Original Article

Potential effect of aromatic plants on insect population and fruit quality in rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L)

Francisco Javier Marroquín-Agreda¹ 

Magdiel Gabriel-Hernández¹ 

Humberto Osorio-Espinoza^{1  *} 

Ernesto Toledo-Toledo¹ 

¹Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Entronque Carretera Costera y Estación Huehuetán; Apdo. Postal 34; Huehuetán, Chiapas, México. CP 30660

ABSTRACT

Rambutan acreage in the Soconusco, region of Mexico, Chiapas is over 2000 hectares, mostly under monocultural agrosystems based on the high use of external inputs. The experiment was carried out from august 2013 to june 2014 in a four year-old plantation (from planting), located in the Huixtla municipality, Chiapas; with the objective of evaluating the allelopathic and attractive potential of aromatic plants on the entomofauna and commercial quality of rambutan, three plant species were evaluated: Origanum vulgare, Ocimum basilicum and Tagetes erecta, associated with the cultivation of rambutan; under an experimental design in random blocks with four treatments and five repetitions where indicators of abundance, food habit of insects and quality of fruits of rambutan were measured. The results showed that the aromatic plants increase the abundance of insects, with a total of 13 481 individuals distributed in 13 orders and 87 families; 32.00 % corresponds to insects associated with Ocimum basilicum, 30.03 % Origanum vulgare, 21.07 % to the control and 16.88 % to Tagetes erecta. Ocimum basilicum had the highest percentage of beneficial insects (2.08 %), O. vulgare (1.15), T. erecta (1.11), the control being lower (0.85 %); however, O vulgare presented the highest number of mealy bugs. In the reproductive phase there are differences in the dates of flowering and anthesis; where, O. basilicum has a precocity of 17 days with respect to the traditional system. The parameters of commercial quality (weight and soluble solids) are improved with the association of aromatic plants, mainly with Tagetes erecta.

Key words: association; abundance; family; flowering and insects

INTRODUCTION

The rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) in Mexico is cultivated in five states: Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Michoacán and Nayarit ¹. The Soconusco, Chiapas, emphasizes to overcome the 2000 ha ², surface that is distributed in 716 producers of this exotic fruit; being thus the backyard horticultural system and the economic pillar of numerous family nuclei. However, production methods and techniques are based on decisions of chemical control and under a monoculture structure; which favors the deterioration of the productivity and quality of the fruit, in addition to the incidence of insects, such as the case of the mealybug (Planococcus lilacinus) hemiptera of the insect class, considered a pest; however, the United States of North America has this pest in quarantine, thereby affecting the export of fruits to countries such as Japan ³.

In the face of agroproductive deterioration, the incidence of pests in fruit orchards and the promising results of Tagetes erecta on the growth and quality of Cedrela odorata; the association of aromatic species such as oregano (Origanum vulgare), basil (Ocinum basilicum) and dead flower (Tagetes erecta) could offer a potential in allelopathy of pests and attractants of pollinating insects, or as plant breeders in quality or floral inductor of fruit species ⁴. Given this premise, the present work focuses its objectives on the evaluation of the allelopathic and attractive potential of aromatic plants on the entomofauna and commercial quality of rambutan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The investigation was carried out during the productive period August 2013 - June 2014, in a plot cultivated with rambutan of four years of established, with distancing of 10x10 m. Located in Huixtla municipality, Chiapas, Mexico, in the parallels 15° 10'23.00'' north latitude and 92° 32'02.00'' west longitude, at an altitude of 27 m a.s.l. The environmental conditions prevail with average annual temperature of 28 °C, minimum of 14 °C and maximum of 42 °C. Rainfall ranges between 2.500 and 3.000 mm per year. The predominant soils are of the cambisol type, with a light loam-silty texture. During the experiment the individual interactions of three species of aromatic plants (Origanum vulgare, Ocimum basilicum and Tagetes erecta) associated with a system of rambutan production were evaluated, all of them in comparison with the control (without association). The spatial arrangement of the aromatic species was in contour grooves to the outer limit of the drip area of the rambutan trees, with a distance of 40 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants. When the aromatic species reached a height ±50 cm vegetative pruning was carried out with frequency of 15 days, strategy for the liberation of secondary metabolites and to promote the production of biomass. The treatments were randomized under an experimental design of randomized complete blocks, with four treatments (three associations+control) and five repetitions (rambutan tree), in a total area of 4 200 m².

For the capture of the insects, an entomological net of 50 cm diameter was used, 10 double hits of the net were made, five on the aromatic plants and five on the rambutan trees, during the period November 2013 - June 2014 (flowering of rambutan). The classification was carried out in the biology laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the Autonomous University of Chiapas, with the support of a binocular digital stereoscope model ED-1805 and taxonomic keys ⁵, based on a guide of beneficial insects. , was classified according to order and family, as well as their eating habits (predators, parasitoids and pollinators) ⁶. Also, during the development of the fruits of rambutan, abundance evaluations of the mealybug were carried out and in the visual physiological maturity of the fruits, 25 fruits were collected from the trees for treatment, to which the quality parameters were determined: fruit weight (g), fruit diameter (cm), fruit length (cm), aryl weight (g), aryl diameter (cm), aryl length (cm), soluble solids (°Brix), pH and titratable acidity.

The results were analyzed with the statistical software Statgraphics centurion version XVI.I, with which a variance analysis of simple classification and application of the Tukey multiple range test was performed for the cases of significance at a 95 % probability of error.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Abundance of insects refers to the wealth of individuals that present themselves in a defined spatio-temporal dimension, resulting from the set of interactions between species that are integrated. The total insect abundance accumulated during the development of the experiment was 13 481 individuals in an area of 4 200 m²; according to the statistical analysis and the Tukey test. The associations with the highest total abundance were O. basilicum with 4 315 individuals, representing 32 % of the total of insects collected; O. vulgare with 4.049 (30 %) and control 2 841 (21 %), compared with T. erecta 2 276 (17 %); the latter was statistically lower than O. basilicum (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Abundance of insects in a rambutan orchard with interspersed aromatic species 

The fluctuations of the abundance of insects associated with aromatic plants, is based on being a source of nectar, pollen, biomass and secondary metabolites that act as attractant or repellent of individuals of the insect class, mainly of the orders Diptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Therefore, T. erecta contains Pyrethrins and Thiophenes, which are the responsible metabolites with allelopathic properties against insects and worms ⁷. However, the volatile properties of O. basilicum do not produce repellency for some insects, likewise other authors ⁸, they found that when applying extracts of basil, pepper, sage and guinea henweed they determined a higher incidence of insects, showing damage in banana fruits; so the products were not efficient for the control of Colaspis sp., concluding that the aromatic O. basilicumes source of food and host for a wide diversity of insects. Similar studies found the presence of 18 families and 22 species associated with O vulgare, some feeding on stems and leaves and others on the plant without defining the relationship with it. Tetraniquids or red spiders (Tetranychidae) were the most abundant, followed by two species of ants (Formicidae) and one species of grasshopper (Orthoptera), as well as the bug Fulvios sp (Miridae), which feeds on coleopteran larvae ⁹.

The population of insects associated with the inflorescence of rambutan was divided into three groups: phytophages, natural enemies and pollinators. Among the phytophages, the Formicidae family was more abundantly and frequently observed, and less frequently, the families Cicadadellidae, Membracidae, Cercopidae, Otitidae, Droshophilidae, Brentidae, Staphylinidae. Among the natural enemies collected are the family Therevidae, Sphecidae, Culicidae, Termitidae, Reduviidae and Chysopidae ¹⁰. The pollinators in order of importance were: Apidae and Vespidae. However, in the agroecosystem rambutan-aromatic plants, the phytophages with the greatest abundance were the Formicidae family, which were found on the aromatic plants causing defoliation. Insects of parasitoid habits and predators include the families Sirphydae, Culicidae, Vespidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Tachinidae and Muscidae. The pollinators in order of importance were: Apidae and Syrphidae. Some authors report that the Vespidae family can be a pollinating insect and others as a predator ⁽¹¹. From the total of insects collected (13 481), the grouped ones according to their activity associated with the agroecosystem rambutan represent 10.37 %, the rest (89.63%) has not been reported with any specific activity for the crop.

The mealybugs (Planococcus lilacinus) are insects of the family Pseudococcidae, belongs to Hemiptera order, limiting the commercialization of diverse crops and fruits. It is a cosmopolitan pests and in Mexico it is considered of cuarentenary importance ¹². During the development of this research, this pest was presented in the stages of development and maturity of rambutan fruits, however, the percentage of infesting (Table 1), was higher in O. vulgare (0.77 %) and O. basilicum (0.31 %), being samller in presence of T. erecta (0.25 %) and the control (0.15 %). Furthermore, O. vulgare and O. basilicum behave as attracting plants of mealybugs (Table 1). Other species like spearmint (Lippia alba Mill), salvia (Lippia geminata Kunth) and basil (Ocimum sanctum L.), are hosted of mealybugs, for this, the families more delicious for it are son las malváceas, leguminous y moráceas ¹³.

Table 1 Infestation of mealybug in rambutan fruits in association with aromatic plants 

Treatments	Total fruits/5 trees	Infested Fruits	% Infestation
Origanum vulgare	1 215.0	25	0.77
Ocimum basilicum	452.5	10	0.31
Tagetes erecta	828.0	8	0.25
Control	727.5	5	0.15
	3 223.0

The reproductive cycle of rambutan for the coast of Soconusco, Chiapas fluctuates from 100 to 130 days, the flowering period is comprised between the months of January - April and the harvest period June - July. Likewise, for other countries such as Honduras and Costa Rica, the cycle of this exotic fruit varies from 105 to 130 days. The early production (May) of rambutan fruits acquire high prices, causing the quality of the fruit to deteriorate due to the immature (green) fruit harvests. Based on the results of the research, the flowering of rambutan in the associations with O. vulgare, O. basilicum and the witness started in the first half of February and T. erecta at the end of January, thus having the harvest during the months May-June. Being the witness with the largest number of days from flowering (DFF) until the commercial maturity of the fruits with 127 DFF, following T. erecta with 121 DFF, later O. vulgare at 120 DFF and O. basilicum with 110 DFF reducing the number of days for the harvest of rambutan in Chiapas, under the edaphoclimatic conditions present in the research area. According to some researchers ¹⁴, one of the responsible for this event is salicylic acid, secondary metabolites best studied in terms of its natural distribution and function, this simple phenol is present in the reproductive structures and leaves of aromatic species employed in agriculture like those used for this work. This acid induces flowering, participates in the regulation of cell membrane potential and the resistance of diseases ¹⁵. There are reports that mention the effect of salicylic acid in the induction of flowering of the chrysanthemum, 37 days after transplantation (DAT) compared to the control where it occurred at 43 DAT. Likewise, salicylic acid reduces the synthesis of ethylene and in some species this causes a delay in the senescence of flowers or induction of flowering ¹⁶, as is the case of O. basilicum that was harvested 17 days apart in comparison with the control. According to other authors ¹⁷, the cultivation of rambutan is cultivated in zones ranging from 0 to 800 m a.s.l.; altitude range, where the aromatic species offer an important alternative for the precocity of the harvest, since the production of early fresh fruit acquires a value of USD $ 1.10 per kg, while 15 days later, the price is set at USD $ 0.55.

The rambutan is a non-climacteric fruit, which is why the fruit must be harvested when it has reached the optimum conditions of edible quality and visual appearance. The commercialization of rambutan fruits, it is based on the quality standards (CODEX STAN 246-2005) ¹⁸. According to the results obtained in the association of aromatic plants in contour to the area of trickling of rambutan trees, it was observed that T. erecta has a marked influence on the commercial quality of fruits (Table 2), Even when , the quality in fruits are established ranges in export standards, another agronomic practice should be considered such as: pruning, banding, water stress and their combinations, that permits shelf life, fruits quality and the post-harvest ¹⁹. Likewise, a study on entomophilous pollination and thinning of fruits in rambutan, mention that the free pollination of rambutan influences the fruit weight (25 g), followed by the treatment of fruit thinning with 18.2 g, compared with treatments where the visit of insects in the inflorescences of rambutan was controlled ²⁰. In the same way, the mooring of fruits was greater with the free pollination (7.35 %) compared with the treatment with covered flowers (2.85 %).

Table 2 Parameters of quality of fruits of rambutan with association of aromatic plants 

Variables	Origanum vulgare	Ocimum basilicum	Tagetes erecta	Control
Fruit weight (g)	23.13 *ab	17.95 *b	28.88 *a	23.36 *ab
Diameter of fruit (cm)	3.10 *ab	2.44 *b	4.08 *a	2.72 *b
Length of fruit (cm)	3.85 *ab	3.33 *ab	4.35 *a	3.76 *ab
Weight of the aril (g)	10.61 *ab	8.58 *b	14.64 *a	12.27 *ab
Diameter of the aril (cm)	2.26 *ab	1.81 b	2.44 *a	2.02 *ab
Length of the aril (cm)	2.99 *ab	2.46 *b	3.22 *a	2.69 *ab
Soluble solids (ºBrix)	18.26 *a	15.10 *a	19.03 *a	17.00 *a
pH	4.37 *a	3.53 *a	4.42 *a	3.69 *a
Titratable acidity	2.12 *a	1.72 *a	1.89 *a	1.19 *b

* Values with different letter in each line represents significant difference between treatments (Tukey at 0.05%)

CONCLUSIONS

• The associations with O. basilicum and O. vulgare in the cultivation of rambutan favor the attraction of insects, thus increasing the entomological abundance in the crop; likewise, they respond positively to the infestation of the mealybug (Planococcuslilacinus) hemiptera of the insect class. They are excellent plants for the attraction of formicids, insects considered as phytophagous associated to the inflorescence of the rambutan; however, O. basilicum, was the best association in the attraction of beneficial insects; parasitoids (0.92 %) and predators (0.24 %).

• T. erecta was the best association that acts as an insect repellent.

• The commercial quality of the fruit is favored by the association of aromatics, especially with T. erecta.

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Received: January 31, 2018; Accepted: December 12, 2018

^*Author for correspondence. [e-mail]