Safeguarding

The Malaysian Oil Palm Industry

from

Devastating Pests and Diseases

NORMAN KAMARUDIN, IDRIS ABU SEMAN,

MOHD MAZMIRA MOHD MASRI AND HEFNI RUSLI

1 Sudden wilt

Malaysian Oil Palm Industry

• The oil palm is an important commodity in Southeast Asia (SEA).

• The oil palm industry is the fourth-largest contributor to Malaysia's national revenue, accounting for more than 5% of annual exports.

• The total area of oil palm in Malaysia is 5.8 million hectares, with a total export revenue of palm oil and palm-based products valued of more than RM 77 billion in 2017

Oil Palm Global Distribution

Oil Palm Growing Countries in Southeast Asia

Exotic diseases

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South East Asia is still free from these diseases:

i. Bud rot ii. Vascular wilt iii. Red ring iv. Sudden wilt v. Lethal wilt These diseases are very devastating and posed

the highest risk to the Malaysian oil palm industry

Vascular wilt

Red ring

Sudden wilt

Bud rot

Ganoderma

Lethal wilt

Vascular wilt

Severity of Bud Rot disease in Latin America

• Seriously affecting Latin America for more than 40 years, in Colombia, Brazil,

Ecuador, Panama and Surinam (Turner and Gillbanks, 2003).

• Causing serious impact with >30,000 ha out of 35,000 ha (85%) oil palm areas

destroyed between 2006 and 2009 (Martinez et al., PIPOC 2011).

Aerial View – Bud Rot Disease in South America

(Martinez et al., PIPOC 2011)

Causal Pathogen: Phytophthora palmivora

mating type A2 (fungus-like) (Toress et al., 2010; Plant Disease – Cenipalma, Colombia; Uni. of Florida & Uni. of California, USA)

Fungi and bacteria to be associated

with the disease (pathogenicity has not been conclusively proven):

- F. solani

- T. paradoxa

- Pythium spp.

Oil Palm Biosecurity Plan

Movement of planting materials and germplasm in

response to growing demand

Many pests and diseases of oil palm are not yet

recorded in SE Asia.

• represent threats to the oil palm industry here and in the

region

• Prevent new pests, diseases and weeds from

entering the country and becoming established

• Manage incursions to eradicate the pests where

feasible or lessen their impact

• Ensure preparedness and response that is

internationally recognized

Biosecurity plan for Oil Palm in Malaysia

• Biosecurity is a process –aimed at stopping unwanted pests and diseases from arriving in e.g. Malaysia, detecting and rapidly eradicating them if they do arrive, or (if they become established) trying to minimize their impact by using long-term management strategies.

• Through out the years - Malaysia’s national quarantine system has helped to prevent the introduction of harmful exotic pests and diseases into the country.

• In Malaysia, Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are quarantine and biosecurity measures which applied to protect human, animal or plant life or health from risks arising from the introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases – by Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA).

Prohibition of importation

Inspection and treatment at country of origin

Inspection at entry points (air, land and sea)

Post-entry quarantine

‘first line of defense’ from exotic pests

FARIDAH AINI, M (2016) Biosecurity Workshop, MPOB

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To identify the existence / occurrence of a pest / disease which had gone

through the first line of defence

Continuous programme to detect dangerous pests

The ‘second line of defence’ in Plant Quarantine

FARIDAH AINI, M (2016) Biosecurity Workshop, MPOB

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The ‘third line of defence’ in Plant Quarantine

Programmes to control spread and containment of exotic pests and

diseases

Requires strict enforcement and action from Quarantine officers

FARIDAH AINI, M (2016) Biosecurity Workshop, MPOB

Oil palm industry in Malaysia

- Biosecurity issues and challenges

● Over 40 oil palm growing countries with over 600 pests and diseases

recorded

● Movement of planting materials and germplasm in response to growing

demand

● Many pests and diseases of oil palm are not yet recorded in SE Asia.

● They represent threats to the oil palm industry here and in the region

Biosecurity Plan is required to:

Prevent new pests, diseases and weeds from entering the country and

becoming established

Manage incursions to eradicate the pests where feasible or lessen their

impact

Ensure an appropriate preparedness and response capacity that is

internationally recognized and meets our trading obligations and international

treaties

HIGHLY IMPORTANT EXOTIC PESTS & DISEASES

OF OIL PALM

The Biosecurity Plan for the oil palm industry listed 25 highly important pests and diseases screened from 120 pests and diseases of oil palm not yet present in Malaysia, reported in 44 oil palm producing countries based on Pest Risk Assessment (PRA).

SUMMARY OF OVERALL RISK OF PRA

DISEASES: Extreme Risk: 3

High-Medium Risk: 2 Medium Risk: 1

Medium-low Risk: 1 Low Risk:1 TOTAL: 8

PESTS: High risk: 4

High-medium risk: 4 Medium-low risk: 6

Low risk:3

TOTAL 17

OVERALL TOTAL: 25

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Cadang-cadang Coconut cadang-cadang viroid (CCCVd) Distribution: Philippines, Solomon Islands Bud rot Phytophthora palmivora Distribution: Tropic and subtropical regions of the USA; Latin America; Southeast Asia; Africa; Europe; Oceania; India Vascular wilt Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Elaeidis Distribution: Africa, South America

Leaflets from healthy coconut palm (left) and severely infected palm (right) showing yellow spotting

© J. Randles

© T.K. Broschat & M.L.. Elliott © G. Martinez

Necrosis of spears and young leaves in mature palm Oil palm severely effected by bud rot with no development of new leaf

Vascular discoloration at the base of seedling

© R. Mepsted Leaf symptoms on mature palm

© R. Mepsted

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Nettle / Slug caterpillar Darna furva Distribution: Thailand, NE India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong (limited distribution), Maldives Nettle / Slug caterpillar, Palu slugworm, Coconut limacodid Darna catenatus Distribution: Indonesia (Irian Jaya, Sulawesi); India (Andhra Pradesh) African rhinoceros beetle, Coconut rhinoceros beetle Oryctes boas Distribution: Central and Southern Africa (tropical regions) including Madagascar, Yemen, Saudi Arabia African rhinoceros beetle, Coconut beetle Oryctes monoceros Distribution: Central and Southern Africa (tropical regions) including Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles

© FERC

Young caterpillar with the distinctive dark dorsal areas and triangular yellow lateral markings

Adult of D. furva

Male O. boas with fully developed horn (left) and Females with short horn (right)

Adult beetles of O. monoceros

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Red ring disease nematode Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (=Bursaphelenchus cocophilus) Distribution: Widespread in tropical America, from Mexico through Central America and into South America; Caribbean Pentatomid Lincus lethifer Distribution: Ecuador Pentatomid Lincus lobuliger Distribution: Brazil Pentatomid Lincus spurcus Distribution: Peru

Pests

Marchitez letal / Lethal Wilt of oil palm Candidatus phytoplasma asteris Distribution: Africa, Latin America Lethal yellowing, lethal yellowing-type disease Candidatus phytoplasma palmae Distribution: Africa, Latin America

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Cercospora leaf spot, Freckle of oil palm Cercospora elaeidis Distribution: Africa (Central, East and West regions); Australia (Northern Territory – recorded on Carpentaria acuminata); Suriname; Thailand

© Uni. Florida

Adult Lincus spurcus on oil palm fruit bunch

Cercospora elaeidis leaf spot on leaf of nursery oil palm seedling

Advanced stage of leaf spot. Lesions coalesce and tissue dries out

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Nettle / Slug caterpillar Darna metaleuca (=Euprosterna elaeasa) Distribution: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela American palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum Distribution: Mexico, Central and South America and the southernmost Antilles West Indian cane weevil Metamasius hemipterus Distribution: Florida, Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria) Lace bug Leptopharsa gibbicarina Distribution: Colombia South American palm weevil Dynamis borassi Distribution: Widespread in Central and South America. Curculionid Limnobaris calandriformis Distribution: South America

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Marchitez sorpresiva, Sudden wilt Phytomonas staheli Distribution: Caribbean, Central and South America

Larvae of D. metaleuca

Adult Leptopharsa gibbicarina

P. staheli isolated from coconut palms Early symptoms of “Marchitez sorpresiva” - red banding,

chlorosis and drying at the tips of the leaflets

Chlorotic ring disease Potyvirus SCMV strain Distribution :South America, India

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Leaf miner Hispoleptis elaeidis Distribution: South-western Colombia and western Ecuador Leaf miner Hispoleptis subfasciata Distribution: Latin America (Ecuador, Colombia and the Amazon region) American palm cixiid (Planthopper) Myndus crudus, Haplaxius crudus Distribution: North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean

Pests

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© N. Harris

© C

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© C

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Potyvirus SCMV virus particles. Ringspots on African oil palm leaves affected by chlorotic ring disease

Oil Palm Industry Biosecurity Plan Protection from risks posed by pests through exclusion, eradication and control

Pre-border • Identifying exotic pest threats • Import conditions and

phytosanitary measures • Managing quarantine risks

offshore (pre-clearance inspection)

• Treatment at point of export where appropriate

Border • Implementing effective

quarantine for people, plants, machinery and goods

• Efficient border controls • Establishing trapping &

surveillance networks for pests that may bypass checkpoints

Post-border • Minimizing risk of regional or

property entry & establishment • Preparing for timely detection,

minimised spread and rapid response to emergency pests

• Continuous surveillance and monitoring

• Farm biosecurity

Achieved through effective partnerships between industry, government and the community

Biosecurity Plan: Risk Mitigation

Biosecurity Plan: Contingency plans

and response management

Detection of a suspected exotic plant pest

By planters, growers, consultants, research personnel, university staff,

agribusiness, staff of MPOB and DOA, general public, etc

Inform State Director of Agriculture and MPOB Technical Officer

Planning for state-wide survey to determine the spread

Inform Director of Plant Biosecurity Division, DOA in Kuala Lumpur for gazetting

as a new quarantine pest

- Planning for execution of contingency plan

- Initiate operation room to monitor developments

- Initiate nationwide survey to determine the status of spread

Key Agencies involved in the development

of the biosecurity plan

Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)

Plant Biosecurity Division, Dept. of Agriculture

Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS)

National Oil Palm Biosecurity Committee

Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA)

Biosecurity Plan outcomes:

• Biosecurity threats identified and entry prevented

• Biosecurity threats eradicated or contained before they become established

• Biosecurity problems effectively managed to minimize their impacts

• Roles of government, industry and the community clearly defined and co-operation to manage biosecurity threats and problems ensured

• Industry capacity in risk assessment enhanced

Is the Oil Palm Industry Safe ?

Steps are currently undertakes to eradicate the pest and prevent its spread to other palm trees besides coconut.

FARIDAH AINI, M (2016) Biosecurity Workshop, MPOB

Red Palm Weevil

( Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier )

The red palm weevil (RPW) is a serious pest which attacks

a broad range of palmae, especially date palms, coconut,

sago and the potential to attack oil palm

FARIDAH AINI, M (2016) Biosecurity Workshop, MPOB

• Consists of two species: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus & R. vulneratus (Hallett et al., 2004)

• These two species are morphologically distinct:

• In term of aggressiveness, R. ferrugineus is more invasive:

- Responsible for the current infestation on coconuts in Kelantan and Terengganu

- Due to abundance during trapping activity & palm inspection

Black spots on reddish-orange head

R. vulneratus R. ferrugineus

Vertical red-stripe on black head

Red palm weevil (RPW)

• Severe infestation on coconuts in east coast of Malaysia (Terengganu)

(Wahizatul et al., 2013)

• Also attack others in Palmae family (nibong, nipah, sago, date palms)

• Quick adaptability to new hosts

• Depletion of the host has triggered fear among the oil palm planters

Different stages of RPW attack

CONCLUSION

• The development of the Biosecurity Plan for oil palm

is crucial to ensure exotic pests and diseases could

possibly enter this country

• Various organisations in the country must be aware

and work towards a common goal to ensure Malaysia

remains free from these devastating pests and

diseases.

• For endemic pests and diseases, prevention and

curative treatments are being adopted and

implemented by oil palm industry and smallholders.

Thank you