IPM Innovation Lab Trip Reports

Transcription

1 IPM Innovation Lab Trip Reports Country Visited: Cambodia Dates of Travel: August 4-17, Travelers Names and Affiliations: Amer Fayad (IPM IL ME, Virginia Tech) and Naidu Rayapati (Washington State University), Purpose of Trip: Conduct a workshop on Training on Management and Diagnosis of Plant Virus Diseases. Sites Visited: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Description of Activities/Observations: August 4: Fayad traveled from U.S. to Cambodia August 6: Fayad reached Phnom Penh; Rayapati traveled from the U.S. to Cambodia August 8: Rayapati reached Phnom Penh; Fayad met with ide staff (Seng Kim and colleague) and discussed the purpose of this trip and the program for the field visits and the workshop. The team traveled to Kranga commune, Saang district in Kandal province. We visited several bittergourd fields. We observed no virus symptoms. We traveled to Toul Kraing village in Karing you commune in Sa ang district. The farmer, Ms. Ngech Sin grows eggplant, wax gourd, chili pepper in addition to several other crops and raises fish. We collected samples from these plants for the virus workshop. Yardlong bean had severe mite infection. Gourds showed severe downy mildew infection and eggplant showed fruit and shoot borer damage We observed virus symptoms on eggplant, chili and wax gourd. Eggplant damage caused by fruit and short borer.

2 Fayad and Ms. Ngech stand in front of Ms. Ngech s fish pond and plant nursery. Virus symptoms on eggplant

3 Waxgourd plant showing virus symptoms. In the afternoon, we met Rayapati and traveled to the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) and met with the plant pathologist and her students in the lab. We tested our samples with immune strips and stored them in the fridge for later use in the workshop. The students led us into the field where we collected samples from eggplant, yardlong bean, and papaya. We spotted samples of FTA cards for later analysis at WSU.. Eggplant showing virus symptoms

4 August 9: We visited RUA in the afternoon and set up the lab for the ELISA and met with the plant pathologist. We tested the samples and selected those to be used for the workshop. August 10-12: We designed and delivered an interactive participatory workshop with field visits, lectures, and lab work. Topics covered basic virus characteristics, epidemiology, and management. Special lectures and laboratory sessions addressed the various dimensions involved in the detection of plant viruses and the capacity to conduct these techniques in RUA. A lot of focus was put on plant virus diseases, especially those of importance to Cambodia. Rayapati discusses virus symptoms with the workshop participants. Participants were given hands-on experience in identifying virus symptoms in the field, collecting samples for disease identification, and conducting serological techniques (ELISA, Immunostrips) for virus detection. This showed that, even with limited resources and facilities, such diagnostic assays can be done successfully to achieve intended results and impacts at RUA.

5 We demonstrated ELISA including all steps involved (preparing buffers, grinding samples, loading the ELISA plates, incubating, washing, diluting antibodies, adding antibodies, substrates, and reading results). This was a two-day process involving several incubation periods. During those periods, we discussed the theoretical and practical aspects of ELISA and other serological techniques. We also discussed management of plant virus diseases and focused integrating these into IPM programs. We also shared copies of a review article Methods for the detection of plant virus diseases written by R.A. Naidu and J. d'a. Hughes. Workshop participants practicing ELISA (loading primary antibody). ELISA results. Yellow color indicates a positive reaction.

6 Fayad discusses immunostrip test results with workshop participants. August 13: Rayapati traveled back to the U.S. Fayad traveled to Siem Reap. August 16: Fayad visited ide office in Siem Reap and met with CADF project manager Khong Sophoan and discussed project activities. He was joined by Jon Eisenback and Paolo Vieira (VT PPWS) who were in Cambodia conducting a nematode survey.

7 The team visiting Siem Reap Province for the virus and nematode survey. Fayad and ide staff traveled to Preangtrum village, Lwea commune, Pouk district and visited IPM field site. Farmers are using plastic trays with coco pith and Trichoderma for seedling production. Yellow sticky traps were only used on field edges and not within the field itself. We observed virus symptoms on yardlong beans and sponge gourd. Yardlong bean plant showing mosaic symptoms.

8 The team traveled to Beungtros village, Phnom Touch commune, Mongkolborei district. There we observed tomato plants with leaf curl symptoms and capsicum with leaf spot. All samples collected were tested with immunostrips and processed on FTA cards. Tomato plant showing stunted growth and leaf curl symptoms. August 17: Fayad traveled to Phnom Penh and back to the U.S. Training Activities Conducted: Training Location Male Female Training on Diagnosis of Plant Virus RUA 6 10 Diseases in Vegetable Crops

9 Workshop participants in front of the plant sciences building at RUA. Field visit with the workshop participants.

10 Suggestions, Recommendations, and/or Follow-up Items: Based on our field visits and discussions with plant pathologists at RUA, we believe that virus diseases are major constraints to vegetable crops such as beans, cucurbits, eggplant, peppers, okra, and tomato. Almost all plant virus diagnostics/ identification in Cambodia is based on symptoms only. There are no trained virologists at the RUA or ide offices, who can carry on project activities related to IPM strategies for management of virus diseases. We propose visiting Cambodia in 2017 to continue virus surveys in dry season vegetables in Siem Reap and Batambang and conduct capacity building activities for management of virus diseases Summary Recommendations: Follow up on molecular characterization of virus samples collected to identify specific viruses. should advise farmers on virus disease management. IPM components could include the following: o resistant varieties o healthy seedlings (growing seedlings in plastic trays with coco pith, Trichoderma under net covers, rouging infected plants in the first days after transplanting) o using appropriate crop density o controlling virus vectors o removing infected crop residues o removing alternate weed hosts o crop rotation List of Contacts Made: Name Kim Hian SENG An Moyngech Khong Sophan Title/Organization Project Coordinator, IPM and Agronomy Adviser ide Cambodia IPM IL research assistant CADF, ide Siem Reap Project Manager, CADF ide Siem Reap Contact Info (address, phone, ) CAMBODIA AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FACILITY, ide Cambodia Tel skimhian@ideglobal.org CADF, ide Siem Reap Tel moyngech@ideglobal.org CADF, ide Siem Reap Tel ksophoan@ideglobal.org

11 Bun Saborn Lyda Hok Horticulture Value Chain Advisor Lecturer and Researcher- RUA CHAIN Cambodia Horticulture Advancing Income and Nutrition Project. Phnom Pen Tel Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) Phnom Penh Tel