{"id":1842,"date":"2022-11-29T10:59:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T10:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmingfuturefood.com\/feb2025\/?p=1842"},"modified":"2023-02-28T15:20:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T15:20:45","slug":"gel-application-of-nematodes-packs-biggest-punch-against-maize-pest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmingfuturefood.com\/feb2025\/gel-application-of-nematodes-packs-biggest-punch-against-maize-pest\/","title":{"rendered":"Gel application of nematodes packs biggest punch against maize pest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nematodes which infest and kill one of the world\u2019s most notorious moth pests work most effectively when applied in a gel formulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a study by research partners<\/a> in Switzerland and Rwanda, the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae<\/em> and Heterorhabditis ruandica<\/em> in a cellulose-based gel killed 100% of caterpillars of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda<\/em>) on maize plants under lab conditions, compared to 74% and 94% when applied with either water or a surfactant, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although S. frugiperda<\/em> can damage hundreds of different crops, it causes huge impact in maize, meaning it is considered a major threat to food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With pesticides mainly used to combat the pest, the researchers looked to test out their more ecologically-sustainable option<\/a> in the field. Although all the formulations tested in the lab reduced damage to crops, only the gel formulation reduced caterpillar infestation levels \u2013 performing with the same effectiveness as a standard dose of the insecticide cypermethrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese findings demonstrate that entomopathogenic nematodes, when properly formulated, are excellent candidates for the biological control of fall armyworm, and can be a safe and sustainable alternative to synthetic insecticides,\u201d wrote the researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top option for crop and context<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applications of nematodes are particularly suited to maize, as S. frugiperda<\/em> caterpillars are generally hidden when feeding. This undermines the effectiveness of conventional insecticide sprays, whereas nematodes are able to actively forage for their prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the success of the formulation, multiple applications may be required over the course of a growing season to account for moths re-infesting the crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cControlling fall armyworm through the use of formulated entomopathogenic nematodes seems particularly realistic in an African and Asian context, where low tech manual labour is predominantly used in pest management efforts, allowing manual spot applications in maize fields,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a relatively low number of nematodes required in the formulation, as well as the local availability of insect-killing nematodes in affected countries, there is the prospect of smallholders producing their own nematode products, they added. Alternatively, large-scale commercial applications would also be possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read the full research report in Biological Control<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nematodes which infest and kill one of the world\u2019s most notorious moth pests work most effectively when applied in a gel formulation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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