pobè in Benin were tested on Coelaenomenodera lameensis by monitoring the natural population
for 7 consecutive years. Experiments monitoring of developmental stages of the
insect were performed on material types Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera. Observations were
performed every two weeks on leaves of different ranks (25, 17 or 9) depending
on the degree of defoliation by counting the different stages of insect
development on leaflets. The results showed that the evolution of pest density
is a function of species and the origin of the materials being compared. Population
densities of different stages of C.
lameensis were more abundant in the crosses from Yocoboué where average
population indices were higher at all stages of development from early observations.
By contrast, in crosses La Mé, Yangambi and Deli, the
numbers of larvae, pupae and adults were lower. Among these three crosses
infestation was more abundant in La Mé, followed by Yangambi and Deli. E. oleifera is much less or not
attacked. The stages of development (larvae and adults) were also differently
held in oil palm origins in comparison. The larval population is significantly
important during the short rainy season and lesser important during the dry
season. These results may contribute to the development of suitable materials for
the genetic improvement of breeding tolerant oil palm material to leaf miner.