Pollinating hymenopterans (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia cornuta) for vectoring biocontrol agents: Modelling crop protection strategies against Erwinia amylovora and Botrytis cinerea for a sustainable agriculture.

The project aims at the development of two applicative models of crop protection against the fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) on pear and apple trees and against the gray mould (Botrytis cinerea) on strawberry and grape based on the use of pollinating insects for bio-control agents dissemination to the target crop. A new topic in phytoiatric research is, in fact, the role that pronubial insects can play in microbiological control as efficient vectors of beneficial microrganisms such as fungi and bacteria to fight against pathogens and arthropod pests. The use of pronubial insects in their double role of pollinators and vehicles for bio-control agents could result in a very efficient, money-saving system for the control of several diseases.

The efficacy of three pollinator species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia cornuta) in transferring the bio-control agents to the flower organs of four crops is being evaluated and compared with that of spray treatments for bio-control agent distribution to crops. In other cases, the possibility to combine the bio-control agent dissemination by insect pollinating activity with the spray treatment will be investigated. Moreover, in this project we are evaluating the proper amount of bio-control agent preparation to be used and the timetable of treatments to be adopted in relation to crop flowering characteristics, bee species, climatic conditions, and the global strategy under investigation (such as the sole use of pollinators as bio-control agents disseminators or in combination with spray treatments).

Collaborations

• University of Bologna, Department of Agroenvironemental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTA);
• National Institute of Apiculture;
• Institute of Plant Sciences ETHZ LFW, Istituto Politecnico di Zurigo

Staff

The people involved in this project are:

Gino Angeli
Head of research

Elena Gottardini, Ilaria Pertot
Researchers

Fabiana Cristofolini
Technician