Untreated Palms Research Articles

Seismic sensor-based management of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in date palm plantations.

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is one of the gravest threats to palm trees. The challenge in monitoring RPW primarily arises from the inconspicuous presence of larvae within the stem, which is often devoid of noticeable symptoms. This study looks at the use of seismic sensors in RPW management in commercial date palm plantations. It explores whether the data garnered from the sensor domain, and its translation into the health status of date palms, can reliably inform precise decision-making. Sensor and damage index values, as gauged by the Agrint IoTree seismic sensor, vividly mirrored RPW colonization activity. They also accurately portrayed the impact of three distinct insecticides: imidacloprid, phosphine, and entomopathogenic nematodes. The seismic values and damage index of healthy untreated palms strongly supported the decision to pursue tree recovery. Furthermore, this facilitated the computation of recovery pace discrepancies across the tested treatments, measured as the number of days required for tree restoration. Our findings underscore the practicality of employing seismic sensors, as exemplified by the IoTree system and its network services, to both monitor and assess palm tree health. Furthermore, it validates their efficacy in evaluating the efficiency of management strategies adopted against RPW, all grounded in a wealth of sensor-derived data. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

RESPONSE OF SEWY DATE PALM GROWN IN SANDY SOIL TO SPRAYING TWO SOURCES OF SULFUR

In order to study the effect of sulfur concentration (200, 300 and 400 ppm) and sources (agriculture sulfur and liquid sulfur) on leaf macronutrients, yield and fruit physical and chemical properties, during two consequently seasons, of Sewy date palm fruits grown in sandy soil under El-Karga Oasis – New valley governorate a field experiment was tack place. The obtained results showed that spraying sulfur at 200 to 400 ppm in form of agriculture sulfur or liquid sulfur was significantly enhanced leaves nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium contents rather than untreated palms. However, non-significant differences were observed in calcium contents. Regardless sulfur source, yield in kg/palm and punch weight (kg) were significantly enhanced as a result of spraying sulfur at 200 ppm to 400 ppm in comparison to untreated palms. All physical and chemical properties of Sewy date palm fruits were significantly improved as a result of spraying sulfur at 200 to 400 ppm. Nonsignificant differences neither in physical properties nor in chemical properties were obtained between the two higher concentrations (300 and 400 ppm), during the two experimental seasons. Furthermore, using the sulfur as a foliar application in liquid sulfur source present superiority than the agriculture sulfur. Based on the obtained data we can recommended to spraying the Sewy date palm grown in sandy soil at El-Karga Oasis New Valley Governorate or resampling conditions.

YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF BERTIMODA DATE PALM IN RELATION TO ABSCISIC ACID (ABA) APPLICATION

Bertimoda is classified as one of the finest class dry date palm varieties in Aswan Governorate, has good taste and excellent flavour. (Hussien, 2005 and Ibrahim, 2011). In last decade a remarkable decrease in yield and fruit some quality characteristics of Bertimoda cv. under Aswan Governorate conditions were observed (Al-Bakry 2020). In order to study the response of Bentimoda palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to spraying abscisic acid (ABA) at 150, 300 and 450 ppm on leaves mineral content, fruit set and retention%, yield (kg/palm), and fruit physic-chemical properties. A field experiment was conducted in two successive seasons (2018 and 2019) at a private farm located at Edfo, Aswan Governorate was take place. The obtained results confirmed that all ABA concentrations (150, 300 and 450 ppm) used has a positive effect on leaves mineral contents (i.e. nitrogen%, phosphorus%, potassium%, iron ppm, Zinc ppm and manganese ppm), yield (kg)/tree and bunch weight (kg), as well as fruit physical and chemical properties (i.e. fruit length (cm), fruit dimensions (cm), TSS%, total and reducing sugars%) rather than untreated ones. While, the total acidity% and crude fibers % were significantly decreased rather than untreated palms. For all physic-chemical properties of fruit, non-significant differences were observed between the two highest concentrations (300 ppm and 450 ppm). Then, it is recommended to foliar spray Bertimoda date palm grown under Aswan governorate conditions with ABA at 300 ppm in order to improve nutritional state, yield/palm, fruit physical and chemical properties. leaves mineral contents.

Effect of Spraying Algae Extract and Potassium Nitrate on the Yield and Fruit Quality of Barhee Date Palms

The effect of foliar spray with algae extract and/or potassium nitrate on the quantity and quality of Barhee date palm yields was investigated during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Inflorescences of Barhee date palms were sprayed twice, after pollination (1st April of each season) and one month later, with algae extract at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% and with potassium nitrate at concentrations of 1% and 2% applied individually or in combinations. The obtained results showed that all of the sprayed treatments enhanced the yield and fruit properties when compared to the controls. Spraying inflorescences of Barhee date palms with algae extract and/or potassium nitrate had a significant effect on the yield and on the physical and chemical properties of the fruit when compared with the untreated palms. The increase in yield and qualitative properties was associated with increasing concentrations of both materials (algae extract and potassium nitrate). The best results were detected with spray containing high rates of combined treatment (1% algae extract + 2% potassium nitrate) applied twice in both seasons studied because this treatment resulted in the highest value of fruit and bunch weight, increased the yield per palm compared to the control by about 60.2%, and improved the fruit physical properties (fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit shape index, flesh weight, and seed weight) and fruit chemical properties (total soluble solids (TSS); acidity; TSS/acid ratio; tannins; and reducing, nonreducing, and total sugars) of the Barhee date palm given the experimental conditions.

Fractional CO2 laser-assisted Botulinum toxin type A delivery for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

Intradermal injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have been used successfully to treat patients with primary palmoplantar hyperhidrosis (PPH). However, problems with local injections of BTX-A for palmar hyperhidrosis include injection pain and reduced palmar muscle strength. This case series describes three patients with PPH. Patients were followed up for 3months and assessed using the minor iodine starch test and the visual analog scale (VAS). Over two sessions within a 2-week interval, all patients received treatment on one palm, while the other palm served as the untreated control. Treated palms received fractional CO2 laser therapy and immediate post-operative topical application of BTX-A solution for a total of 50units. Sweat production was assessed based on the size of the sweat-producing area (measured by the minor iodine starch test) and subjective assessment of sweat production using the visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, 2weeks after the first treatment, and 1, 2, and 3months after the second treatment. In the BTX-A-treated palm, the decrease in the mean sweat production was 51.6% at 2weeks after the first treatment, and 88.5%, 67.8%, and 52.9%, at 1, 2, and 3months after the final treatment when compared to the baseline. In the untreated palms, the decrease in the mean sweat production was 2% on all follow-ups when compared to the baseline. No adverse effect was observed in any patient. Fractional CO2 laser is a safe technique for BTX-A delivery on the palm area and is demonstrated to be safe and effective in decreasing sweat secretion of hyperhidrosis palm.

Modelling pest dynamics under uncertainty in pest detection: the case of the red palm weevil

A common complication in invasive pest management is that the infectious state of the host can be wrongly assessed, leading to biases in the estimation of the prevalence of the pest and on the efficacy of mitigation actions. We designed a multievent model that accommodates uncertainty on host state to investigate the dynamics of the infestation of Phoenix canariensis by the invasive Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Since 2011, the council of Palma city (Mallorca Island, Spain) applied preventive, curative and destructive treatments to public Phoenix palms. A year later awareness campaigns focused on every palm owner in an attempt to control the plague. We estimated the probability of infestation and assessed the efficiency of mitigation measures, awareness campaigns and palm-dependent covariates. Our results show that infestation probabilities were higher for palms infested in the previous year than for healthy palms and it decreased substantially over time as a results of mitigation measures and awareness campaigns. Palms surrounded by treated palms had a lower probability of being infested than palms surrounded by untreated palms, i.e. private palms before awareness campaigns implementation. Our results highlight the key role of awareness campaigns and public participation for invasive species control.

Field Efficacy of Pesticides Against Dust Mites Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranchidae) on Date Palm, Hillawi Cultivar

This study was carried out to evaluate some pesticides with two methods of control (preventative and curative) in a private field in the region of Abu Al-Khaseeb in Basrah province during the growing season of 2018 / 2019; treatments were applied in three dates (eight weeks, ten weeks and twelve weeks) after the pollination of the date palm trees (28/2/2019). The results recorded that the 1st spray was the most effective in reducing the population density of the dust mites compared to the second and third spraying rate (49.25, 45.40 and 42.69)% respectively. The dormant spray carried out in December 2018 that reduced the population density of the pest below the economic threshold by using Sulphur (200, 300 and 400) G/palm and Matrixine (1, 1.5 and 2) Ml.L-1; the population density was decreased to 7.88, 4.15 and 4.05 mites and to 7.53, 4.31 and 3.96 mites by controlling with Sulphur and Matrixine, respectively, compared to the untreated palms (8.63, 24.53 and 42.40 mites) at the sampling events 15 March, 15 April and 15 May.

Effect of riparian management on stream morphometry and water quality in oil palm plantations in Borneo

Large-scale conversion of tropical forests into agricultural plantations, particularly oil palm (OP) across South East Asia exerts enormous pressure on freshwater systems. To mitigate impacts on aquatic ecosystems, the retention of riparian buffer zones along stream banks are often advocated for freshwater management. However, there is a severe lack in ecological information available on tropical stream systems advising on the efficacy of different riparian buffer types (with varying quality) to mitigate stream physico-chemical properties after conversion for agricultural use. To test the hypothesis that greater riparian disturbance will have negative effects on stream geomorphology and water quality, we assessed the impacts of riparian vegetation structure and density on stream chemical and physical properties in different riparian buffer types commonly used in OP plantations subjected to a gradient of disturbance: (i) Native forest (NF); (ii) OP – forested buffer (OPF); (iii) OP – untreated palms buffer (no fertilizer and pesticide application) (OPOP); and (iv) OP – treated palms (OPNB). Across the disturbance gradient, riparian species diversity and density decreased with taller trees and high foliage cover. Foliage cover heavily influenced the amount of light received at the stream, bank and buffer zone that concur with stream water temperatures. In-stream litter substrate decreased with increased riparian disturbance. OP streams had higher phosphorus and potassium concentrations that can be attributed to the use of fertilizers while sodium concentrations were higher in NF streams. Generally, OPF was most similar to NF sites whereas OPOP and OPNB sites had similar characteristics showing that riparian vegetation type influences the physical and chemical characteristics of streams. Thus, the use of high quality riparian buffers with forested riparian vegetation in OP plantations to reduce the impacts of land conversion on streams is supported.

Evaluation of the efficacy of insecticidal coatings based on teflutrin and chlorpyrifos against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), an important economic resource for many nations worldwide, has recently been threatened by the presence of different insect pests, like the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Two products, a glue (polyvinyl acetate) and an oil (raw linseed oil) were used as coatings and applied together with a repellent and two insecticides (teflutrin and chlorpyrifos) at different dosages on two species of palm (P. dactylifera and P. canariensis). Phytotoxic effects of the treatments were evaluated in a greenhouse on 260 potted palms (130 P. dactylifera and 130 P. canariensis) and no negative effects were observed. Afterwards, a trial lasting 400 days was carried out in a nursery located in Sicily (south Italy), treating 572 potted palm trees (286 P. dactylifera and 286 P. canariensis) with an average diameter at the base of 18-20 cm. After 400 days, 48% of the untreated palms were infested, while only 3% of date palms and 7% of Canary palms treated with insecticide at lower dosages were infested. The application of an insecticide-based coating is a good strategy to control and prevent the red palm weevil infestation, in particular on date palms. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

A location aware system for integrated management of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in urban systems

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an invasive species for many countries, is one of the most dangerous pests of ornamental palms in urban landscapes. When infested by the RPW, all untreated palms typically die. RPW monitoring is difficult, and when the pest is detected, management to save the infested palm becomes intricate. For this reason, an efficient and integrated RPW monitoring, such as a location-aware system (LAS), combined with the scientific knowledge of experts on the palm’s physiology and the RPW biological cycle must be designed, developed and implemented. In the current study, an innovative integrated RPW management in urban landscapes under real conditions is presented. Based on the LAS, this study investigates the effectiveness of monitoring RPW infestations in palms, such as the Phoenix canariensis, under field conditions at the Pedion Areos park, which is located in central Athens, the capital of the Hellenic Republic. The goal of this study is to address the specific needs of RPW management and control by facilitating the treatment process adopted by experts combined with an appropriate spatial decision support system (SDSS), which accounts for the RPW population dynamics and spatio-temporal characteristics of the infested areas. The process of estimating the infestation risk is based on a ten-point scale classification, which is incorporated into the LAS. The results from the aforementioned moderate-scaled field experiment conducted for evaluation purposes showed that the LAS is an innovative, simple, and easy to use integrated platform that can be used for early detection, rapid monitoring and assessment of RPW in urban landscapes. Finally, the results from this four-year experiment showed that the diameter and height of the trunk of canary palms play a significant role in the susceptibility to RPW infestations and the recovery of infested canary palms; the results also demonstrated that control of RPW in urban landscapes is possible.

Open Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of a Portable “Dry-Type” Iontophoretic Device in Treatment of Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Palmar hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating on the palm. Although botulinum toxin is effective and safe treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis, some patients require inexpensive, easy-to-use therapeutic modalities. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a portable "dry-type" iontophoretic device for treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Twenty-three volunteers with idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis were enrolled; 20 completed the study. Participants were instructed to grasp the device with the left palm for 20minutes once a day for 4weeks. Follow-up evaluation was conducted during 4weeks after termination of the treatment session. Sweat intensity, Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), patient satisfaction assessment (PSA), and hydration capacitance were measured for evaluation of efficacy. Adverse effects were investigated for evaluation of safety. Statistically significantly greater improvement in IGA and hydration capacitance was achieved in the treated palm than in the untreated palm. Improvement in sweat intensity and PSA was not statistically significantly different in the treated and untreated palms. Two cases of mild local adverse effects were noted. The device is an effective therapeutic modality for palmar hyperhidrosis in addition to local injection of botulinum toxin, endoscopic sympathectomy, and conventional iontophoretic treatments.

EFFECTIVENESS OF USED ENGINE OIL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COCONUT MITE, ACERIA GUERRERONIS (ACARI: ERIOPHYIDAE)

The effectiveness of applying used engine oil on nuts in the management ofcoconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) wasdetermined. The numbers of coconut mites were significantly lower on nutstreated with 20%, 30% and 40% concentrations of used engine oil than thatof untreated nuts, at Udappuwa. The nuts treated with 30% mixture of usedengine oil were free from coconut mites until 60 days and negligiblethereafter indicating that it is the best concentration. Similar results wereobtained when the method was repeated at Anuradhapura. The predatorymite, Neoseiulus aff. paspalivorus was drastically affected by the treatment.A study conducted in three infested plantations at Udubaddawa, Mampuryand Anuradhapura indicated that the incidence of damage in treated palmswere significantly lower than in control palms. There were less than 3%nuts with fresh damage in treated palms compared to over 50% damagednuts in control palms in all three locations. Similarly, percentage of nutswith discontinued damage was considerably higher in treated palms than incontrol palms. The percentage of nuts with no damage at harvest wassignificantly higher in treated palms than in untreated palms irrespective oflocation, pick and frequency of application. The percentage of damagednuts in the untreated newly developed bunches of treated palms weresignificantly lower than that of untreated palms and this percentagedeclined with time in all locations. The results indicate that the.applicationof used engine oil at monthly intervals is the best frequency of applicationthat resulted in the highest percentage of nuts with no damage and thelowest damage incidence on newly developed nuts as recorded atUdubaddawa. Application of 30% used engine oil at 2-montly intervals isrecommended for the management of coconut mite. The advantages anddisadvantages of this method are discussed.

Evaluation of four isolates of Hirsutella thompsonii against coconut mite ( Aceria guerreronis) in Sri Lanka

Four Sri Lankan isolates of an entomopathogenic fungus, Hirsutella thompsonii, obtained from the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis, were tested as biopesticide treatments in two coconut mite-infested coconut estates. Two applications of a spore suspension, 2 weeks apart, were carried out on the five youngest coconut bunches, including the inflorescence. Two weeks following the second application the level of coconut mite infestation was lower in three of the four H. thompsonii treatments compared to controls, indicating a relatively quick impact on the coconut mite population. Less than 10% of the nuts receiving isolate IMI 391722 had high levels of coconut mites (>100 live mites) at 4 weeks, comparing favourably with all other treatments. As the sampling time progressed from 4 weeks until the completion of sampling at 30 weeks, efficacy was less consistent. However, with the exception of one sample date, nuts treated with IMI 391722 had a lower percentage of nuts with >100 live coconut mites than the control nuts. A significant proportion of nuts with dead coconut mites showing mycosis due to H. thompsonii was recorded for all isolates up to 6 weeks following the second application, with evidence of mycosis up to 18 weeks for isolates IMI 391722 and IMI 390486, and up to 14 and 10 weeks for IMI 391723 and IMI 391942, respectively. Nuts with dead coconut mites showing mycosis were rare on untreated palms throughout the study. Numbers of the predatory mite Neoseiulus baraki were significantly higher on the untreated nuts than the treated nuts. However, dead mites were rarely seen and there were no signs of H. thompsonii infection.

ETHREL STIMULATION OF INFLORESCENCE SAP FLOW IN TAPPED COCONUT (COCOS NUCIFERA) PALMS

The effect of Ethrel on the yield and sugar content of coconut (Cocos nucifera) inflorescence sap and sustainability of productivity was investigated on forty-year-old tall coconut palms (var. typica) at Bandirippuwa Estate, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka. Ethrel was applied at a concentration of 2.5% and the volume and sugar content of the sap were measured. Application of Ethrel consistently increased the yield per day, yield per spadix, yield per palm per annum and sugar content in the sap for a period of four years. The removal of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium with the sap was greater from Ethrel-treated than from untreated palms, and this was attributed mainly to the enhanced sap yields and sugar concentrations.

Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate Versus Palmar Hyperhidrosis

ABSTRACT: The efficacy of topical aluminium chloride hexahydrate 20% W/W ethanol (ACH) in the treatment symptomatic palmar hyperhidrosis was studied in 12 patients. A half‐sided control single blind (assessor blind) study was done. Patients applied ACH on one palm daily for 4 weeks. The response to treatment was measured objectively with an evaporimeter. There was significant fall of skin water vapor loss (SVL) on treated palms compared with untreated palms. The basal mean SVL of treated palms and untreated palms were 79·9 and 77·9 g water/m2/h, respectively (n.s.). The mean SVLs of treated vs. untreated palms at week 7, 2, 3, and 4 were 66·4 vs. 79·7 (p < 0·05), 56·6 vs. 72·2 (p < 0·001), 58·2 vs. 72·5 (p = 0·1), and 51·4 vs. 72·7 (p < 0·001) g water/m2/h, respectively. The mean SVL of treated palms returned near basal rate within 1 week of stopping treatment. Four patients developed skin irritation from ACH; in three this disappeared after 1 week and they were able to continue with treatment; one withdrew from the study because of the severe irritation. All patients reported that the ACH reduced palmar sweating within 48 hours of application; its effect disappeared within 48 hours after stopping treatment. ACH appeared to be useful in rapid control of palmar hyperhydrosis.

Reduction in Spread of Mycoplasma-like Organism-Associated Lethal Decline of the Palm, Veitchia merrilli, by Use of Insecticides12

An experiment was conducted in southern Florida in an area where Manila palms, Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H. E. Moore, were infected with mycoplasmalike organism-associated lethal decline. Manila palms were given foliar applications of insecticides (diazinon AG 500 at 13 ml/10 liters and dimethoate 400 at 26.4 ml/10 liters) biweekly for 15 months. Myndus crudus (Van Duzee) (Homoptera: Cixiidae) was the most abundant auchenorrhynchous insect sampled from the leaves of Manila palms. There were fewer M. crudus in samples from palms treated with diazinon than in samples from untreated palms (P <0.05). The apparent rate of spread of the disease declined significantly in the diazinon and dimethoate-treated plots but not in the untreated plots (P <0.05). The results suggest that a leaf-feeding insect, possibly M. crudus , is the vector of the disease agents.