Prospects in Sustainable Control of Oil Palm Pests and Diseases Through the Enhancement of Ecosystem Services – The Way Forward

Abstract

The oil palm environment in Malaysia is rich in many ecosystem services which can be beneficial to control pests and diseases. Some examples are the soil microbes which consist of entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria which can be exploited for insect control, especially bagworms, rhinoceros beetle and termites. The bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) are currently severely infesting oil palm plantations in Malaysia. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of bagworms includes aerial spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), cultivation of beneficial plants and fixing of natural pheromone traps. The rhinoceros beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), can be managed with the soil fungus Metarhizium and the Oryctes nudivirus (OrNV). The subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) can be controlled with two entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae which perform similarly as an insecticide. The soil microflora, rich in soil antagonists, can be useful for the control of Ganoderma disease. The Integrated Ganoderma Management (IGM) approach is advocated, which aimed at minimising disease incidence in replanting and prolonging the productive life of the infected palm. Birds are also examples of ecosystem services which can be further exploited for the control of rodents and also insect pests. There are several endemic nocturnal and diurnal bird species inhabiting the oil palm plantation which have the potential to control pests, especially rats and bagworms. This article deliberates on some of the endemic ecosystem services in Malaysia which have been exploited towards the management of major pests and diseases in oil palm. The enhancement of existing and introduced ecosystem services would ensure better management of pests and diseases for the sustainable cultivation of oil palm.

Impacts of and adaptation to climate change on the oil palm in Malaysia: a systematic review

“…Malaysian oil palm was susceptible to infection by African Foe strains (Cooper 2011 ; Rusli et al 2015 ). The reported insect pests included termites (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae), rhinoceros beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and bugworms ( Lepidoptera: Psychidae ) (Kamarudin et al 2019 ). The rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) is one of the most devastating pest diseases to oil palm in Malaysia (Manjeri 2014 ).…”

Metabarcoding of Parasitic Wasp, Dolichogenidea metesae (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) That Parasitizing Bagworm, Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

“…Parasitoids play an important role as biological control agents in suppressing populations of bagworm (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) ( Cheong et al 2010 ; Hanysyam et al 2013 ; Kamarudin et al 2017 ). The bagworm species Metisa plana Walker is the dominant pest infesting palm oil plantations in Peninsular Malaysia ( Kamarudin et al 2019 ). Consequences of infestations are becoming increasingly serious ( Kamarudin & Arshad 2016 ).…”

“…Consequences of infestations are becoming increasingly serious ( Kamarudin & Arshad 2016 ). Hence, chemical insecticides ( Kok et al 2012 ), biopesticides ( Kamarudin et al 2010 ; Mazmira et al 2011 ), and pheromone applications ( Kamarudin et al 2019 ) have been used in controlling M. plana . In addition, natural enemies have been used to reduce populations of bagworm ( Basri et al 1995 ; Ali et al 2007 ).…”

Championing Sustainable Treatment of Oil Palm Basal Stem Rot Disease via Biological Control Agents

“…Oil palm is the most important commodity crop being planted across Malaysia including Peninsular, Sarawak and Sabah. Planted area of oil palm has reached 5.85 million hectares in 2018 and utilised 60% of the agricultural lands in Malaysia (Kamarudin et al, 2019). Malaysia's palm oil export was recorded with a rise of 6% in January-June 2020 with an approximate export value of USD5.50 billion compared to the first half of 2019 (MPOC, 2020).…”

“…Even though hexaconazole fungicide application was proven to increase the productive life-span of an infected palm, the residue and nontargeted beneficial microorganism is of concern. In addition, by the end of 2019, all Malaysian oil palm planters and millers are required to obtain sustainability certification, such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) or the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) by complying with the sustainability standard requirements in order to export certified palm oil to international markets (Kamarudin et al, 2019). Requirement on the sustainability certification, urges the planters to adopt good agricultural practices (GAP).…”