Projects / Programmes
Development, optimization and implementation of sustainable control methods against plant pests
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B390 |
Biomedical sciences |
Phytotechny, horticulture, crop protection, phytopathology |
biological control, natural products, predators, pests, insects, snails, development, optimization, implementation
Researchers (14)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Slovenia is, according to its use of pesticides, somewhere in the middle of the list of the EU countries, but it is on the top of the list if compared to climatically comparable countries. The national program of environmental protection predicts further diminishing of pesticide use, introducing of sustainable agriculture and preventing further increase of the pollution from well defined and less defined sources. The proposed project aims at contributing to environmentally more acceptable food production using natural pesticides and biological control agents, their development as well as optimization and implementation of their use. During a three-year investigation we plan to test several insecticidally and limacidally active plant extracts. The knowledge on these agents is for the time being either very partial or completely lacking. Simultaneously, a method for massive rearing for autochtonous populations of three predatory species (Coccinella septempunctata, Chrysoperla carnea in Aeolothrips intermedius) for a medium size enterprise will be developed. Our hypothesis being that the insecticidal/limacidal effectiveness of plant extracts as well as fertility, vitality and predatory efficacy of the insects studied depends on various abiotic and biotic factors, but on the other hand it should be possible to optimize their activity by first studying each of them separately and then upgrading these studies by adding the research on their interactions. Such a knowledge is then directly applicable to optimization of their activity and further on to implement their use in food production in Slovenia and abroad. Natural compounds which will show the best insecticidal/limacidal activities in the laboratory will be taken to further testing in natural environment (field, greenhouse) and the best will be suggested for practical applications. Optimal methods for massive rearing for the three predatory insect species will be established under laboratory conditions, these will be further used in the research facilities of the enterprise Unichem d.o.o.
Significance for science
- we developed a simple computer software, which tracks object movements (insects) in the space and it is applied in the investigations of insecticide/repellent activity of selected substances,
- we established that parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita does not occur in Arion slugs,
- in the snail Arion lusitanicus we found parasitic nematode Alloionema appendiculatum,
- we found out that some substances, which harm the snail membrane (desiccation) irreversible when contact control is applied, do not act stomachal on mentioned molluscs,
- we confirmed the limacidal efficacy of bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, sodium dodecil sulphate and pirimicarb,
- we found out that many substances, which proved to be effective against different slugs and snails, do not have limacidal effect on Arion slugs distributed in Slovenia,
- in laboratory conditions we confirmed the potential of thujone as alternative to synthetic insecticides when controling sycamore lace bug (Corythucha ciliata),
- in field conditions essential oil of rosemary showed the best insecticidialy activity on Colorado potato beetle when controlling it on egg plant,
- in field conditions we determined the insensitiveness of fungus Phytophthora infestans on tested natural substances but which showed efficacy in laboratory experiments of other authors,
- we confirmed the effect of geochemical composition of diatomaceous earth on its insecticidal effect; samples with higher SiO2 content had better efficacy in controlling the rice weevil,
- among the other components of diatomaceous earth MnO and CaO had certain insecticidal effect,
- we confirmed that local types of quartz sands from Slovenia are ineffective against the rice weevil adults.
Significance for the country
- continuation and intensifying of researches in the field of environmentally friendly methods of controlling pest organisms, which is aimed in production of healthy food,
- first introduction of domestic types of diatomaceous earth (location Bela Cerkev) and quartz sands (locations Moravče and Raka-Ravno) in the experiment of mechanical control of stored products pests,
- confirmaton of low insecticidal efficacy of Slovenian types of quartz sands,
- finding that Slovenian sample of diatomaceous earth has lower insecticidal efficacy compared to Greek and Serbian samples,
- first results of controlling sycamore lace bug, which becomes more and more important pest of plane trees in Slovenia, with finding that this pest can be controlled environmentally friendly in the open,
- confirmation of aggressiveness of Slovenian strain of the fungus Phytophthora infestans, which can not be controlled environmentally friendly in field conditions,
- results of laboratory experiments of controlling Arion slugs confirm the fact that the results of the similar experiments from other regions can not be non-critically used in Slovenian environmental conditions.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
