Products containing microorganisms as a tool in integrated pest management and the rules of their market placement in the European Union

Products containing microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) can be used in plant production as an intervention as well as a prevention method for pest control. Their utilisation is strictly in line with the principles of integrated pest management, provided that they are effective and safe. The rules of registration of microorganisms for crop production in the European Union differ, depending on whether they are placed on the market as plant protection products or not. For over 20 years, uniform rules for registration of plant protection products have been in force. Currently, 36 microorganisms marked up to the strain are approved for use in pest control in the Community. The decision concerning market placement of plant protection products containing approved microorganisms is issued for each member state separately. The approaches to market placement of other products with microorganisms differ within the EU, ranging from a complete lack of requirements to long and costly registration procedures. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Plant Protection and Production in Modern Society1

Many currently existing agricultural production techniques have been developed in total reliance on effective chemical pest control. Today, however, it is becoming clear that chemical pest control has a number of limitations, and its ever increasing costs may well make it a limiting factor in agricultural production. This has already occurred in a number of cotton growing areas. The need for increased world food production will require improved pest control methods. If no special precautions are taken, we will undoubtedly end up in many other crops with a situation similar to that of cotton. In view of the reduced availability of new pesticides, those currently available should be used in the optimal way. At the present time, the integrated pest control approach is the best means of accomplishing this. The introduction of such programs will require official support through legislation or technical assistance. In the future, various new developments in pest control are to be expected. Greater reliance will be placed on the use of computer science. Further effort will be needed in areas such as crop loss assessment, stored product pests, technical assistance to farmers and pesticide selectivity. Closer international collaboration on plant quarantine matters and pesticide registration are essential for the future of pest control.     

FAO Crop Protection Activities in Cereal Growing2

FAO is responsible for various projects in cereal growing that have a crop protection component. Within this the overall approach followed is along the lines of integrated pest control. The following field activities are briefly reviewed: research on and control of grain-eating birds; breeding for stable resistance in wheat; integrated pest control in sorghum and millet; integrated pest control in rice-growing in South and Southeast Asia; reduction of post-harvest losses. The effective application of new plant protection technology depends on a better understanding of the agro-ecosystem concerned in order to make maximal use of knowledge collected elsewhere.     

Determinants of farmers’ decisions on pesticide use in oriental tobacco: a survey of common practices

Information about pesticide use and perceptions of their risks among farmers is important for identifying problems associated with pest-control decisions and developing appropriate management practices in given crops. In tobacco, a plant sensitive to many pests and diseases, such information is lacking. The patterns of pesticide use in oriental tobacco, as well as the most important factors for farmers’ decisions relating to chemical pest control were studied among randomly selected farmers in northern Greece on the basis of self-reported information acquired through a pre-tested questionnaire. High reliance of farmers on pesticides and field use of all well-known classes of chemical pesticides were reported. While all the active ingredients reported were registered for pest control in tobacco, they differed considerably in terms of toxicity. A normal cropping season received at least 14–16 pesticide applications for soil disinfection, pest control, and weed control. Most farmers stated that they usually spray chemicals on a calendar basis or on the first appearance of a pest. Efficacy on target pests and market price of the pesticide products to be used were the most important criteria for selection of pesticides, i.e. products that are considered to be highly effective and/or that are cheap are more likely to be selected. Better-educated and more experienced farmers were found to pay more attention to environmental safety and pesticide toxicity. Most farmers felt that pesticide use can reduce crop damage by more than 75%, assuring high yields. Main determinants of pesticide use were primarily the fear of severe yield and economic losses and the doubts about the effectiveness and the correct implementation of alternative pest-control methods. Pesticide use could be reduced by exposing farmers to improved pest-control practices such as site-specific integrated pest management.     

Common vole (Microtus arvalis) ecology and management: implications for risk assessment of plant protection products

Common voles (Microtus arvalis) are common small mammals in some European landscapes. They can be a major rodent pest in European agriculture and they are also a representative generic focal small herbivorous mammal species used in risk assessment for plant protection products. In this paper, common vole population dynamics, habitat and food preferences, pest potential and use of the common vole as a model small wild mammal species in the risk assessment process are reviewed. Common voles are a component of agroecosystems in many parts of Europe, inhabiting agricultural areas (secondary habitats) when the carrying capacity of primary grassland habitats is exceeded. Colonisation of secondary habitats occurs during multiannual outbreaks, when population sizes can exceed 1000 individuals ha^?1. In such cases, in‐crop common vole population control management has been practised to avoid significant crop damage. The species' status as a crop pest, high fecundity, resilience to disturbance and intermittent colonisation of crop habitats are important characteristics that should be reflected in risk assessment. Based on the information provided in the scientific literature, it seems justified to modify elements of the current risk assessment scheme for plant protection products, including the use of realistic food intake rates, reduced assessment factors or the use of alternativee focal rodent species in particular European regions. Some of these adjustments are already being applied in some EU member states. Therefore, it seems reasonable consistently to apply such pragmatic and realistic approaches in risk assessments for plant protection products across the EU. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

促进农作物病虫害绿色防控技术推广应用——2011至2017年全国农作物重大病虫害防控技术方案要点评述

本文介绍并评述了2011-2017年全国农作物重大病虫害防控技术方案要点。这些技术方案主要从贯彻病虫害综合治理原则, 实施重大病虫分区治理、实施联防联控策略, 遵循“节本增效”技术路线, 促进绿色防控技术措施与专业化统防统治融合等方面, 来促进农作物病虫害防控方式的转变和绿色防控技术的推广应用。特别是从增强农田生物多样性入手, 组装配套生态调控措施, 在采用非药剂预防的基础上大力推广保护利用天敌, 减少农药的使用, 实现绿色生态工程控制。     

Nonchemical management of soilborne pests in fresh market vegetable production systems

ABSTRACT Nonchemical methods including host resistance, organic amendments, crop rotation, soil solarization, and cultural practices have been used to control soilborne pests in fresh market vegetable production systems. Their suitability as alternatives to methyl bromide will depend on the approach to pest management used by the grower. Traditionally, methyl bromide is used in production systems that rely on the single application of a broad-spectrum biocide to disinfest soils prior to planting. Non-chemical methods are not suitable for a single tactic approach to pest management because they do not provide the same broad spectrum of activity or consistency as fumigation with methyl bromide. Nonchemical methods are compatible with an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, where multiple tactics are used to maintain damage from pests below an economic threshold while minimizing the impact to beneficial organisms. However, adoption of IPM is hindered by the paucity of economically feasible sampling programs and thresholds for soilborne pests and by a reluctance of growers to commit additional resources to the collection and management of biological information. A novel approach to the management of soilborne pests is to design the crop production system to avoid pest outbreaks. Using this "proactive" approach, a tomato production system was developed using strip-tillage into existing bahia-grass pasture. By minimizing inputs and disruption to the pasture, growers were able to reap the rotational benefits of bahiagrass without cultivating the rotational crop. While minimizing the need for interventive procedures, a proactive approach is difficult to integrate into existing crop production systems and will require several years of testing and validation.     

Ecological approaches to the control of pollen beetles in oilseed rape

At a time of increasing demand for rapeseed oil for biofuel and food use and as increasing areas are grown, the risk of pollen beetle resistance to pyrethroids presents a significant threat to the sustainability of the oilseed rape crop and to farm incomes. Measures are urgently required to reduce the use of insecticides against pollen beetles, to preserve activity of the limited armoury of insecticides and minimise environmental pollution. In this paper, the status of pollen beetle resistance to pyrethroid insecticides and current control methods are presented from a UK perspective. Three ecological approaches to the control of pollen beetles that are based on research into their behaviour and ecology and that of their natural enemies are highlighted: use of monitoring, trap cropping and conservation biological control. These approaches have the potential to significantly reduce insecticide use against pollen beetles by helping to identify when spray thresholds have been breached, reducing pest incidence in the crop and increasing populations of natural enemies, respectively.     

The Red Queen in a potato field: integrated pest management versus chemical dependency in Colorado potato beetle control

Originally designed to reconcile insecticide applications with biological control, the concept of integrated pest management (IPM) developed into the systems‐based judicious and coordinated use of multiple control techniques aimed at reducing pest damage to economically tolerable levels. Chemical control, with scheduled treatments, was the starting point for most management systems in the 1950s. Although chemical control is philosophically compatible with IPM practices as a whole, reduction in pesticide use has been historically one of the main goals of IPM practitioners. In the absence of IPM, excessive reliance on pesticides has led to repeated control failures due to the evolution of resistance by pest populations. This creates the need for constant replacement of failed chemicals with new compounds, known as the ‘insecticide treadmill’. In evolutionary biology, a similar phenomenon is known as the Red Queen principle – continuing change is needed for a population to persevere because its competitors undergo constant evolutionary adaptation. The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is an insect defoliator of potatoes that is notorious for its ability to develop insecticide resistance. In the present article, a review is given of four case studies from across the United States to demonstrate the importance of using IPM for sustainable management of a highly adaptable insect pest. Excessive reliance on often indiscriminate insecticide applications and inadequate use of alternative control methods, such as crop rotation, appear to expedite evolution of insecticide resistance in its populations. Resistance to IPM would involve synchronized adaptations to multiple unfavorable factors, requiring statistically unlikely genetic changes. Therefore, integrating different techniques is likely to reduce the need for constant replacement of failed chemicals with new ones. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.     

农作物病虫害防治农药速查系统构建与应用

为了让农户能够直观了解及掌握常见病虫害的防治信息,帮助农户通过智能手机在农田、果园和茶园等现场方便快捷地获取作物病虫害图文识别要点与科学防治方法,为农户提供在线植保技术服务,本研究采用RESTful Web 服务架构设计,运用HTML5移动Web开发技术,借助微信平台作为用户访问入口,开发了一款跨平台 (android/iOS) 的农药速查软件系统,实现了农药信息查询、病虫害图谱查询及后台数据管理等功能。通过建立农药与病虫害间的关联关系,实现了从农药名称和病虫害名称两个途径查询农药信息;所构建的数据库涵盖了蔬菜、果树、水稻、茶叶及烟草等共30种福建省常规种植作物上的重要病虫害农药防治技术。初步运用验证结果表明,该系统整体实用性和稳定性较好,适合在农村基层推广应用。基于微信平台的农药速查系统能够满足植保新技术普及和应用的需求,可为农户提供简单便捷、对症下药的在线植保科技服务,对提高用户安全施药和科学防控能力、推进农药的增效减量均具有重要意义。     

Pest control by pathogens — fungi,viruses and bacteria

Integrated pest control on chrysanthemum is once again becoming a possibility.Verti-cillium lecanii is one of the key components as, under the right conditions, it will provide good control of several pest species. High humidity for a number of nights per week is critical for reliable pest control with this fungal pathogen. These conditions can be obtained easily and safely by fogging water over the crop at night. Four consecutive nights of high humidity per week or a cycling two nights of high humidity and two nights ambient have given excellent pest control with no adverse effect to the crop.     

Pest control by pathogens — fungi, viruses and bacteria Control of chrysanthemum pests with verticillium lecanii

Integrated pest control on chrysanthemum is once again becoming a possibility.Verti-cillium lecanii is one of the key components as, under the right conditions, it will provide good control of several pest species. High humidity for a number of nights per week is critical for reliable pest control with this fungal pathogen. These conditions can be obtained easily and safely by fogging water over the crop at night. Four consecutive nights of high humidity per week or a cycling two nights of high humidity and two nights ambient have given excellent pest control with no adverse effect to the crop.     

农林害虫诱捕器应用技术

随着我国农作物绿色防控体系的不断完善和升级,害虫治理由化学防治到综合治理再到生态防控进行转移,诱杀技术已成为害虫生态防控的核心技术之一。昆虫诱捕器的研制已发展成由简单到复杂,功能更加多样和实用,现广泛应用在蔬菜、果树、花卉、茶叶、森林等农作物和林业植被的害虫诱杀方面,并取得了显著成效,期望未来在绿色植保中发挥更大作用。本文从农林作物害虫的监测和诱杀防治的角度考虑,对不同构造以及诱集昆虫种类的诱捕器进行了分类,阐述了诱捕器的悬挂高度、布设密度、形状、大小和颜色以及诱芯载体颜色、光源波长等因素对害虫诱捕效率的影响,旨在为农林害虫的绿色防控提供专业的技术指导。     

Biological control and plant health in the UK1

The protected crop environment has long been recognized as offering particularly good opportunities for the application of biological control and this is reflected in the predominance of integrated pest management programmes and the wide range of biological control agents available. The introduction of new pest species of quarantine concern can often occur in glasshouse crops, as a result of international trade in plant material, and can have a highly disruptive impact upon well established, integrated pest management programmes. The use of biological control agents against quarantine pests is discussed, including both the use of exotic species and those established in the UK. The relevant legislation in the UK is outlined in relation to the introduction of non-native species, including both plant protection and conservation interests. Environmental safety aspects such as the impact of such introductions on non-target species and issues of quality control to prevent the introduction of contaminants are noted as of particular plant health interest.     

Eldana saccharina as a Crop Pest in Ghana

Abstract

Eldana saccharina is a serious pest of maize in Ghana on the second rains crop grown in the south of the country. The question is raised whether it is worth growing a second maize crop under present conditions. E. saccharina is also a serious pest of sugarcane, causing severe losses to a valuable cash crop, and more work is needed to find suitable means of control, preferably combining the use of resistant varieties, cultural practices and natural enemies.     

Progress towards the integrated control of sugar cane pests

Sugar cane is an important tropical and sub-tropical crop that occupies large areas of land around sugar factories capable of processing 5000 to 15 000 tonnes of cane per day. These areas are usually kept continuously under the same crop, about one-tenth to one-third of the land being ploughed and replanted with sugar cane every year. The major pests of sugar cane are rats, stalk borers, white grubs and froghoppers. Other important pests include root-feeding nematodes, top borers, scale insects, planthoppers and soldier fly. Chemical control is practised to some extent against most of these pests, although biological control is the most common method of combating stalk-borers and has had other notable successes, particularly in Hawaii and Mauritius. Rats are controlled with baits incorporating poisons such as anticoagulants, endrin or zinc phosphide. Aerial applications of insecticide sprays, dusts or granules are used against some stalk-borers (azinphos-methyl), froghoppers (omethoate, propoxur, vamidothion, methidathion, monocrotophos, malathion, carbaryl, gamma-HCH) and plant hoppers (malathion, fenitrothion, endrin). White grubs, soldier fly (crude HCH, dieldrin) and nematodes [1,2-dibromoethane (EDB), 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), aldicarb] are usually controlled with soil applications of the appropriate chemicals. The use of chemical control is restricted in some areas because it is too costly and in other areas because of its possibly adverse effects upon the natural or biological control of other pests. Historically, pest control in sugar cane has tended to develop towards a simple integrated system, making use of cultural methods in conjunction with chemicals or exotic parasites and predators. Increasingly, allowance has been made for the contribution of indigenous natural enemies to the prevention of crop losses by a more careful, selective use of insecticides.     

Elevated humidities for control of chrysanthemum pests with Verticillium lecanii

Integrated pest control on chrysanthemum is now a possibility. Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Viegas is one of the key components as, under the right conditions, it will provide good control of pests such as aphids, thrips and whitefly. High humidity for a number of nights per week is critical for reliable pest control with this fungal pathogen. These conditions can be easily and safely obtained by fogging water over the crop at night. Four consecutive nights of high humidity per week or a cycle of two nights of high humidity and two nights ambient have given excellent pest control with no adverse effect to the crop.     

Assessing the integrated pest management practices of southeastern US ornamental nursery operations

BACKGROUND: The Southern Nursery Integrated Pest Management (SNIPM) working group surveyed ornamental nursery crop growers in the southeastern United States to determine their pest management practices. Respondents answered questions about monitoring practices for insects, diseases and weeds, prevention techniques, intervention decisions, concerns about IPM and educational opportunities. Survey respondents were categorized into three groups based on IPM knowledge and pest management practices adopted. RESULTS: The three groups differed in the use of standardized sampling plans for scouting pests, in monitoring techniques, e.g. sticky cards, phenology and growing degree days, in record‐keeping, in the use of spot‐spraying and in the number of samples sent to a diagnostic clinic for identification and management recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: Stronger emphasis is needed on deliberate scouting techniques and tools to monitor pest populations to provide earlier pest detection and greater flexibility of management options. Most respondents thought that IPM was effective and beneficial for both the environment and employees, but had concerns about the ability of natural enemies to control insect pests, and about the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to chemical controls. Research and field demonstration is needed for selecting appropriate natural enemies for augmentative biological control. Two groups utilized cooperative extension almost exclusively, which would be an avenue for educating those respondents. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

中国农业害虫综合防治研究进展:2018年－2022年

近5年来, 我国在害虫变态发育与生殖调控、害虫滞育调控、害虫迁飞、害虫与共生微生物互作、害虫对杀虫剂的抗性、害虫与寄主植物的化学通讯、害虫对植物抗虫性的适应、害虫对作物种植结构调整的响应、害虫对全球气候变化的响应等农业害虫发生新规律新机制解析方面取得了系列重要进展, 同时推进了抗虫作物、RNA农药、行为调控和生态调控等害虫防控新技术与新产品的研发; 提出迁飞性草地贪夜蛾分区治理、多食性盲蝽区域防控、地下害虫韭蛆绿色防控和抗性麦蚜精准化学防控等害虫绿色防控新模式新体系。根据国内外农业害虫综合防治科技发展趋势和中国农业高质量发展现实需求, 我国需进一步重视农业昆虫交叉学科前沿和新兴技术领域, 以产业需求为导向, 强化害虫防控基础理论创新, 创制智能监测预警和绿色防控新技术、新产品, 创新集成区域绿色防控和跨区协同治理技术体系, 为保障国家粮食安全、助力乡村全面振兴提供强有力的植保科技支撑。