Identification of Insect Pests with Potential to Limit Yield in Tylosema esculentum and Tylosema fassoglense

Résumé fourni par la source

Tylosema esculentum and Tylosema fassoglense are highly nutritious, drought tolerant perennial legumes that typically grow in nutrient poor soil in hot environments. Despite marama beans being the ideal crop for domestication, the legume remains unexploited. Marama beans are prone to infestation by insect pests although limited information exists in literature on the pests of the legumes. Insect pests of marama beans that could pose a threat to yield were identified in this study. Active and passive insect collection methods were undertaken on marama plants growing in the wild in the North West and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. Sampled insects were identified manually and by molecular methods. Identified insects were from the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Odonata, Mantodea, Diptera and Blattodea. Coleopteran, Orthopteran and Hemipteran adults caused damage to leaves and flowers while Lepidopteran larvae caused damage to the leaves, pods and seeds. Identified insects have the potential to limit yield of marama beans, therefore this study presents an opportunity for the determination of abundance of specific pests, the extent of damage as it relates to productivity to establish relevant pest management practices.