Environmentally sound management of the Spotted Wing Drosophila

Description

The Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is the most destructive pest in agriculture today because of the negative impact it has on worldwide berry production. New management strategies must be developed since there are a limited number of biological tools available to manage the pest. This project will formulate multiple independent, but potentially synergistic, strategies by developing intercropping systems and documenting the safety and efficacy of two Asian parasitoids as biological control agents with the goal of supporting an application for their release in Canada. We are also looking to develop new microbial organic products and plant growth promoters that will boost crop resistance to the Spotted Wing Drosophila.

Objective(s)

• Develop an intercropping system to help reduce the pest population in berry crops
• Document the safety and efficacy of two Asian parasitoids as biological control agents in order to support an application for their release in Canada
• Develop microbial organic products and plant growth promoters to boost crop resistance to Spotted Wing Drosophila