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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