North America Edition
secondversion.gif)
Scientists at AgResearch have been working on a naturally- occurring bacterium Yersinia entomophaga (Ye) that kills caterpillars of the plantain moth (Scopula rubraria), a widespread New Zealand native insect that feeds on a range of plants including plantain.
The relatively recent appearance of this and another similar moth (Epyaxa rosearia) in large numbers in plantain crops has given rise to the commonly used name "plantain moth". The plantain moth (Scopula rubraria), a widespread New Zealand native insect that feeds on a range of plants including plantain.
AgResearch senior scientist Dr Mark Hurst says the insecticidal bacterium Ye could be used as a biopesticide to control at least one plantain moth species, Scopula, populations of which can reach densities of 11,500 larvae per square metre.
Biopesticides are natural pesticides based on micro- organisms or their bioactives. These are targeted as well as safe for the environment and humans and can provide solutions to many insect pest and plant disease problems.
Consumers around the world are demanding sustainable, safe food and New Zealand producers are responding by adopting well- proven alternatives to chemical controls as they become available.
Hurst says early stage laboratory based research carried out last year during an infestation in the North Island indicated that Ye was an effective tool in killing the Scopula caterpillars.
Click here to continue reading at stuff.co.nz.
Announcements
Job Offers
- Head of Agronomy: Research & Development - Berlin, Germany
- Africa Fruit Export Sales Manager - South Africa
- Grower - Philippines
- Assistant technical manager
- Food Safety and Quality Director - South Bend (IN) USA
- Commercial Manager - United Kingdom or The Netherlands
- Tomato Grower, Chapais - Canada
- Director of UbiGro Sales - California, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada USA
- UbiGro Sales Representative - California, USA
- Greenhouse Crop Specialist - Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Specials more
Top 5 -yesterday
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2021-02-26 Price is key
- 2021-02-25 CBP officers seize about 12,000 Lbs. of marijuana, worth $27 million, within a shipment of papayas
- 2021-02-24 Mr. Apple appoints Advertising and Marketing Supervisor
- 2021-02-22 Amazon must also indicate origins of fruit and vegetables
- 2021-02-19 Suggestions to the European Commission for new commercialization rules
- 2021-02-17 Freshfel and FPC urge UK government to extend derogations on phytosanitary certifications for fresh produce
- 2021-02-17 Australian Mango Industry Association appoints new CEO
- 2021-02-16 The main debate of the CAP revolves around its green architecture, according to the European Commission
- 2021-02-15 IICA and the Spanish Cooperation Agency start a new stage of collaboration with a focus on Central America
- 2021-02-12 ITC determines blueberry imports don't cause injury to domestic industry
- 2021-02-10 Venture capital interested in the powerful Spanish agri-food sector
- 2021-02-09 SHAFFE annual general meeting elects new Chilean-Uruguayan presidency team for 2021-23
- 2021-02-05 What's happening in India?
- 2021-02-03 Secretary Vilsack receives unanimous support of the Senate Agriculture Committee
- 2021-02-03 Victorian Government provides more seasonal workforce support for the state's farmers
- 2021-02-03 Argentina and Portugal analyze the status of the EU-Mercosur agreement
- 2021-02-03 United Fresh’s priorities for the new presidential administration
- 2021-02-02 Limoneira announces new Director of Human Resources
- 2021-02-02 Seasonal laborers are Norwegian farmers' main COVID-19 headache
- 2021-01-28 USHBC seeks nominees for regional member positions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
