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.
Final step
According to Addison the current collaboration will accelerate research on the mass culture of EPN’s.
Both researchers plan to develop skills in their
respective laboratories through the collaboration, which has received approximately R1m
funding jointly from the Indian Department of
Science and Technology (DST) and the South
African National Research Foundation (NRF).
“Mass culture and the formulation of EPN’s is
highly technical. In order to apply EPN’s within
the industry we will need a regular supply of
formulated EPN’s. When one considers that up
to 1 million EPN’s are applied per tree, we will
need a lot!
“In addition, the efficient mass production of
EPN’s will result in an available and affordable
biological control agent. The use of EPN’s
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.
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.
Malan says that while industry has generously
funded research on insect-pathogenic nematodes South Africa has not yet progressed to
widespread application of the technology.
“This is the very final step in getting the technology to growers in the field,” she says.
For further information:
contact Dane McDonald at
[email protected]
www.hortgro.co.za