Collective action and on-farm benefits of pesticide substitution: Case study on potato pest management practices in the Peruvian Highlands

Worldwide resource-poor farmers and their agricultural systems are affected by biotic stress from insect pests. Economic losses can be significant even with cost intensive standard control measures by pesticide use. Additionally there are serious threats to human health and the environment. Resilience of ecosystems is affected by pesticides’ effect on natural enemies of invasive pest species. Hence there is a need for farmers having at hand sufficient options to adapt to those problems. International agricultural research for example of the International Potato Center’s Global Program on IPM (Integrated Pest Management) has contributed to develop the availability of ecological options for pest control management. Field trials and results from participatory research on certain pest management practices (e.g. plastic barriers to control the Andean Potato Weevil, APW) with some communities in former CIP projects revealed clear benefits for adopting farmers. But for scaling out of the new technology problems like input market access and coordination within farming communities for collective action have to be considered. Ways to provide ecological pest management methods to farmers, on how to “educate” their adoption-decision making process and how to make their demand effective have to be found. The poster will present first insights of an ongoing BMZ-CIP project in 6 communities of the Peruvian Highlands. Dissemination of plastic barriers as an option for APW control is linked to the economic analysis of the farmer’s adoption-decision-making problem. The concept of possible cost savings from pesticide substitution and of higher production values (lower damages, higher producer prices) is introduced to farmers during training events, whereby an emphasis is put on the farmers doing their own calculus exercises. The respective material (manual for farmers and field extensionists) is being developed and tested. Farmers’ coordination for collective action is being promoted by showing the individual benefits. The problem of input market access is tackled by facilitating a link to the respective sales agents. Positive lessons for scaling out and complementarity of intervention objectives can be learned from cooperation with a NGO partner. Empirical information on farmers’ ex ante adoption situation and attitudes will be provided from a recent diagnostic survey

Better potato for a better life: Reducing food insecurity and dependence on cereals in Amhara Oromia, Tigray and SNNP regions of Ethiopia

This flyer outlines the work done to achieve the goal of enhanced rural incomes, food security and nutrition in four regions of Ethiopia through resilient and profitable potato and sweetpotato value chains. It describes the successes of the first phase of the project (2010-2014) which led to the implementation of the second phase (2015-2016), as well as the progress made between June 2014 and July 2015 in implementing activities that are geared towards increasing access to quality disease-free seed, increasing productivity and revenue, and dietary diversity

Isolierung, Strukturaufklärung und Biosynthese phytotoxisch wirksamer Anathrachinon-Derivate produziert von Ramularia collo-cygni und R. uredinicola

Aus dem phytopathogenen Pilz Ramularia collo-cygni Sutton & Waller (Verursacher der Ramularia leaf spot disease an Hordeum vulgare L.) und der hyperparasitären Art R. uredinicola Khodap. & U. Braun konnten rot und gelb gefärbte Haupt- und Nebenverbindungen isoliert, strukturell charakterisiert und der Stoffklasse der Anthrachinone zugeordnet werden. Vier dieser Verbindungen (Rubellin A-D) wurden bereits aus dem phytopathogenen Pilz Mycosphaerella rubella Niessl beschrieben. Rubellin E, F und 14-Dehydrorubellin D, die blau gefärbten Verbindungen Caeruleoramularin I und II mit einer veränderten anthranoiden Grundstruktur, sowie Uredinorubellin I und II waren bisher nicht bekannt. Weiterhin konnten die monomeren Anthrachinone Helminthosporin und Chrysophanol nachgewiesen werden. Mit dem Einbau von [1-13C]- und [2-13C]-markiertem Acetat wurde der Polyketid-Weg für die Biosynthese der Rubelline nachgewiesen. Der Einbau von [U-13C]-Glucose offenbart als Faltungsmuster der Polyketidkette den Folding-F-Mode. Der In-Vivo-Nachweis der Verbindungen (Rubellin A-D) aus infiziertem Blattmaterial deckt die Bedeutung dieser Verbindungen für die Pathogenese der Ramularia leaf spot disease auf. Saug- und Inokulationsversuche an Wirtspflanzen sowie verschiedene In-Vitro-Experimente zeigen, dass dem Wirkmechanismus der Rubelline eine photodynamische Aktivität zugrunde liegt. Es wird hauptsächlich Singulett-Sauerstoff (1O2) generiert. Die isolierten Metabolite wurden in umfassenden biologischen Untersuchungen auf ihr Wirkpotentials getestet. Mit Ausnahme von Rubellin E zeigten sie antiproliferative sowie zytotoxische Effekte im mittleren µM-Bereich. Estrogenartige und antivirale (Ausnahme Chrysophanol) Effekte konnten nicht beobachtet werden. Antibiotische Effekte konnten vor allem gegen Gram-positive Bakterien nachgewiesen werden. Es konnte weiterhin eine deutliche Verstärkung der antibiotischen sowie der zytotoxischen Wirkung unter Lichteinfluss beobachtet werden.The fungal pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni (Cav.) Sutton & Waller (causer of the Ramularia leaf spot disease (RLSD) on barley) and the hyperparasitic fungus Ramularia uredinicola Khodap. & U. Braun produces several red and yellow coloured compounds. The substances were assigned to the chemical class of the anthraquinones. Four of these substances (rubellin A-D) were already known from the phytopathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella rubella Niessl and two further monomer anthraquinones (chrysophanol and helminthosporin) were identified. For the first time we isolated and identified the compounds rubellin E, F, 14-dehydrorubellin D, Uredinorubellin I and II, respectively. Two further substances (caeruleoramularin I and II) with a different quinonoid fundamental structure, leading to a blue colour of the molecule, were not described so far. The rubellins A-D were successfully identified in vivo in infected barley leaves, thus proofing the importance of these compounds in the pathology of RLSD. In suction and inoculation treatments on hosts, a light-dependent necrosis formation was observed. With different in vitro experiments it was shown that the rubellins are photodynamically active, the probable working principle of RLSD. Obviously different radical oxygen species are generated, mainly singlet oxygen (1O2). The ribosomal ITS region of all investigated Ramularia species providing information about the phylogenetic position of the taxa additional to their morphological identification. Feeding experiments of different 13C-labelled acetate unequivocally proofing the polyketide pathway. Moreover, feeding of 13C-labelled glucose revealed the folding-F-mode of the investigated polyketides. Antiproliferative effects were determined in middle µM ranges of the different metabolites. Neither antiviral (exception chrysophanol) nor estrogenetic effects were observed. Antibiotic effects were mainly observed with gram-positive bacteria, whereby rubellin B and D showed good effectiveness. In general, the effectiveness of the rubellins was to be classified as light-dependent in all experiments

Introduccion y difusion de un nuevo manejo integrado de plagas de la papa en la sierra central del Peru.

La papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) es cultivada en diversos agro ecosistemas de la región andina y presenta diferentes plagas de insectos necesitándose contar con soluciones específicas de control. Hemos desarrollado estrategias de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIP) para los sistemas de producción en los Andes peruanos. Se han considerado las plagas de importancia económica y desarrollado innovaciones tecnológicas para reemplazar, con igual eficacia, las aplicaciones de los insecticidas. Basados en las prácticas culturales, el nuevo MIP se compone de las siguientes nuevas tecnologías y estrategias: (i) impedir la migración del gorgojo de los Andes (Premnotrypes spp.) en los campos de papa mediante el uso de barreras de plástico, (ii) monitorear la presencia de Epitrix spp. y eventualmente realizar una sola aplicación de insecticidas de baja toxicidad y (iii) aplicar atracticidas, una tecnología que consiste en una co-formulación de feromona con insecticida, en la pre-floración para reducir la infestación de los tubérculos por las polillas de la papa [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), Symmetrischema tangolias (Gyen.)]. Para el control de las polillas en almacén se utiliza el talco-Btk, una formulación de Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki o atracticidas. Este nuevo diseño del MIP presenta importantes ventajas económicas y ecológicas en los lugares piloto. Por otra parte, se debe incrementar la capacidad de recuperación de los agro ecosistemas a través de adecuadas estrategias de aumento de los enemigos naturales en campo (p.ej. a través del incremento de la diversidad vegetal, bordes, cultivos asociados o policultivos) y el control biológico inoculativo para recuperar aquellas especies que se han perdido por el uso intensivo de insecticidas. Se ha iniciado la capacitación en MIP en el valle del Mantaro y las nuevas tecnologías han sido bien aceptadas por los extensionistas y los agricultores, particularmente los productores orgánicos de papa. Una alta adopción de la propuesta del nuevo MIP podría beneficiarse del costo-beneficio de las barreras de plástico. Se han establecido relaciones con el sector privado para introducir y que esté disponible el plástico en el tamaño y la calidad adecuada (40 cm de ancho), para la formulación, registro y comercialización del talco-Btk, un producto biológico de bajo costo, así como el registro del atrayente en el Perú. El principal factor limitante para la implementación del MIP en el Perú podría ser la fuerte competencia con los productos químicos, ya que los agricultores tienen fácil acceso a ellos a través de una sólida red de vendedores. Es importante el rol del gobierno para la regulación de los insecticidas altamente tóxicos y para la promoción más amplia del MIP