Reduction of spread of Cape St Paul wilt disease (CSPWD) of coconut by insecticidal hot-fogging and removal of diseased palms

English

A study was conducted to determine an effective method of reducing the spread of Cape St Paul Wilt disease of coconut. Hot-fogging with Diazinon and cutting out of diseased palms regularly (TI), hot-fogging with Chlorpyrifos and cutting out of diseased palms regularly (T2), and cutting out only were compared with the control, untreated check (TO). Hot-fogging with chlorpyrifos at 500 ml / 6.0 1 of diesel per ha followed by cutting out al] diseased palms was the most effective method. The apparent rate of spread of the disease declined by 48 per cent. Cumulative percent of diseased palms was below 30 per cent after about 2 years and population of suspected insect vectors was lower under this treatment compared to the untreated check. Predominant auchenorrhyncha caught in sticky traps were species of derbidae, Myndus adiopodomumeensis and Nzinga palmivora. The number of these species decreased considerably in the first 2 months following treatment by insecticidal hot-fogging. The results of the study showed that the spread of CSPWD in a field could be reduced by hot-fogging with chlorpyrifos and cutting out of diseased palms or cutting out alone of diseased palms promptly and regularly as they show initial symptom expression.

Nkansah-Poku, J.; Dery, S. K.; Philippe, R.