Introducing the term 'Biocontrol Plants' for integrated pest management

Studies of interactions between crops, additional plants, pests and beneficial organisms already exist as well as studies of natural enemy preference, dispersal, and abundance. However, these studies focus on tri-trophic interactions from an "arthropod" point of view. We think that in order to optimize crop protection methods we need to understand the effects that plant structures have on the various arthropods and on subsequent tri-trophic interactions. Although studies and reviews describing the role of secondary plants in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) exist, to date a general term which encompasses all plants added to a cropping system with the aim of enhancing IPM strategies has yet to be formulated. Therefore, we suggest a new term, "biocontrol plants", which we define as plants that are intentionally added to a crop system with the aim of enhancing crop productivity through pest attraction and/or pest regulation; a term that will promote the use of biocontrol services, and can ultimately lead to an increase in the sustainability of cropping systems

Biology of <em>Dittrichia viscosa</em>, a mediterranean ruderal plant: a review

<em>Dittrichia viscosa</em> is a common plant species in the Mediterranean region which is adapted to a wide range of environmental stresses. It is an important species that can be used for phytoremediation, as bioaccumulator or bioindicator, and it has the potential for being employed in integrated pest management in the Mediterranean ecosystem due to its entomophilous characte

Food and habitat supplementation promotes predatory mites and enhances pest control

International audienc

Biological and integrated pest control in floriculture.

International audienceno abstrac

Biological and integrated pest control in floriculture.

International audienceno abstrac

Ringed micro-habitats as supplementations for predatory mites

International audienceIn augmentative biological control, the reproduction, survival and efficiency of predatory mites can be improved by providing supplementations such as artificial micro-habitats and alternative food sources. Building on previous results on food and micro-habitat supplementations for Neoseiulus cucumeris, the present study aimed to i) design a prototype of Ringed Micro-habitats (RM) easily usable in agricultural cropping systems and optimise its position on the plant; ii) test the effect of this RM on the reproduction of three predatory mite species: two generalists (Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii), and one specialist (Neoseiulus californicus); iii) test the effect of this RM on the reproduction of two phytophagous mite species: Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Tetranychus urticae. We evidenced that A. swirskii preferred to lay eggs in the RM prototype when it was installed in direct contact with the underside of a rose leaf instead of being suspended on the plant. We also demonstrated that leaves bearing RM prototypes significantly increased the reproductive output of both generalist predatory mite species, but they had no impact on the reproductive output of the specialist species. In addition, the presence of RM on plants had no effect on the reproductive output of the studied pest species. Results indicate that the provision of supplementations such as the RM can favour generalist predatory mite reproduction with no risk on pest promotion, opening new avenues for more efficient biological control with predatory mites

Technological and Ecological Approaches to Design and Manage Sustainable Greenhouse Production Systems

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OTELHO : Vers une horticulture connectée, suivi des macroorganismes pour réduire les pesticides

L’acceptabilité environnementale des cultures horticoles est questionnée aujourd’hui notamment au regard de l’usage des pesticides. Le projet OTELHO a développé un outil d’aide à la décision nommé S@M, utile au suivi des cultures et à la connaissance des épidémies, étape indispensable à la prise de décision d’intervention. Pour répondre aux enjeux environnementaux et de santé, les partenaires de ce projet DEPHY EXPE ont construit à la fois un réseau expérimental et une méthode de travail centrée sur la co-conception. Ils ont éprouvé l’outil S@M et caractérisé une combinaison de solutions techniques viables permettant de réduire significativement l’usage des pesticides en horticulture. Les travaux ont été conduits à la fois en station expérimentale et en exploitation sur trois systèmes, les plantes en pots, le gerbera fleurs coupées, le rosier fleurs coupées. A l’issue de six années de prototypage de l’OAD S@M divers modules sont aujourd’hui stabilisés et utilisés par les expérimentateurs et les conseillers en entreprise. Les essais sur les différents systèmes de culture ont permis de valider dans certaines conditions des combinaisons de leviers pour réduire l’usage des pesticides de plus de 50%.The environmental acceptability of horticultural crops is questioned today, particularly with regard to the use of pesticides. The OTELHO project has developed a S@M decision support tool, useful for crop monitoring and knowledge of epidemics, an essential step in decision making. To meet the environmental and health challenges, DEPHY EXPE project partners have built both an experimental network and a co-design-centered work method to test the S@M tool and characterize a combination of technical viable solutions to significantly reduce the use of pesticides in horticulture. The work was conducted both in experimental station and in farms on three systems, potted plants, gerbera cut flowers, rose cut flowers. After six years of prototyping the OAD S@M various decision support modules are now stabilized and used by the experimenters and business consultants. Trials on different cropping systems made it possible to validate combinations of levers under certain conditions to reduce the use of pesticides by more than 50%

The Ecological Approach of Greenhouse Agro-Ecosystem: Practical Interest for IPM.

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