Deciduous fruit producers are set to benefit from an exciting collaboration that has been initiated between Stellenbosch University insect biological control researcher Dr Antoinette Malan and a bioprocessengineering expert from India . Malan specialises in the development of methods whereby biological organisms like nematodes can be used to control pests on economically important fruit .
Hortgro science programme manager for crop protection , Matthew Addison , says that the industry-funded research programme started with a basic survey of entomopathogenic nematodes ( EPNs ) eight years ago .
“ We have the basics in place and the needed know-how to use EPNs on a number of pest insects — now we need to refine the mass culture of the various EPN species involved ,” he says .
Mass production For the next three years , Malan will be teaming up with Dr Prasanna Belur from the Karnataka National Institute of Technology in India to build knowledge and develop expertise for
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the mass production of the insectfighting nematodes .
Belur says that the only way to achieve mass production was by using bioreactors — a process in which he has honed his skills over several years .
“ As a bioprocess engineer I have the expertise in developing the process and I have some experience with respect to nematodes ,” he says .
Belur completed a Master of Science degree in biotechnology and a doctorate in bioprocess development . After his academic training , he acquired seven years of industrial experience before embarking on a career in academia where nematode culture features as one of his areas of interest .
Belur believes that biological control using nematodes can be affordable to growers if suitable processes are developed , and he is hopeful that the results will benefit Indian and South African producers .
According to Addison , the current collaboration will accelerate research on the mass culture of EPNs .
“ Mass culture and the formulation of EPNs are highly technical . To apply EPNs within the industry , we will need
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a regular supply of formulated EPNs . When one considers that up to one million EPNs are applied per tree , we will need a lot !
“ In addition , the efficient mass production of EPNs will result in an available and affordable biological control agent . The use of EPNs within an integrated pest management programme looks very promising , as they should allow for the control of above ground and below ground pests ,” he says .
Final step The project has a three-year duration after which the technology will be ready to mass culture specific insect pathogenic nematode species in a large-scale bioreactor .
Both researchers plan to develop skills in their respective laboratories through the collaboration , which has received approximately R1- million funding jointly from the Indian Department of Science and Technology ( DST ) and the South African National Research Foundation ( NRF ).
Malan says that while industry has generously funded research on insectpathogenic nematodes , South Africa
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Dr Antoinette Malan , Stellenbosch University insect biological control researcher ( on left ), with Dr Prasanna Belur from the Karnataka National Institute of Technology .
has not yet progressed to widespread application of the technology .
“ This is the final step in getting the technology to growers in the field ,” she says . CLA
Hortgro
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