Swiss researchers see promise in natural pest control methods for corn
In North America, the cost of the damage to corn from western rootworm is between $1-2 billion each year.
Keystone
Researchers at the University of Neuchâtel have discovered two effective natural methods for fighting one of the most destructive pests ravaging corn in North America and spreading across Europe. This could unlock opportunities to reduce pesticide dependence.
This content was published on
3 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jdp
In a studyExternal link published in Scientific Reports this week, researchers led by the Laboratory for Basic and Applied Research in Chemical Ecology (FARCE) at the University of Neuchâtel found that a small worm living underground (Nematodes) and a bacterium (Pseudomonas) can reduce the impact of the western corn rootworm by 20% to 50% based on field tests.
This specific rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera in Latin, is the most destructive pest of corn in North America and has recently spread across central Europe. In North America, the cost of the damage from the pest is between $1-2 billion each year. It is also responsible for crop losses in Central and Eastern Europe of approximately €500 million per year.
Switzerland is also affected by the pest. It appeared in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino twenty years ago and was found in canton Vaud in 2017 and in the Jura last year.
The subterranean larval stages of the pest are hard to reach with pesticides. For a number of years, crop rotation was seen as the most effective management option but soil and seed insecticides have also been used. The study indicated that the western corn rootworm has developed resistance to most insecticides classes over the years.
The application of beneficial soil organisms is being considered as a sustainable and environmental friendly alternative to pesticides, says the study.
Impacts and implications
The researchers carried out field trials for three years in the US state of Missouri where there are massive infestations of the pest. On Swiss public television RTSExternal link, Geoffrey Jaffuel, a biology researcher involved in the study, explained that “we used organisms that are already in the soil and bacteria that are beneficial to plants and applied them in the fields to fight against this pest without pesticides or GMOs”.
In two out of the three trials, plots treated with nematodes or bacteria or both, showed less damage to the corn’s roots than those from untreated plots. In one year, the rootworm survival was significantly lower in plots treated with the bacteria than in control plots.
“The effects of the treatments varied considerable among the three years, but they were always positive for the plants,” explains the study.
The study authors write that “we think studies such as this one can be the basis for the development of effective soil treatments that can replace the use of pesticides, and provide a more sustainable control of western rootworm and other soil pests.”
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Environment director warns of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland
This content was published on
The director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has warned of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland in an interview with SonntagsBlick on Sunday.
Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season
This content was published on
The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.
This content was published on
The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.
Defence Minister Pfister stresses importance of Swiss mission in Balkans
This content was published on
During a visit to the Balkans region last week, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister met Swisscoy peacekeeping troops in Kosovo.
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
A popular initiative aimed at banning pesticides throughout Switzerland was filed on Friday with the Federal Chancellery.
Farmers slam think tank report on the future of Swiss agriculture
This content was published on
A report claiming that Swiss agricultural policy is too expensive and should be reformed, has been heavily criticised by the main farmers’ group.
This content was published on
Their results could lead to more efficient pest control and solve a billion-dollar problem faced by maize growers around the world. The study focused on how corn plants react to damage inflicted on them by the larvae of a beetle called the Western Corn Rootworm. The female lays eggs beneath the soil near a plant,…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.