ASSESSMENT OF PARASITIC NEMATODES Elaeolenchus parthenonema POINAR, ON POLLINATING WEEVIL, Elaeidobius kamerunicus AT SELECTED OIL PALM PLANTATIONS IN PAHANG, MALAYSIA

The introduction of the oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Africa in 1980s brought substantial benefit to the Malaysian economy.However, it was discovered that the weevil was parasitised by a nematode, Elaeolenchus parthenonema Poinar.This raising concern is addressed in this paper based on the assessment of the parasitic nematodes E. parthenonema on the weevil at selected oil palm plantations in Pahang, Malaysia.This study was conducted at Ladang Sungai Bebar Selatan Jerantut (peat soil), FELCRA Tembeling Tengah Jerantut (mineral soil) and MPOB Jerantut (mineral soil).The anthesis stage of oil palm male spikelets was sampled for weevil and nematode inspection.The weevils were inspected and showed a high number of nematodes from the larval, pupa, to adult stages.The nematode was not detected at the egg stage.The mean and percentage of total infected E. kamerunicus per spikelet by nematodes in March 2021 was highest at Ladang Sungai Bebar Selatan Jerantut (peat soil) with 19.19 ± 0.83, 91.03%, followed by September 2021 at 27. 04 ± 1.95, 84.88% and October 2021 at 23.74 ± 2.24, 76.45% as compared to FELCRA Tembeling Tengah Jerantut (mineral soil) and MPOB Jerantut (mineral soil).Thus, the finding of high numbers of infected E. kamerunicus with nematodes raises significant concerns regarding the negative effects of nematode parasitism on weevils.