نقاط قوت و ضعف مدیریت کرم گلوگاه انار Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lep.: Pyralidae) در ایران و راهبرد آینده

Pomegranate is one of the oldest orchard fruits in Iran. This precious fruit has been attacked by the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lep.: Pyralidae) for more than 40 years. In order to control this pest, from the stamen elimination in the 50s to non-chemical methods have been used in recent years including: rearing and releasing Trichogramma spp., the use of: repellent compounds, sex pheromones, kaolin, sterile males, light traps, resistant cultivars, and collection and destruction of infected pomegranates. However, the gardeners are not satisfied with these control methods. The purpose of this abstract is to strengthen the management of this pest and reduce the shortcomings, to provide new solutions, and finally for the gardeners to benefit from exchange of perspectives. The lack of satisfaction of the gardeners and the annual damage caused by this pest are due to some reasons: 1- Some of the methods used to control the pest are pure scientific and experimental methods, but there are problems in the implementation of these methods, such as mass rearing of Trichogramma release (ambiguities: suitable strain, rearing conditions, time and method of release, evaluation) or stamen removal (failure to remove the correct and complete stamens, the presence of many ladybugs in the pomegranate calyx in some orchards); 2- The lack of financial and moral support of policymakers in the country. 3- New and effective management methods are needed. It should also be recognized that in orchards, ICM should replace IPM. One of the important points in the failure of a significant number of gardeners in the pest management is the lack of application of good horticultural practices: timely pruning, plant nutrition, and collection and destruction of infected pomegranates. These principles in management of this pest are generally neglected. In addition, smallholder of pomegranate orchards are problems in many regions of the country. For future, for the short and medium term, promoting the management employed by leading gardeners, upgrading the method of Trichogramma application, using other parasitoids such as Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, the application of Ferula assafoetida extract/essential oil, pomegranate crown management: stamen elimination, calyx covering in the form of integrated pest management, can retain the healthy/ organic Iranian pomegranate production. Finally, one of the compounds that can be promising for controlling this pest, after laboratory investigations and detailed field evaluation, is the combination of scientific methods and appropriate use of Bacillus thuringiensis as an eco-friendly compound. These studies have been started in the Plant Protection Department at the University of Tehran. Of course, this proposal can be accelerated with the cooperation of other specialists. In the end it is reminded that scientific honesty is one of the inevitable principles in all research activities.