1. Prem Nidhi Sharma (PhD) Entomology Division, NARC
NEPAL
Construction of Epidemiology Information Interchange System for Migratory Disease and Insect Pests in Asia Region (AFACI-IPM)
Monitoring and Field Survey on Rice Planthoppers & Viruses of Vegetables
Prem Nidhi Sharma (PhD)
Entomology Division, NARC
AFACI Program Workshop on Food Crops
Cambodia, September 20-24, 2016

2. Introduction
Title: Construction of Epidemiology Information Interchange System for Migratory Disease and Insect Pests in Asia Region (IPM)
Duration: July ~ June (2nd phase)
Principal Implementing Organization: Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
Principal Investigator: Prem Nidhi Sharma (PhD)
Collaborating Institute(s): Entomology Division, Plant Pathology Division, National Rice Research Program, National Maize Research Program – NARC
Name of Collaborator(s): Dr Badhya Nath Mahto (Plant Pathologist), Mr. Ghana Shyam Bhandari (Entomologist), Dr Ram Baran Yadav (Rice breeder), Mr. Santoshi Yadav (Technical officer), Mr. Dharma Raj Kandel and Mrs Punam Bhattarai (farmers)
RDA Counterpart Institute: Crop Protection Division, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), RDA Korea
Korean Principal Investigator: Dr Jang-Kyun Seo
Project Site(s): Chitwan and Dhanusha, Nepal

3. Goal Objectives Stable production of rice in Asia
Establishment of an international cooperative network for the best management of
migrating rice planthoppers and associated rice viruses in Asia.
Objectives
migratory insect pests and associated viruses in Asian region.
Development and distribution of essential molecular kits for the identification of rice
planthoppers and associated viruses in field conditions
Analysis of the genetic diversity of planthoppers and virus populations occurring in Asian region
Examination of the biological and ecological characteristics of vegetable pests which are mostly related to the transmission of viruses in Asian region

4. Background of Project
Rice is the main staple food crop in Asian countries where stable rice production
is seriously threatened by frequent outbreaks of RPHs
Sudden increase of rice prices in 2007 partially due to the RPHs and associated viruses
RPHs (BPH, WBPH, SBPH) are serious threats to stable rice production in Asian countries
Direct damage - ‘hopper burn’ to rice plants
Indirect damage - transmitting of devastating viruses RGSV, RRSV, RBSDV & RSV
Main causes of RPH outbreaks
Continuous cropping, two seasons; in some countries throughout the year
Cultivation of high yielding rice varieties with narrow genetic diversity
Excessive use of pesticides unbalancing the natural ecosystem

5. Background of Project (contd.)
To cope with sudden increase of RPHs in the Asian region
an international brown planthopper conference launched at IRRI in 2008
a workshop on migratory insect pests & associated viruses operated in Seoul in 2009
AFACI project initiated (first phase, ) in nine countries led by RDA Korea - now is in 3rd year of 2nd phase (July June 2016)
In Nepal:
RPHs particularly the BPH & WBPH are the most serious constraints.
However, no viruses transmitted by RPHs have been reported yet.
RPHs have recently become more widespread from the eastern to western parts of Terai region and in river basin & valleys of hilly region where rice is grown intensively.
Nepal joined this AFACI project in August 2011 and started "monitoring of RPHs and rice viruses" since the start of 2012.
This report provides here the progress and achievements of 3rd year (July 2015 – June 2016) of 2nd Phase. In addition, future plan are suggested to continue the project.

6. General information on agricultural statistics

7. Project Activities
Monitoring of rice planthoppers in two locations: Padariya of Chitwan and Baniniya of Dhanusha
Light trap count-daily
Yellow sticky trap count-weekly
Entering of monitoring data in AMIVS system
Collecting of samples of virus infected vegetable leaves to send to RDA Korea for virus detection.
Uploading of quarterly report on occurrence of RPH & rice viruses at AMIVS platform
Training to farmers and technical staffs on data management and RPH identification - to facilitate the monitoring works
Transfer of RPH & rice virus management technologies to target groups

8. Project Results

9. Monitoring of RPH
The design of light trap used for monitoring of RPH & other major insect pests of rice.

10. Monitoring of major insect pests of rice: (A) catching of RPH on yellow sticky trap (B) counting of insects caught by light trap

11. Weekly count of BPH, WBPH & Spiders on yellow sticky trap
in main season rice at Padariya, Bhandara, Chitwan. 2015

12. Light trap catch of pest insects (average number) of main season rice at Padariya, Bhandara, Chitwan
BPH
WBPH LF SB GH GB
June 27-30
9.6
7.6
0.2
6.4
0.8
July
5.1
3.3
0.1
10.8
0.5
July
3.1
1.7
15.2
1.5
Aug
2.2
1.1
14.4
Aug
1.4
9.3
0.9
0.6
Sep
4.3
3.7 2
14.2
2.3
Sep
10.7 10
6.8
9.7
4.9
3.6
Oct
21.8 23
9.2
7.8
  LF: Leaf folders, SB: Stem borers, GH: Grasshoppers, GB: Gundhi bug.

13. Weekly count of BPH, WBPH & Spiders on yellow sticky traps
in main season rice at NRRP Hardinath, Baniniya, Dhanusha

14. Light trap catch of pest insects (average number) in main season rice at NRRP Hardinath, Baniniya, Dhanusha   
BPH
WBPH LF SB GH GB
July
0.75
1.25
Aug
1.3
0.3
3.4
Aug
0.2
0.06
3.2
0.6
0.1
Sep 2
0.8 10
0.5
Sep
1.5
13.3
0.7
1.07
Oct
2.4
0.07
27.07
0.9
3.07
Oct
22.7
2.7
Nov
13.5 1
Nov
8.4
LF: Leaf folders, SB: Stem borers, GH: Grasshoppers, GB: Gundhi bug

15. Weekly count of BPH, WBPH & Spiders on yellow sticky trap
in spring season rice at Padariya, Bhandara, Chitwan. 2016

16. Light trap catch of pest insects (average number) of spring season rice at Padariya, Bhandara, Chitwan   
BPH
WBPH LF SB GH GB
Mar
1.88
0.47
Apr
4.33
4.2
0.33
5.6 3
4.53
Apr
3.93
3.46 7 2
4.26
May 4
3.13
38.3
1.8
May
5.44
3.25
0.06
42.4
1.3
2.56
Jun
5.8
8.13
31.5
1.46
Jun
6.13
5.66
28.8
0.13
1.53
    LF: Leaf folders, SB: Stem borers, GH: Grasshoppers, GB: Gundhi bug

17. Field Survey Reports

18. Hopper burn of rice due to BPH at Piple-9, In East Chitwan.
October 6, 2015 (6/19, 2072)
High density of BPH was observed in the hopper burned rice fields: 180 BPH (male – 150, female – 10 and nymphs – 20) per 5 hills of rice on a yellow sticky card). The farmer had applied an insecticide [Carbine (Chloropyriphos 50% + Cypermethrin 5% EC)] 5 times in his fields at one month interval after 15 days of transplanting, however the fields were hopper burned due to no effect of the pesticide.

19. A farm of capsicum/chilli plants at Purbari, Bhandara, Chitwan
A farm of capsicum/chilli plants at Purbari, Bhandara, Chitwan. April 5, 2016.
Leaf samples of infected plants were kept in RNA Later & were sent to RDA Korea
for virus detection. RT-PCR analysis detected both pepper mottle virus (PepMoV)
& cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in the infected plants.

20. Three leaf samples, of 3 different capsicum/chilli plants of 2 different sites- Purbari & Piple-9, were kept in RNA Later and were sent to RDA-Korea (to Dr Jang-Kyun Seo, Crop Protection Div., NAAS) for virus detection. RT-PCR analysis detected both pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) & cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in all the 3 samples as shown in the photos. The RT-PCR analysis were performed to detect for 7 pepper viruses – PepMoV, CMV, broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), potato virus Y (PVY), beet western yellows virus (BWYV) and pepper mild mottle Virus (PMMoV).

21. A research trial of zucchini plant infected by virus at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. (A) Collection of virus infected leaf samples in RNA Later to send to RDA Korea for virus detection. (B) A virus infected zucchini plant. (C) Plant pathologist is observing the infected plants. (D) A virus infected zucchini fruit. June 13, 2016.

22. Varietal Screening of Rice against BPH
19 genotypes of rice were evaluated based on Standard Evaluation System of IRRI (1998) using 1 – 9 scale of damage scoring.
NR 601-9: Resistant (3)
IET 16775, Sukhadhan-4 & Tarahara-1: Moderately Resistant (4)
Ram Dhan: Moderately Susceptible (5)
Others were: Susceptible to BPH (6-9)

23. A training/workshop on AFACI-IPM to entomologists and plant protection personnel of Research, Extension & Education. October 15-16, 2015

24. A stereo microscope (research model) purchased by Entomology Division for the purpose to capture real image of insects for insect identification; funded by RDA Korea under AFACI-IPM program. 2015/2016.

25. Project Achievements/Out Comes
Important species of RPH known – BPH & WBPH
Incidence pattern of RPH known
Incidence patterns of RPH is known for main (2015) and spring season (2016) rice of Chitwan
and main season rice of Dhanusha. This information is useful to predict incidence of RPH and
apply suitable protection measures to RPH at appropriate time.
The occurrence of severe form of outbreaks of RPH known
The occurrence of severe out breaks of RPH for main season rice (2015) of Chitwan was known.
This information is helpful to take precaution to protect rice from possible severe outbreaks of
RPH in future.
Viruses of vegetable crops identified
Both pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) & cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) simultaneously identified in
capsicum/chilli plants in east Chitwan of Nepal by RT-PCR analysis conducted at Crop Protection
Division, NAAS, RDA Korea.
Resistant varieties of rice identified to BPH
Target groups got knowledge on AFACI-IPM
A research model stereo microscope purchased for the purpose to capture real image of insects for insect identification; funded by RDA-Korea.
A network on construction of epidemiology information interchange system for migratory disease and insect pests established in Asia.

26. Major issues for discussion
Sample (RPHs & leaves of virus infected plants) delivery to Korea is sometimes obstacle by quarantine.
The support from RDA-Korea to buy the special equipments - it is better to support in terms of kinds instead of cash as the purchasing rule of government is lengthy & risky for buying of desired quality of equipments.
Early instar nymphs (1-2 instar) of RPH are often difficult to distinguish between BPH & WBPH on yellow sticky cards.
Very hard job to distinguish RPHs in the mass of tiny insects caught by light trap.
Better to make it simpler and practical

27. Future Plan/Way Forward
Continue & strength the monitoring works for RPH & associated viruses
Conduct research on management of RPH for diverse alternatives:
test on - bio-pesticides, varietal resistance, judicious application of pesticides, cultural practices
Survey on virus diseases of vegetables transmitted by vector insects for virus detection
Collect information on present situation of pesticide use level & use pattern in crops & vegitables
Training to target groups on management of rice planthoppers & viruses of vegetables
Publication on management of RPH and viruses of rice & vegetables

28. THANK YOU