APPLE SNAIL (Pomacea

maculata): A NEW

INVADING PEST IN RICE

FIELDS IN EUROPE

International Temperate

Rice Conference6-9 March 2017 Griffith, NSW, Australia

Mª del Mar Català (mar.catala@irta.cat)

Placing our rice area...

Spain

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Ebro Delta

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Golden Apple Snail (GAS)

• Listed in the 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species (IAS).

• Originates from South America.

• GAS was detected in Ebro Delta in 2009.

• It is the first case of naturalization of this species in Europe.

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Invasion process

http://www.recercat.cat/bitstream/handle/2072/169365/Caragol_poma.pdf?sequence=4

Irrigations channels

Drainage channels

Origin area

Evolution of the GAS presence in Ebro Delta

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2010: 576 ha detected 2011: 847 ha detected

2012: 1.576 ha detected 2013: 2.300 ha detected

Golden Apple Snail

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• GAS is herbivorous and feeds on almost any kind of vegetation.

• Sexual dimorphism in size and shape.

The invasiveness is related to its inherent characteristics

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• A high reproductive rate,

• adaptability to harsh environmental conditions,

• ability to invade diverse habitats,

• a wide host range and voracious appetite,

• no efficient biocontrol agents,

• long survival rate: > 4 years,

• and an ability to compete with the native snail speciesand native fauna.

Damages caused by GAS in rice fields

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• Apple snail species of the genus Pomacea are well known inseveral areas of the world where they have been introduced(e.g. Southeast Asia, South America) for its invasive natureand high ecological and economic impacts.

• Most significant impacts are related to rice farming,because apple snail eats rice seedlings in early development,which coincides with crop establishment phase.

30 days after seeding: rice field destroyed by apple snails

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• GAS is a highly voracious nocturnal herbivore. It candestroy newly direct-seeded rice.

• The snails’ activity is determined by the water level in thepaddy fields.

• The degree of damage depends on the size andpopulation density of the snails.

Rice plants damaged by snails at tillering stage

Damages caused by GAS in rice fields

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• For chemical control of the Golden apple snail, there are relatively few products

available which have good efficacy, low user toxicity, and satisfactory environmental

tolerability.

In Ebro Delta, SAPONINS and CALCIUM CYANAMIDE are used.

• SAPONIN is now widely used for the control of apple snails. It has a good efficacy.

This product is exceptionally authorized by the authorities.

• This product doesn’t present any plant toxicity and it could be applied during all the

crop cycle.

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

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CALCIUM CYANAMIDE

• Cyanamide application is an environmental practice that can be

used with two main objectives, to control apple snails and to

fertilize the field.

• To increase the snail control and to avoid plant damage, the

cyanamide should de applied 7 days before sowing and on

standing water to stimulate snails activity.

snails classified by sizes for

experimental purposes

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

Calcium Cyanamide

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Calcium Cyanamide Efficacy

dat: days after treatment

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FERRIC PHOSPHATE

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

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FERRIC PHOSPHATE

Two different bait granules with 29,7 g/kg ferric-III-

phosphate were tested in laboratory and field conditions.

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

Sluxx Neu

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FERRIC PHOSPHATE

- 60% of GAS mortality

- Rice seedling are protected

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

Laboratory trials

At sowing

moment.

GAS prefers to eat

Ferric Phosphate

than rice.

24 hours after

treatment.

GAS hasn’t eaten

rice plants on

Ferric Phosphate

treatment.

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Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

FERRIC PHOSPHATE

Field trials

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A

AAB

AB

BC

C

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

No GAS Neu 2+2g/m2

Sluxx4g/m2

Neu 4g/m2

Sluxx 2+2g/m2

check

Yie

ld(k

g/h

a)

Field trial results

Chemical control against GAS in Ebro Delta

FERRIC PHOSPHATE

It is necessary to continue working to adjust doses of the

products on commercial rice fields.

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

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• Manual collection

• Containment measures

Images: Miquel Ángel López.

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Burning the vegetation

Quicklime application

Drying during autumn and

winter and/or fallow land

Images: Miquel Ángel López.

Dredging

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

• Treatment of rice fields with sea water

Conditions according to Resolution AAM/2529/2014

• Flood each plot with sea water for20 days and no more than 30 days.

• Permanent salinity levels above75% salinity of water source.

• Water levels completely coveringthe fields.

• Private drains kept at maximumlevels with seawater.

• Reference minimum salinity > 30dS/m.

Images: Miquel Ángel López.

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

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• Sea water treatments Negative impact on rice plants and yield.

Visual salinity effects on soil and rice plants

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

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• Sea water treatments Negative impact on rice plants and yield.

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

www.neurice.eu

Project period: 2016-2020

Field trials in Ebro Delta: 2018-2020

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The main objective of the project is to develop strategies for rice productivity, stability and

quality by developing New comercial European RICE harbouring salt tolerance alleles to

protect the rice sec tor against climate change and apple snail invasion.

• Introducing new cultivation techniques in Ebro Delta: Dry seeded rice.

Traditional sowing (flooded soil) Dry seeded rice (dry soil)

Possible

negative

impact on

rice plants

because of

soil salinity.

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

• Introducing new cultivation techniques in Ebro Delta: Dry seeded rice.

Non-chemical measures in Ebro Delta

Dry seeded riceConventional seeded rice

• Dry seeded rice prevents plant damages caused by GAS during the

establishment stage because GAS can’t live without water.

• Dry seeded rice is being tested in Ebro Delta in different experiments to study

the factors can affect its implementation (soil texture, soil salinity, fertilization,

varieties, etc..).

Official brochures to avoid the Apple Snail invasion

Official brochures to avoid the Apple Snail invasion

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Thanks for your attention!