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Conference abstract2014

A host-pathogen-parasitoid system in the biological control of the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum

Rännbäck, Linda-Marie; Cotes, Ramal Belén; Anderson, Peter; Meyling, Nicolai; Rämert, Birgitta

Abstract

This project will investigate the impact of complementary biological control strategies on pest control of Delia radicum (and D. antiqua) and interactions between the control agents. We will combine inoculation biological control, using the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, with conservation biological control of the specialist parasitoid Trybliographa rapae and the generalist predator/parasitoid Aleochara bipustulata in a crop rotation system. It is a novel ecologically-based management system that relies on the combined effects of biological control strategies, through niche complementarity of natural enemies in time and space. We will present the preliminary results on the effect of the fungi in the system. The dose-response of the fungi on the third instar larvae of D. radicum will be given together with the preliminary results of bioassays regarding choice/no-choice in T.rapae associated with infected host larvae. Also the role of chemical signals in behavioral mechanisms have been started to be elucidated through studies in a two-choice olfactometer. The first year's data on mortality of D.radicum larvae caused by either/or in combination: T.rapae and M.anisopliae from cage semi-field trials will be presented. The implication of the results will be discussed in the context of the agroecosystem

Published in

IOBC-WPRS Bulletin
2014, Volume: 107, pages: 190-190

Conference

IOBC/WPRS Integrated Protection of Field Vegetables