Abstract:
In Sri Lanka, the coconut industry, vital for the national economy, faces a
significant threat from the recently invaded pest, Coconut White-Fly
(Aleurodicus cocois). The pest's resistance to traditional pesticides and the
tall nature of the palm has highlighted the need for sustainable management
strategies. Therefore, it is important to find an alternative to chemical
pesticides with a systemic nature, which underlines the urgency of adopting
sustainable management strategies. This study aims to develop and evaluate
a plant semiochemical-based management strategy for the Coconut WhiteFly, employing trunk injection as a systemic alternative to chemical
pesticides. The approach seeks to provide a sustainable solution, reducing
pest populations without harming the ecosystem. Plant extracts from
Strychnos nux-Vomica (Goda kaduru) seeds and leaves, neem, mint, and
clove oil were formulated and tested for effectiveness. Four successful
formulations were prepared and tested through direct spraying. Building on
the mortality success, these formulations were further incorporated with
systemic carrier materials like urea, NaCl, KCl, and citric acid, then
evaluated through trunk injection methods. Field experiments revealed
significantly (p<0.005) higher mortality percentages (68%, 95.85%, 93.27%,
and 94.66%) for formulations 1 to 4 compared to the untreated control. Trunkinjected palms exhibited a reduction in the whitefly population over time,
though continuous monitoring was hindered by weather conditions,
emphasizing the need for repeated applications for a successful conclusion.
