Bio-Emergent: biological control of emergent plants in horticultural crops

After the massive implementation of biological control, new pests have emerged that cannot be controlled with biological control agents. Solutions against some pests require basic research, beyond the scope of GOs.

However, recent research has yielded good results compared to other research, whose applications are not yet widespread in the field. The aim is to optimise and implement these new solutions, specifically against the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, in tomato crops and Creontiades pallidus in peppers.

For the control of T. absoluta, control will be promoted using a native parasitoid, Necremnus tutae. In previous research by COEXPHAL, this parasitoid has proven to be very effective in controlling the pest. It is common spontaneously, but little visible to farmers. The commercial availability of N. tutae will be organised and a monitoring service for the control process on commercial farms will be established.

In pepper, C. pallidus causes significant losses in fruit due to bites or post-harvest rot caused by unnoticed bites. As there is no auxiliary fauna available against this bug, the available information will be collected on control by alternative methods, through trapping and the use of biological phytosanitary products. Action protocols will be established and monitoring will be carried out in pilot projects in commercial greenhouses.