Biocontrol solution for table grape

Andrea Iodice Massimo Benuzzi

Fruitlogistica 2013

What are Biocontrol agents (BCAs) ?

Why BCAs ?

Obstacles to BCAs

BCAs and table grape (examples) Conclusion

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

What are biocontrol agents (BCAs) ?

IBMA has divided BCSa in 4 groups

Microbials Botanicals Semiochemicals Beneficials (macrobials)

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

Why BCAs ?

Residue issue (GDO) Withdrawal of many old chemicals (EU) Development of resistant strains Minimize the impact of agriculture in the environment

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

Residues
30% 33%

40%

70%

50%

80%

100% Legal MRL Maximal pesticide Residue Level requested by Supermarket chains in Italy

100% Legal MRL Maximal pesticide Residue Level requested by Supermarket chains in Germany

Source: (Waldner W. Frutta e Vite, 2009)

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

Lack of available active ingredients

Stone fruit: pest (OFM) active (AzinphosM)

Resistance

Up to few years ago resistance was the main reason to look for alternative methods Only when chemical control was not working BCAs became attractive Some examples: Greenhouses: two spotted spider mites

(Phytoseiulus permilis)

Pome fruits: codling moth (MD + CpGV)

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

Obstacles to large-scale BCAs use

BCAs

Are more complex to be used Need technical support and more know-how Often need controlled storage conditions May have limited shelf-life

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

Obstacles to large-scale BCAs use

Registration

Process was developed for chemicals BCAs usually are not broad spectrum but have a single/few targets Registration is a sort of black box Mean time required for registration: 3-5 years in EU (less than 1yr in USA) Often need controlled storage conditions Registration costs: 2-5 millions

Results

Many ideas remain in the Petri Dishes Need to find short cuts Need for registration procedure adaptations to the different nature of BCAs

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

BCAs available on grapevine & table grapes (Italy)

Active substance
Ampelomyces quisqualis Aureobasidium pullulans Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum D747 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 Bacillus thuringiensis (subsp. Kurstaki, Aizawai, various strains)
74040 and GHA

target
Powdery mildew Grey mould Grey mould & Sour rot Grey mould European grapevine moth Leafhoppers & Fruit Fly Soil borne diseases Leafhoppers & Thrips Leafhoppers

notes
Close to harvest (on table grape) Close to harvest Close to harvest Close to harvest II generation Close to harvest In nursery Mainly in Organic Mainly in Organic

Beauveria bassiana strains ATCC Trichoderma harzianum

Azadirachtin Pyrethrins

Fruitlogistica 2013 IBMA UK January 2013

BCAs and table grape

Mating disruption

(against GVM)

B. amyloliquefacens (against gray mold) A. quisqualis

(against powdery mildew)

B. thuringiensis (against GVM) B. bassiana (against thrips)

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

MATING DISRUPTION
Pheromone = Pherein (transport) + Hormone (stimulate)
Lepidoptera sexual pheromones help females to attract males of the same species for mating when their eggs are ready to be fertilized. Males detect pheromones scents in the air through the special organs of their antennas called sensilla

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

MATING DISRUPTION
Sintetic pheromone

disrupted male

calling female Homogenous concentration of artificial pheromone hinders the meeting of males and females, reducing the number of eggs and larvae and, consequently, clusters damages il numero di larve nate per generazione IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Natural pheromone

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Bacillus
aerobic grampositive bacteria, was isolated from the soil and described for the first time by Fukumoto in 1943.

amyloliquefaciens,

Its name derived from the production capability (faciens) of one amilase (amylo) enzyme able to degrade (lique) complex sugar in simple sugar. Commonly present in the soil and on the vegetation all over the world. It does not produce harmfull toxine for human beign and is considered safety from EFSA (QPS=Qualified Presumption of Safety).

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Ampelomyces quisqualis
A. quisqualis is a Deuteromycete fungus, which has been first described by
Tulasne & Tulasne more than 140 years ago

Conidiophores of PM Conidiophores of PM Pycnidia of A.quisqualis Pycnidia of A.quisqualis

A. quisqualis parasitizes more than 500 species (attacking more than 1500 plant genera) of fungi belonging to Erysiphales (PMs).
IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

parasitized host cells by causing a gradual degeneration of of the cells. Untreated PM Treated PM

A. quisqualis prevents sporulation of the PM mycelium and kills all

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Bacillus thuringiensis
The ability of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring, soil-dwelling, Grampositive bacterium, to control pest insect larvae was discovered more than 90 years ago. Bt serovar kurstaki was discovered in the late 1960s. This serovar is considerably more effective against Lepidopterans.

Benefits of Btk:
tool for IPM against various spp of Lepidoptera environmentally friendly, harmless to humans and other vertebrates highly selective to beneficials, pollinators included different mode of action (resistance management) No MRL required

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Btk Modeofaction
(alkalinerpHWert)

Mode of action: ingestion. Larva stops feeding and dies within 2-3 days due to septicemia. IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Beauveria bassiana
Beauveria
(Ascomycota: Hypocreales) was first recognized in 1835 by Agostino Bassi as the causal agent of the white muscardine disease of the silkworm.

bassiana

B. bassiana can affect a wide range of

arthropod pests, whiteflies included, and all their developmental stages (eggs, immature stages, and adults). Various strains differ in their host range and selectivity.

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Beauveria bassiana
Mode of action The conidiospores, in contact with the insects cuticle, germinate and form an appressorium. A fine penetration hypha perforates the cuticle, grows, and differentiates into other penetration hyphae. The fungus invades the insects body. The mycelium proliferates by feeding on the hosts haemolymph, and blastospores are produced. The host dies within a few days due to depletion of nutrients and dehydration.

Major targets on protected crops Whiteflies Two-spotted spider mite Thrips

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Benefit of BCAs

Efficacy High level of reliability Capable of ensuring acceptable level of control

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Conclusion

BCAs are not alternative to chemicals and sustanaible pest control

BCAs are additional opportunity for effective

BCAs can be easily integrated in IPM strategies

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013

Thanks for your attention

IBMA UK January 2013 Fruitlogistica 2013