International research: Fruit pest management focuses on sustainable strategies

Paola Segovia Tamayo, Journalist UACh.- In order to continue with the development of tools based on semiochemicals and other signals that affect the behavior of insects, applied to the management of pests of great importance in fruit trees, Dr. Esteban Basoalto Venegas, academic at the Institute of Plant Production and Health of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences from the Universidad Austral de Chile, carried out a research stay in the United States.

The objective of this activity was to promote the internalization of the research carried out by Professor Basoalto with a multinational team, which includes, in addition to the United States, researchers from countries such as Italy, Uruguay and, more recently, Spain.

“The idea was to conduct experiments related to the applied use of semiochemicals that modify the natural behavior of pest insects of the Tortricidae family; either attracting them or making it difficult for them to find a mate or the host plant. The use of visual signals to increase the response to these semiochemicals, without affecting other insects, has also been evaluated. These technologies are aimed at generating better tools for monitoring, Attract & Kill strategies, and reducing the use of insecticides for tortricides of importance in fruit growing, in a sustainable way,” said the academic, who is Director of the Master’s in Plant Sciences at the UACh.

Another important point – he maintained – “is that the tools we are working on help reduce dependence on insecticides, generating the possibility of developing more sustainable and sustainable pest management programs. This is in direct agreement with the public’s demand to rationalize or reduce the use of pesticides and their associated risks for the population and the ecosystem, while we produce quality fruit.”

Collaboration axes

For Dr. Alan Knight, entomologist at Instar Biologicals, “the collaborative work of Dr. Esteban Basoalto has been essential in my recent development of new and powerful attractants (baits) for tortricids, key pests of fruit trees and grapes throughout the world. I highlight his energy, intelligence and dedication to work with me in the tireless search for new tools to control this important family of pests”.

“I hope there will be more opportunities to continue our work together, focused on developing innovative new tools to help organic and conventional producers around the world,” added Dr. Knight.

Finally, Dr. Basoalto indicated that “this type of initiative is highly relevant; since it allows exchanging, updating and expanding the knowledge that each group could generate individually; At the same time, fundamental contacts are generated for the development of top-level research that is of interest, beyond each country”.

The internship was carried out between May 4 and 18 of this year, thanks to financing from institutions linked to the area of ​​study in the United States.