Jurnal Hama dan Penyakit Tumbuhan Tropika

Pheromone-based monitoring and population dynamics of Spodoptera frungiperda: implications for maize IPM in Lampung Province, Indonesia

Puji Lestari — 2026-02-14

Spodoptera frugiperda is a major pest of maize, capable of causing damage throughout all crop growth stages. This study evaluated the use of sex pheromone traps to monitor adult male populations of S. frugiperda, characterize population dynamics during maize growth, and determine optimal trap density under field conditions. A trap density experiment was conducted using four pheromone trap densities (10, 20, 30, and 40 trap/ha⁻¹), each replicated five times. Adult moth captures were recorded at 7-day intervals from trap installation until harvest. In a separate assessment, the intensity of leaf and ear damage was compared between maize plots equipped with pheromone traps and conventional plots without pheromone deployment. Adult capture data revealed clear population fluctuations, with peak abundance occurring during the early vegetative stage of maize, followed by a gradual decline toward harvest. Increasing trap density significantly increased the number of male moths captured, indicating a density-dependent response to pheromone deployment. Maize plots with pheromone traps consistently exhibited lower leaf and ear damage than conventional plots, demonstrating a strong association between reduced adult populations and decreased crop injury. These results indicate that pheromone traps are effective tools for monitoring S. frugiperda populations and for identifying critical intervention periods within an integrated pest management (IPM) framework. While primarily serving as monitoring devices, higher trap densities also showed potential to reduce mating success when deployed over sufficiently large areas. The species-specific nature of pheromone traps further supports environmentally sustainable pest management by minimizing non-target effects.

First Report of Atherigona orientalis (Diptera: Muscidae) infesting Capsicum annuum in West Sumatra, Indonesia confirmed by COI barcoding

Nguyễn Phước Sang — 2026-02-13

Accurate identification of pest species is fundamental to the development of effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study presents the first molecular identification of the dominant fruit fly species infesting chili (Capsicum annuum L.) in West Sumatra, Indonesia, using DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Adult specimens were collected between October 2024 and March 2025, and COI-specific primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA extracted from adult tissues. The resulting ~685 bp sequences showed 99.0–99.4% similarity and 96–100% query coverage with reference sequences of Atherigona orientalis (e.g., accession codes PQ483146.1, PQ483144.1, EU627707.1) based on BLASTn analysis. Phylogenetic analysis using the Neighbor-Joining method further confirmed species-level identification by clustering the specimens within the A. orientalis clade with strong bootstrap support. This study provides the first molecular evidence of A. orientalis infestation in chili crops in West Sumatra. The findings offer new insights into the pest status of A. orientalis within chili agroecosystems and emphasize the need for targeted pest management strategies. Moreover, these results establish a valuable baseline for future studies on the host range, dispersal patterns, and seasonal dynamics of this emerging pest to support more effective mitigation planning.

Efficacy of phosphonic acid applied by spraying and seed treatment at various concentrations for controlling downy mildew disease in maize

Cipta Ginting — 2025-09-01

Downy mildew, caused by Peronosclerospora spp., is one of the major problems in maize cultivation. Several studies have reported the development of resistance in Peronosclerospora spp. to metalaxyl, which had previously been an effective control method for the disease. Other research suggests that the efficacy of phosphonic acid in controlling downy mildew in maize is inconsistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of seed treatment with phosphonic acid in controlling downy mildew in Bisi 18 maize. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with six replications. The observed variables included the incidence and severity of the disease, the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), maize yield, and the content of tannin and hydroquinone compounds in maize leaves. The results showed that both phosphonic acid applied by spraying and seed treatment significantly reduced the incidence and severity of downy mildew (P < 0.05). However, the concentrations of phosphonic acid used in seed treatment had no significant effect on the disease during 1–7 weeks after inoculation. Furthermore, all phosphonic acid treatments tended to increase the content of tannin and hydroquinone compounds in maize leaves, which should be confirm quantitatively.

Description and molecular characterization of Longidorus orientalis (Loof, 1982) associated with date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Iraq

Ali Z. Abed — 2026-01-26

Soil samples from the rhizosphere of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees were collected from orchards in Basrah Province, southern Iraq, a major region for date palm cultivation. This study aimed to isolate and identify plant-parasitic nematodes associated with date palms. Samples were collected from the root zone surrounding the trees, and nematodes were extracted using a sieving technique. Morphometric measurements were obtained from nematodes mounted on permanent slides. To confirm species identification, DNA was extracted from individual females, and the D2–D3 region of the 28S rRNA gene was amplified using PCR. Morphometric and molecular analyses confirmed the species Longidorus orientalis. Sequencing of the D2–D3 region (553 bp) showed 100% similarity with an Iranian isolate (GenBank accession no. GQ988722.1). The nucleotide sequence of the Iraqi isolate was deposited in GenBank under accession no. PV416847.1. This study represents the first record of L. orientalis associated with date palms in Iraq, highlighting its potential as a pathogenic threat and emphasizing the need for sustainable management strategies to reduce its impact and prevent further spread.

Insecticide application effect on ground dwelling arthropods in edamame crops

Rosma Hasibuan — 2025-07-18

Ground-dwelling arthropods play many important roles in agroecosystems. This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of botanical and synthetic insecticides on soil arthropods in edamame crops. The study included six treatments: soursop leaf extract at concentrations of 1% and 2%, diflubenzuron at concentrations of 0.05% and 0.1%, a common synthetic insecticide (chlorantraniliprole 0.15%), and a control (untreated plants), each with three replications. Pitfall traps were used to sample soil arthropods. A total of 2222 soil arthropods were collected, consisting of 1443 (64.94%) predatory arthropods and 778 (35.06%) detritivorous arthropods. The dominant orders of predators and detritivores were Araneae (61.5%) and Coleoptera (40.2%), respectively. The highest numbers of predatory and detritivorous arthropods were found on edamame plants sprayed with soursop extract, while the lowest numbers were recorded on plants treated with the common synthetic insecticide chlorantraniliprole. These results indicate that chlorantraniliprole negatively impacts the presence of ground-dwelling arthropods in edamame agroecosystems. In contrast, the application of the botanical insecticide (soursop leaf extract) and the synthetic insect growth regulator (diflubenzuron) did not reduce the abundance or diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods in edamame fields.