Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
IPM OF THE MEXICAN RICE BORER IN SUGARCANE AND RICE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0191875
Grant No.
2002-34103-11957
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2002-03084
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 15, 2002
Project End Date
May 14, 2005
Grant Year
2002
Program Code
[QQ]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100
Performing Department
ENTOMOLOGY
Non Technical Summary
The Mexican rice borer (MRB) is a potentially serious insect pest threat to rice and sugarcane in Texas and Louisiana. In 1980, MRB was introduced from Mexico into the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and immediately caused a complete crop failure in some fields. Since invading the Texas Rice Belt in the late 1980's, the MRB has become an increasingly severe problem. A new study in rice sustained a 50% yield loss in untreated plots. Sugarcane is a $2.3 billion/500,000 acre industry in Louisiana, and rice is grown on over 700,000 acres in Louisiana and Texas. So far, MRB does not occur in Southwest Louisiana, but pheromone trapping in 2000 and 2001 detected MRB in seven new Texas counties, within 60 miles of sugarcane in Southeast Texas and 120 miles of sugarcane in Louisiana. Without adequate controls, MRB is on the verge of becoming a major problem to these multi-state agricultural systems. Studies are proposed to monitor the spread of MRB, develop and implement IPM programs using resistant varieties and environmentally friendly insecticides, and develop and implement regulatory actions when necessary. Extension and regulatory personnel will play a vital role in helping to monitor MRB spread. IPM programs will be based on data generated by this project to determine MRB density/damage relationships and pest population dynamics relative to crop phenology. Information from population dynamics studies will be used to identify the best time for application of management tools. Results of experiments will be extended to clientele using electronic and traditional outreach technologies.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
80%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2161530113040%
2162020113060%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
2020 - Sugar cane; 1530 - Rice;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
General Objective: To develop and implement management strategies involving the Mexican Rice Borer (MRB) and its continuing movement, which threatens the sugarcane and rice industries of Southeast Texas and Louisiana. Specific Objectives: 1. Monitor the spread and intensity of MRB populations in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana by use of pheromone traps and larval sampling in various host plants. 2. Monitor for MRB populations around sugar mills in Louisiana receiving and processing sugarcane from Southeast Texas by use of pheromone traps. 3. Develop management practices and reduce pesticide use by rice and sugarcane producers through assessment and selection of MRB resistant varieties, application of effective environmentally friendly insecticides, and adoption of IPM programs based on MRB density/damage functions and ecology. 4. Transfer improved MRB management practices (derived from this project) for adoption by sugarcane and rice stakeholders by use of traditional and novel communications and other technology.
Project Methods
This project utilizes labor, travel, and supplies in conducting pest density/damage monitoring and population dynamics studies on the Mexican Rice Borer (MRB) in the upper portion of the Texas Rice Belt, the sugarcane areas of Southeast Texas and Southwestern Louisiana, and MRB monitoring around Louisiana mills processing sugarcane from Southeast Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. The project expands cooperative work among entomologists, plant breeders, quarantine personnel (State Departments of Agriculture), and extension specialists in Louisiana and Texas. County agricultural extension agents in designated areas of both states will participate. An initial portion of the investigation is the use of pheromone trapping and larval sampling in various grass host plants (rice, sorghum, corn, and sugarcane, etc.) in a contiguous area southwest of Houston to Southwest Louisiana near Lake Charles. Sampling will extend into the previously known range of MRB (Calhoun, Jackson, Victoria, and Matagorda Counties) and recently discovered range (Brazoria, Colorado, Ft. Bend, Waller, Wharton, Austin, and Harris counties) in Southeast Texas and expand toward the new sugarcane areas of Southeast Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. Southeast Texas counties where MRB has not been found but where traps will be located are Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange. Parishes in Southwest Louisiana where traps will be located are Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermilion. Traps will also be located at two sugarcane mills in St. Mary and Iberia Parishes. These mills have processed cane from Southwest Louisiana and are projected to continue receiving cane from Southeast Texas in the fall of 2002. The program will monitor expansion of MRB present range, and develop and institute appropriate control and regulatory actions when necessary. At least two MRB pheromone traps will be set-up in each county or parish adjacent to susceptible host fields (preferably sugarcane or rice) beginning April 2002 and continuing through November of each study year. Traps will be monitored every 2 weeks by Experiment Station, Extension Service (County Agents), and/or cooperating State Department of Agriculture personnel. Monitoring will consist of removing moths from each trap, changing Luresept MRB septa every 4 weeks, replacing moth insecticidal strips, transporting specimens to the laboratory for identification, and any additional necessary serving or replacement of traps. Suspect moths in the family Crambidae will be inspected by the project primary investigators with verification by Dr. Chris Carlton, LAES Systematist at Baton Rouge. In regions where MRB presently occurs in heavy populations (Johnson Co. - Ganado and Hidalgo Co. - Weslaco, TX) replicated variety resistance, insecticide, density/damage population dynamics studies will be conducted on rice and sugarcane. Management strategies and tactics will be developed and tested. Results will be utilized to update location maps of MRB distribution, and develop action plans with extension personnel, state regulatory agencies, and other producer organizations.

Progress 05/15/02 to 05/14/05

Outputs
A three year study involved in monitoring pest movement, and assessing and developing management tactics for the Mexican rice borer (MRB) has quantified an annual invasive pest expansion of ca. 23 km per year since 1980 when the pest was discovered devastating sugarcane in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. In the Fall of 2004, MRB was detected by research project monitoring for the first time (via pheromone trapping) in the new sugarcane producing region of southeastern Texas. A limited quarantine by regulatory agencies impeded transport of sugarcane into Louisiana for processing and cost Texas growers an estimated $300,000. Proactive management research has indicated that insecticides in sugarcane can only provide effective MRB control soon after egg hatch. Insecticide control in rice is substantially more effective likely due to the less cryptic plant/insect relationship. Newly discovered commercially resistant rice lines include several hybrids (CLXL 8 and XP 723) and Chenier. Though certain older commercially available sugarcane lines provide some resistance, all of those recently released (LCP 85-384, HoCP 96-540, HoCP 91-555, L 97-128, Ho 95-988) show high susceptibility. Agronomic conditions enhancing plant vigor also enhance effective management and potentially reduce area-wide pest populations. One field study of main crop rice in Matagorda County (TX) had 87% damaged culms. Stem borer populations throughout the Texas rice area showed 20% MRB in 2004. MRB infestations/damage relationships indicate that substantially higher pest populations are produced in some commercial rice cultivars as compared to a similar area of sugarcane with potentially lower economic injury levels. Management research also indicates the potential requirement for alternate host plant studies to reduce area wide MRB populations.

Impacts
Because this research /extension project helps scientists and regulatory personnel stay aware of the MRB movement, the detrimental effects of the now instituted quarantine are minimized (compared to quarantining the entire crop). Research has now shown that multiple control tactics (resistant varieties, irrigation, insecticides) must be compatibly implemented to enhance appropriate levels of MRB pest suppression, also reducing area-wide pest populations. Comparative potential yield losses in sugarcane with similar MRB infestations observed in several Texas counties were greater than $4,000/ha. Biological resistance to MRB has been identified in both rice and sugarcane, but the major breeding programs have not developed high yielding MRB resistant varieties.

Publications

  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., T.E. Reagan, B.L. Legendre, W. Akbar, J. Amador, J. da Silva, S. Alvarez, M. Garcia, R.R. Saldana, and M.O. Way. 2005. Integrated Pest Management in Sugarcane. Annual Sugarcane Research Report from Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station, Weslaco, TX, to the Field Operations Committee of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. pp 51-58.
  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., W. Akbar and T.E. Reagan. 2005. Mexican rice borer control, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests (In Press). Reagan, T.E., M.O. Way, and F.P.F. Reay-Jones. 2005. Monitoring the movement of the Mexican rice borer from the Texas rice belt toward Louisiana. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 119-120.
  • Hardy, T.E., T.E. Reagan, and M.O. Way. 2005. Monitoring of pheromone traps and regulatory actions. Louisiana Agriculture 48(1):7.
  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., D. K. Pollet and B. Legendre. 2005. Economics of the Mexican rice borer. Louisiana Agriculture 48(1):8.
  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., T.E. Reagan, M.O. Way and B.L. Legendre. 2005. Concepts of Areawide Management of the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Sugar Cane International. 23(3): 20-24. (Invited refereed paper for international journal).
  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., A.T. Showler, T.E. Reagan, B.L. Legendre, M.O. Way, and E.B. Moser. 2005. Integrated Tactics for Managing the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Sugarcane. Environmental Entomology 34: IN PRESS.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
This project involves joint research and extension activities with Texas A&M (Dr. M. O. Way); both programs interact extensively with sugarcane and rice growers, ag consultants, county extension agents, and state departments of agriculture. The northward and eastward movement of Eoreuma loftini, the Mexican rice borer (MRB), based on adult pheromone trap monitoring, after expanding its range to Galveston County in 2002, showed an 80% increase in populations (Galveston Co.) in 2003, and expanded into two additional counties (Liberty with 413 moths collected and Chambers with 6 moths observed) in the fall of 2004. Because the Chambers County MRB discovery was adjacent to sugarcane, an immediate pre-determined 1-mile quarantine radius was instituted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry/Texas Department of Agriculture compliance program preventing the transport of cane to Louisiana for processing. Plant resistance evaluations at Ganado (TX) of two new sugarcane varieties showed high levels of susceptibility in L97-128 (47.4%) and Ho95-988 (57%) compared to the commercial LCP85-384 with 47% MRB bored internodes. A 2 year study at Ganado evaluating sugarcane management strategies of MRB resistant cultivars, irrigation and insecticidal control showed that with heavy population pressure (>60-70% MRB bored internodes in susceptible check), all management strategies were necessary to prevent yield loss. Drought stress increased levels of several free amino acids in sugarcane leaves, some which are essential for insect growth and development which may have exacerbated MRB infestations. In a rice host plant resistance test, the hybrid rice varieties CLXL8 and XP723 were more resistant to MRB followed by Chenier, Cocodrie and Jefferson. Priscilla was the most susceptible with a 2700 kg/ha loss in yield. Site visit field days for county extension agents and consultants were conducted at a research field in Jackson County, Texas during each of the last 3 years.

Impacts
Because this research /extension project helps scientists and regulatory personnel stay aware of the MRB movement, the detrimental effects of the now instituted quarantine are minimized (compared to quarantining the entire crop). Research has now shown that multiple control tactics (resistant varieties, irrigation, insecticides) must be compatibly implemented to enhance appropriate levels of MRB pest suppression, also reducing area-wide pest populations. Comparative potential yield losses in sugarcane with similar MRB infestations observed in Jackson County were greater than $4,000/ha. Biological resistance to MRB has been identified in both rice and sugarcane, but the major breeding programs have not developed high yielding MRB resistant varieties.

Publications

  • Bowen, Diane and M.O. Way (eds.) 2004. 2004 Rice Production Guidelines. B-6131. Texas Cooperative Extension/Texas Agricultural Experiment Station/USDA-ARS, 57 pp.
  • Reagan, T.E., M.O. Way, and F.P.F. Reay-Jones. 2004. New Pest Management Research for Stem Borers. Texas Rice. 4(5): 3-5.
  • Reagan, T.E., F.P.F. Reay-Jones, B.L. Legendre, M.O. Way, and J. Amador. 2005. Slowing down the Mexican rice borer. Louisiana Agriculture. Winter Issue, pp.6-8.
  • Reagan, T.E., F.P.F Reay-Jones, B.L. Legendre, S. Zhang, M.O. Way and J. Amador. 2004. Effects of drought stress and sugarcane cultivar on Mexican rice borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Sugar Journal 67(1): 31.
  • Reagan, T.E., M.O. Way, F.P.F. Reay-Jones, C. Schneider, J. Vawter, and B.L. Legendre. 2004. Ganado Site Visit: Mexican Rice Borer and Sugarcane Borer: Sugarcane and Rice Research. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, La. 30pp.
  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., T.E. Reagan, M.O. Way and B.L. Legendre. 2005. Concepts of areawide management of the Mexican rice borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Proceedings of the XXVth International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. Silver Jubilee Congress. Guatemala, Guatemala City. 25(2):715-722.
  • Reagan, T.E., M.O. Way, and F.P.F. Reay-Jones. 2004. Effects of drought stress and sugarcane variety on resistance to the Mexican rice borer. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Pp. 97-99.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
This project involves joint research and extension activities with Texas A&M (Dr. M.O. Way); both programs interact extensively with sugarcane and rice growers, ag consultants and state departments of agriculture. The northward and eastward movement of Eoreuma loftini, the Mexican rice borer (MRB), invading one or more new counties based on adult pheromone trap monitoring during previous years, did not seem to expand its range beyond Galveston County in 2003. However, the season total trap catches in 2003 (3755 moths from late May to December) showed an 80 percent increase over the Galveston counts of 2002 (2069 moths), indicating a major buildup on the edge of MRB range, even though none have been collected in the Louisiana parishes or in the extreme eastern Texas counties (Orange, Chambers, Liberty, Hardin, Jefferson). Studies involving drought stress on MRB susceptible (LCP 85-384) and resistant (HoCP 85-845) sugarcane varieties at Ganado, Texas (4 rep field) showed percent bored internodes (and moth emergence/ha) of 71.4 percent (200,000) for the susceptible non-irrigated vs. 40.9 percent (137,000) susceptible irrigated, and 44.7 (118,000) resistant non-irrigated vs. 23.2 percent (64,000) resistant irrigated, with P<0.05 for percent bored internodes and P=0.06 for moth emergence/ha in the field. Insecticidal controls were only effective in combination with irrigation, but were most effective with all three management strategies. Greenhouse ovipositional preference studies conducted at Weslaco showed a strong Mexican rice borer attraction for drought stressed plants of either variety with senescing foliage (P<0.05). Host plant resistant studies in rice showed a strong trend from most resistant to stem borer susceptible (MRB and sugarcane borer): XP 710, XL 8, CLXL 8, Jefferson, CL161, Cocodrie, Wells, Cheniere, Francis and Priscilla. Depending on variety planted, these results show a severe potential for rice yield losses, sometimes more than 50 percent.

Impacts
The Mexican rice borer causes up to a 50 percent yield loss in some east Texas rice fields and has a potential (much greater than 50 percent) to devastate the current sugarcane cultivated varieties when it gets to Louisiana. Potential management will likely come from the development and production of resistant varieties (sugarcane and rice), insecticides (especially in rice), and cultural practices to minimize stress (drought and nutrition) to enhance production quality (primarily sugarcane).

Publications

  • Reay-Jones, F.P.F., M.O. Way, M. Setamou, B.L. Legendre, and T.E. Reagan. 2003. Resistance to the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Among Louisiana and Texas Sugarcane Cultivars. J. Econ. Entomol. 96: 1929-1934.
  • Reagan, T. E., and M.O. Way. 2003. Ganado Site Visit: Mexican Rice Borer and Sugarcane Borer and Rice Research. LSU AgCenter, USDA, TAES. Sep. 17. Ganado, TX. 24pp.
  • Reagan, T. E., F.P.F. Reay-Jones, B. L. Legendre, M. Setamou, and M. O. Way. 2003. Resistance to the Mexican rice borer among Louisiana and Texas sugarcane varieties. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 102-103.
  • Reagan, T. E., M. O. Way, F.P.F. Reay-Jones, and F. R. Posey. 2003. Monitoring the movement of the Mexican rice borer toward sugarcane and rice in the upper Texas rice belt and western Louisiana. In Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report. Louisiana Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 99-101.
  • Saldana, R.R., J. Amador, M. Setamou, F.P.F. Reay-Jones, B.L. Legendre, and T.E. Reagan. 2003. Integrated Pest Management in Sugarcane. Annual Sugarcane Research Report from Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station, Weslaco, TX, to the Field Operations Committee of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. pp 1-18.


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
This project involves joint research and extension activities with Texas A&M (Dr. M.O. Way); both programs interact extensively with sugarcane and rice growers, ag consultants and state departments of agriculture. The northward and westward movement of Eoreuma loftini, the Mexican rice borer (MRB), was monitored with pheromone traps and field infestations in the Texas rice belt and in western Louisiana. The pest has invaded at least one new county each year during the past 3. High populations of MRB were found in the newly infested Galveston Co. in 2002, after new discoveries in Harris and Austin Cos. in 2001. No MRB have yet been found in the heavily monitored Louisiana parishes (Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Iberia, St-Mary), or in the extreme east Texas counties (Orange, Chambers, Liberty, Hardin, Jefferson). MRB adult numbers were as high as 230 in a trap in one week near the drought-stressed sugarcane variety test at Ganado, TX. In assessment of commercial sugarcane varieties, CP 70-321 was more resistant than LCP 85-384 or HoCP 91-555 by 2.4-fold in reduced damage and 3.5-fold in reduced moth production (P<0.05). Resistant HoCP 85-845 (1.8-fold at Weslaco) with low MRB pressure (irrigated sugarcane) was only 40 % more resistant at Ganado (P<0.05) where yield loss of some varieties was over 50 %. The new sugarcane cultivar HoCP 96-540 also was highly susceptible to MRB. A 10-variety MRB rice test at Ganado showed a 32% yield loss (3114 kg/ha) in Priscilla (P<0.05) and an average loss among all cultivars of 1370 kg/ha; XL-7 and XL-8 were the most resistant. Rice insecticide trials of fipronil and lambda-cyhalothrin with 3 applications each at 0.038 kg ai/ha were the most effective against MRB. Moth catches were lower and delayed until panicle initiation in rice as compared to high populations early in sugarcane. Field site visits to observe and implement research on MRB management were conducted for county agricultural extension agents and ag consultants from Louisiana and Texas.

Impacts
The Mexican rice borer causes up to a 50% yield loss in some east Texas rice fields and has a potential (much greater than 50 %) to devastate the current sugarcane cultivated varieties when it gets to Louisiana. Potential management will likely come from the development and production of resistant varieties (sugarcane and rice), insecticides (especially in rice), and cultural practices to minimize stress (drought and nutrition) and to enhance production quality (primarily sugarcane).

Publications

  • Reagan, T. E., B. L. Legendre, M. Setamou, and M. O. Way. 2002. Evaluation of Louisiana sugarcane varieties against two exotic insect pests causing economic damage in Texas. LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report 2001, pp. 125-126.
  • Reagan, T. E., M. O. Way, and F.R. Posey. 2002. Monitoring movement of the Mexican rice borer toward sugarcane and rice in the upper Texas Rice Belt and Western Louisiana and evaluation of insecticide management options. LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Research Annual Progress Report 2001. pp127-129.
  • Way, M.O. 2002. Stem Borer Research; Icon 6.2FS vs. Sharpshooters and Evaluating New Chemistry for Rice Weevil. Rice Stink Bug and Stem Borers. Texas Rice. Vol. II, no. 4. pp. III-IV.
  • Way, M.O., T.E. Reagan, R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez, L.J. Vawter, G.N. McCauley, V.B. Langston and K. Buchert. 2002. Recent stem borer research in Texas rice. Proceedings 29th Rice Technical Working Group. 29:91 (abstract and presentation 02/24/2002-02/27/2002. Little Rock, AR).
  • Way, M.O., R.G. Wallace, M.S. Nunez, A. Dalrymple, V.B. Langston, B. Minton, T. Mize, B. Odle, and G. Schwarzlose. 2001. Insect control in rice. Texas Plant Protection Conference. 14:28 (abstract and presentation 12/03/2003-12/05/2002. Corpus Christi, TX).
  • Pace, Joel. 2002. Mexican Rice Borer - a Growing Threat to Rice and Sugarcane. Texas Rice. Vol. II. no. 7. p. 3.