Objetivo
Insect pests in rice in S.E. Asia cause major yield losses. Brown planthoppers and stemborers are two of the most significant of these. Present control practices for stemborers generally depend on the use of insecticides. These cause outbreaks of Planthopper populations by killing preferentially their natural enemies. This collaborative project aims to find means of reducing the need for using such insecticides.
Major natural enemies, including insect predators and parasitoids and fungal and nematode pathogens, of these pests will be investigated in Indonesia and tested in European and Indonesian laboratories. The role of weeds as reservoirs both for pests and natural enemies will be investigated. Interactions between potential control agents will be studied in order to formulate an integrated strategy for biological control of both planthoppers and stemborers. In addition the use of pheromone traps and the possibilities of disrupting mating behaviour of stemborer adults in the field will be studied.
The major aim is to develop an integrated biological control strategy as part of a general pest management programme for rice in Asia. This will reduce the use of chemical insecticides and encourage sustainable systems of agriculture compatible with the conservation of biological diversity.
Ámbito científico
Tema(s)
Data not availableConvocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinador
CF1 3TL Cardiff
Reino Unido