IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH RED PALM WEEVIL, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: A MICROSCOPY STUDY

Wahizatul, A.A.*, Ngadin, A., Ng, L.C. and Pong, K.K

Abstract

IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH

RED PALM WEEVIL, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: A MICROSCOPY STUDY

Wahizatul, A.A.^1*, Ngadin, A.¹, Ng, L.C.¹ and Pong, K.K¹

1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, MALAYSIA.

ABSTRACT

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a devastating pest of major cultivated palms including coconut, date and oil palms. RPW was first detected as a serious coconut pest in 2007 by the Department of Agriculture of Terengganu. This study used light microscopy (Lecia DM750) to identify and characterize fungi associated with RPW, in order to investigate potential indigenous entomopathogenic fungi for the biological control of the weevil in Malaysia. Although RPW has been reasonably intensively studied, little is known regarding their associated fungi. In this study, a total of 43 fungal isolates were isolated from adults of RPW and 13 fungi were successfully identified, while 5 fungi were unidentified. Aspergillus flavus was the most dominant species (11 isolates), followed by unidentified sp. 1 (10 isolates), Aspergillus niger (4 isolates) and Acremonium sp. (3 isolates). Other species contributed only one fungal isolate. Colonies belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Curvularia some of which are known as potential entomopathogenic fungi, were obtained from adults of RPW. This is the first study that documents the list of fungi associated with RPW from Terengganu. Information obtained from this study will be the first step in the development of possible new biocontrol agent of this invasive coconut pest in Malaysia.

Keywords: Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, fungi, biocontrol, coconut pest