A recent scientific study has unveiled significant differences in the bacteria residing within the cochineal insect found in the regions of Al Hoceima and Marrakech. This discovery is anticipated by Moroccan researchers to potentially aid in the development of innovative strategies to combat the pest, which has inflicted extensive damage on cactus cultivation in the country since its emergence over a decade ago.
The findings, published in the journal "Frontiers in Microbiology," indicate that the insects collected from Al Hoceima exhibit a greater bacterial diversity compared to those gathered from Marrakech, whether in the intestines and ovaries of adult females or in the nymphs. This is not merely a statistical exercise; the researchers aim to determine if certain microorganisms assist the cochineal in feeding, growth, or reproduction. If such relationships are identified, disrupting them could provide an alternative method for pest control in the future.
Researchers from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University have collected samples from the regions of Ait Hicham, Tamassint, and Tila Youssef in Al Hoceima, as well as from three locations in Marrakech, subsequently subjecting these samples to genetic analysis to identify the bacteria present within the insect. The team selected two areas with contrasting climatic conditions; Al Hoceima is characterized by more humid Mediterranean conditions, while Marrakech experiences a drier climate. This approach aimed to explore how environmental factors are correlated with the bacterial composition of the pest.
The tests produced approximately 2.84 million genetic readings, revealing that the Al Hoceima samples are richer in bacterial species, with notable differences in dominant groups between the two regions and at various developmental stages of the insect. This diversity is significant because many insects rely on the bacteria within their bodies for vital functions. Consequently, researchers seek to transition from merely identifying “who lives inside the pest” to understanding “what they do there.”
For instance, if specific bacteria are found to aid the cochineal insect in obtaining nutrients that it cannot independently supply, or enhance its reproductive capacity or environmental resilience, targeting these bacteria could weaken the pest itself. However, it is important to note that the study has not yet provided a new treatment for the cactus nor demonstrated that the identified bacteria are responsible for the insect's ability to proliferate. Researchers emphasize the necessity for functional studies to ascertain the role of each discovered bacterial species.
These findings come as Morocco continues its efforts to reclaim areas of cactus that have been lost since the arrival of the cochineal insect in the region of Sidi Bennour in 2014, before it spread to other production areas. The insect lives on the plant in dense colonies, sucking its sap, which leads to yellowing, drying, and eventually death of the plant as the infestation worsens. Its spread has dealt a blow to a crop that thrives in dry and semi-arid regions, providing income for farmers and cooperatives dependent on cactus fruits and derivatives.
Before the pest's arrival, the area cultivated with cactus in Morocco exceeded 150,000 hectares, but the pest has since caused significant losses. This situation prompted authorities to implement measures including the uprooting of infested plants, the application of pesticides, and the search for resistant varieties. Significant progress has been made, with the National Institute of Agricultural Research identifying eight resistant varieties, which later formed the foundation for a cactus replanting program.
According to the institute, Morocco produced over 16.3 million resistant seedlings between 2021 and 2025, with the national program aiming to replant 122,000 hectares by 2028, involving investments of around 1.4 billion dirhams. However, providing plants capable of withstanding pest attacks does not preclude the search for methods to combat the pest itself, especially considering the constraints associated with reliance on chemical pesticides and their environmental impacts.
Thus, scientists are concurrently exploring more targeted biological control methods. The new study positions the bacteria associated with the pest as a potential avenue for these approaches, having shown that their composition varies across different regions and is linked to environmental factors. For Al Hoceima, a higher variety of bacteria does not imply that the pest there is more dangerous than its counterpart in Marrakech, but it does offer researchers a broader array of potential interactions between the pest and the microbes living alongside it.
The critical test in the next phase will be to ascertain whether severing one of these relationships genuinely impacts the pest's ability to survive or reproduce. Should experiments verify this, Morocco may augment its arsenal of resistant varieties with an additional method to combat the cochineal pest, targeting one of its biological needs rather than solely relying on pesticide attacks.
As reported by tanja24.com.
