This book examines entomovectoring, which employs crop pollinators to spread biocontrol protections against plant pathogens. The book describes research and development of the process, also known as apivectoring and beevectoring, for use both in pollination and in the delivery of biocontrol agents against crop and pollinator diseases, pests, and parasites.
The opening chapters show how design of agrosystems can support the activity of pollinator networks, and describe bee pollination as a natural and cost-free ecological service. Individual chapters cover bumble bees and solitary bees as pollinators.
The book outlines ways that entomovectoring can be used to increase biocomplexity and biodiversity in agriculture. Also included is a chapter on the threat of Drosophila suzukii, an invasive fruit fly that infests ripening fruit, and the prospect of improved control using entomovectoring. Another chapter discusses the prospect of using a species of fungus gnat as a potential vector of microbial control agents, to suppress pathogens that they also spread. A wide variety of crops are covered, including apples, strawberries, coffee, and sunflowers.
The book describes studies on use of entomovectoring in both open fields and greenhouse settings. Another case study reviews the use of a commercial biofungicide via entomovectoring, to combat storage rot diseases in apples. Coverage also includes Flying Doctors, a precision pollination system that uses pre-collected pollen delivered by bumble bees to replace artificial pollination via dusting or phytohormones.
Entomovectoring for Precision Biocontrol and Enhanced Pollination of Crops benefits graduate-level students in agriculture, plant pathology and entomology, as well as academics, researchers, working horticulturists and apiculturists, and those involved in formulating agricultural policy and regulations.
This book focuses on entomovectoring, also known as apivectoring, the method used for managing pollinators to increase crop yields and employ strategies of biocontrol in greenhouses and open fields. It is written by experts working in academia and industry from the different continents of the world. Over the past 25 years Research and Development has successfully investigated the potential of pollinators to perform two tasks: dispersal of biological control agents (BCOs) and their pollination service. This book provides a basic overview of the current literature on the different aspects and factors of this novel technology. It explains and presents practical cases of enhancing pollination coupled with the suppression of plant pathogens and pests under various agricultural production practices from greenhouse to open field conditions and crops ranging from orchard fruits, to small and tender berries, vegetables and oil seeds
Guy Smagghe
pollinators pollination plant pathogens bee pollination bio control crop protection biofungicide microbial pesticide microbial pesticide agriculture protection Entomology