Invasion of Patchiella reaumuri (Kaltenbach, 1843) on taro roots in Asia: a biosecurity concern and new threat to indigenous taro landraces

Abstract

The invasive taro root aphid, Patchiella reaumuri (Kaltenbach) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of Western Palearctic origin, is a highly devastating pest of taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (Family: Araceae) in the Pacific region and Europe. Consequently, P. reaumuri is considered as an important quarantine pest for taro growing regions. We detected for the first time the infestation of P. reaumuri causing 34.3% yield loss in the field and 62.4% loss in storage. This is the first taxonomically confirmed record of P. reaumuri from Asia and a global first record of its damage in storage. The northeast region of India, being a part of primary centre of origin of taro, is very rich in diversity of taro, where several traditional landraces are important dietary components of the residents, therefore, the invasion of destructive P. reaumuri may wreak havoc, if not timely diagnosed and managed. This study focussed on the detection of P. reaumuri in a new invaded region, on reporting losses caused by P. reaumuri in its new habitat, and the presentation of an illustrative morphological diagnostic and DNA barcode for its diagnosis at quarantine ports .