Tree of Life Faces Threats of Cocolisap PDF

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TREE OF LIFE FACES THREATS OF COCOLISAP By: Aries N. Oliveros The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) popularly known as the "Tree of Life" for its variety of uses such as food, lumber, medicine, and crafts cries for help to prevent further damages caused by the Coconut Scale Insect (CSI) or cocolisapin Region IV-A composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (CALABARZON). Arcadia De Luna, Project Development Officer Ill of PCA Region IV-A, said that the cocolisap was first detected in Tanauan, Batangas in 2010 and infested 87 municipalities in CALABARZON. Aspidiotus rigidus is an introduced species of parasitoid insect from Indonesia. It is a leaf-sucking insect that kills coconut trees and has very few natural predators. The male species are winged while the female are wingless and stationary. This species has a waxy scale cover anchored near the midrib on the underside of an infested leaflet. It inserts its "needle-like" mouth in leaf tissues and sucks the juice. "The species was only identified in 2014 through DNA barcoding. DNA markers showed that mixed population of the two species now co-exist," De Luna said. Next generation insects spread towards the tip of the fronds of older leaves. By the time CSI is on the tip of the frond, those on the basal portion have dried. Yellowing of leaves is often associated with outbreak population level, but yellowing is not the sole indicator of the pest. Found underside of older leaves and young nut, Aspidiotus rigidus can be dispersed by the wind and birds and can infest coconut leaves, seedlings, and coconut fruit. CSI first infect the basal portion of fronds of older leaves. Since farmers cannot harvest coconut, PCA's private partners paid them when they agreed to have their coconut trees to undergo pruning and treatment. The money became a financial assistance to farmers to help them support their industry during the height of the cocolisap infestation. “PCA encountered problems with farmers who were hesitant to allow PCA to spray and inject insecticide on their coconut trees because they believed that the pest was the same as the pest they encountered in the past. Also, the pest was not immediately identified, so the cocolisap rapidly spread in the region without appropriate contingency measures done," De Luna said

TREE OF LIFE FACES THREATS OF COCOLISAP By: Aries N. Oliveros Farmers thought that the pest infesting their farms were Aspediotus destructor, an endemic species Of insect in the Philippines in 2011. Perez stated that UPLB taxonomists initially identified the scale insect as Aspidiotus destructor, a species endemic to the country; however, it was found later to be a new species in the country. The government initially used coco oil-based pesticide treatment in CSI infested farms. However, re-infestation and outbreak persisted. “The government through the Scale Insect Emergency Action Program (SIEAP) counteracts cocolisap. Specifically, PCA has been using Neocotinoids pesticide that attacks the nervous system of insects and cause their death, is toxic to insects but relatively benign to mammals, including humans, and is effective under very low concentrations and are not persistent in the environment," explained Marietta Perez, Agriculturist II and Technology Staff in PCA Region IV-A. Specifically, Dinotefuran, the newest, third generation formulation, which is Category IV in toxicity, was given certification by Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) for emergency use for coconut. This certification means it is effective and safe. "This pesticide has less residue and low toxicity level, is green-labeled and traces are gone in 60 days," Perez stressed. The general protocol for insecticide application includes pruning of leaves, trunk injection of systemic insecticide (day 1), spraying of organic insecticide (30 days after leaf pruning), release of bio control agents (two weeks after organic spray), and fertilization. Approximately, 2,698,415 coconut trees were infested and 1,357,155 of which were pruned while 1, 297, 560 were injected with Neocotinoid. "The solution is to deploy the family of insecticides, which are systemic meaning the active ingredients get into the plant parts and sap. The susceptible insects eating the leaves and stems and/or sucking the plant sap die or fail to reproduce," stated Perez. In 2014, PCA served as lead government agency in charge of organizing, monitoring, and evaluating. Starting in 2015, it will focus on extension services and monitoring and surveillance because actual treatment of infected coconut trees through trunk injection will be done by the local government units and funds will be downloaded to them.

TREE OF LIFE FACES THREATS OF COCOLISAP By: Aries N. Oliveros The CSI task force research and development team is composed of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM), Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), University of the Philippines, Los Bathos (UPLB), and Department of Agriculture - Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC). PCA conducted information dissemination campaigns through a regional radio program. PCA also established farmer field school, educating local farmers for eight sessions in 18 sites in CALABARZON and tapped farmers to be barangay-based workers who will identify insects properly and disseminate information to fellow farmers. Bio-surveillance system using satellite imagery has been validated on the ground. CSI is already a severe agricultural problem and rapid bio surveillance and early warning systems have to be put in place. Despite the problem of cocolisap control on the difficulty and costs of applying pesticides on tall coconut trees, many of which grow on steep hillsides and inaccessible places. One-half of the infected area in CALABARZON was treated in 2014. "I hope farmers will continue to support the anti-cocolisap projects of PCA and media firms to help the agency to disseminate information until this menace is completely stopped," De Luna said....