AGRE-0013 The Development of Environmentally Safe Pest Control Systems for European Olives

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ECLAIR Cluster V - Biological Pest Control : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Vegetable Oil/Fat

SUMMARY

This project looked at the application of biological methods for the control of a number of insects (moths, flies, beetles, etc) which attack olives and which are at present controlled using chemical means, giving rise to environmental, user and consumer concerns. Success has been achieved for various pests using various techniques, including biological pesticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis, synthetic pyrethroids, natural chemicals which interfere with insect behaviour (pheromones), lures, traps, etc resulting in suggestions for an Integrated Pest Management Strategy for olive growers throughout the European Union. The results of this work are being exploited as products and procedures for use in monitoring the crop and for pest control.

INTRODUCTION

Most agricultural crops are attacked by numerous pests and subject to disease, against which they are increasingly protected using agrochemicals, which in turn may cause environmental concern. The olive is no exception, being host to a diverse range of specific insect pests, which include olive and other moths (Prays oleae and pyralid moths Palpita unionalis, Euzophera pinguis), the olive beetle (Phloeotribus scarabaeoides), olive scale (Saissetia olea) and olive fly (Bactrocera oleae). The attack of these pests not only reduces overall yield and fruit quality, but since the pests can at present only be controlled efficiently by chemical pesticides, increase the direct costs of production. The use of these chemicals may also cause environmental pollution, threatening terrestrial and aquatic life, caused by drift and run-off of these chemicals. For some organisms, pesticide resistance has appeared and both agricultural workers and spray operators are potentially at risk, whilst the possibility of consumers ingesting pesticide residues from fruit and oil also exists.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of the project was to develop a practical Integrated Pest Management Programme for olives and to test this in participating countries, as well as to develop a technology transfer package so that the findings can be adapted to other European countries growing olives. In particular, it was hoped to achieve a reduction in the environmental impact of pesticides through a reduction in chemical inputs to the olive production system, thus safeguarding operators and consumers, as well as improving fruit and oil quality resulting in increased profitability. These aims were linked to a longer term aim of developing a system for production of biological olive oil with minimal chemical inputs.

APPROACH

An ecological approach to pest control, integrating a number of environmentally friendly control measures for a range of pests, referred to as integrated pest management (IPM), was sought. The research effort has concentrated on the following areas:

1. development of microbial insecticides based on the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis and the testing, formulation and application of commercial Bt products;
2. The development, production and field utilisation of insect behaviour-modifying chemicals for use in monitoring, mating disruption, lure and kill and mass trapping systems for pest forecasting and control;
3. The development, testing and field application of techniques for biological control of pests by the conservation and augmentation of the existing natural enemy complex;
4. Biochemical aspects of fruit and oil quality and the effects of pest attack and the use of conventional chemical insecticides on these and concomitant effects on the environment.

RESULTS

The technical developments arising from the above research have been integrated into an overall IPM system. This was achieved through the use of computer models which can be adapted and developed further to provide practical guidelines for use by growers. The Bt formulation FORAY 48B and the natural pyrethrum SECTROL applied against the anthophagous generation of P. oleae were sufficiently effective that they can now be recommended to growers as alternatives to conventional treatment with synthetic pyrethroids and dimethoate. The replacement of conventional synthetic insecticides with BIOPHYTOZ (a mixture of natural pyrethrum and rotenone) in lure and kill control technologies for B. oleae is now a plausible option due to research carried out under the programme. The identification of the toxic principle in Bt strains which are effective against B. oleae opens the way to development of a new class of insecticides for use against Dipteran pests. Monitoring and forecasting systems developed for B. oleae and P. oleae have already reduced pesticide application to below 50% of that normally applied, resulting in significant savings for growers. The existence of a pheromone system has been demonstrated for E. pinguis, whilst the sex pheromone of P. unionalis has been identified and pheromone traps are being developed. Evidence that semiochemicals can be used to divert P. scarabaeoides away from healthy olive trees was collected and control of B. oleae was attempted using mating disruption, but was unsuccessful. Sprayable, micro-encapsulated lure and kill systems have been developed and applied extensively over three years against B. oleae and have produced adequate levels of control. Two types of more durable target devices have also been developed for control of B. oleae through mass trapping. The natural factors which control and regulate population numbers of B. oleae, P. oleae, P. scarabaeoides and S. oleae were studied and the information generated used in the development of population models of these pests. Investigations of the effects of pest attack and pesticide application on oil quality established, among other results, that ground application of pesticides is not to be recommended, although the minimum security period prior to harvest is effective in preventing residue levels exceeding acceptable standards; rational pesticide use based on a monitoring and threshold system produced lower residue levels and, for dimethoate, indicated that the use of this chemical in aerial lure and kill treatments can be recommended to growers. The models of population dynamics of P. oleae and B. oleae have reached the stage where they can be used as predictive tools to forecast pest outbreaks and, in the case of B. oleae, also to calculate economic threshold values. The successful development of these models means that they can be used as the basis around which the IPM system can be established and implemented across Europe.

EXPLOITATION PLANS

The results of this work are being exploited as products and procedures for use in monitoring the crop and for pest control. A book detailing the scientific achievements is also being produced.

PARTICIPANTS

Consejera de Agricultura y Pesca de la Junta ie. Andalucia (Spain), CSIC Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Granada (Spain), CSIC Instituto de la Grasa, Seville (Spain), the Greek Institute of Biology, National Research Centre, "Demokritos", Athens (Greece), Agrobiotechnology ENEA, Rome (Italy), the olive oil producing cooperative Consejo Regulador Sierra de Segura, (Spain), AgriSense-BCS Ltd (UK), Cooperative Energia e Territorio, Viterbo (Italy) and Energia e Industrias Aragonesas SA (Spain).