IPM4Meligethes
The IPM4Meligethes-project targets the pollen beetle Meligethes (Brassicogethes) aeneus, which is a key European pest on oilseed rape (OSR). OSR is an important food crop (vegetable oil), feed crop (domestic protein), and an energy crop (biodiesel). Current cropping systems require several insecticide sprays annually, mainly to control the pollen beetle. The beetle has evolved resistance throughout Europe to the only insecticide class widely available, pyrethroids. We intend to go beyond the traditional resistance management programs, which rely on the continuous discovery and registration of new insecticides and new modes of action. We aim to develop novel, safe, sustainable, and economically feasible strategies, where only seldom is a need to resort to insecticide spraying. This will ease the selection pressure on the pest and prolong the efficacy of the available insecticides.
We will provide a set of cascading alternatives for pollen beetle control. The basic new tool is simple (change in tillage regimes) and ready to be taken up, after appropriate applied research. Together with revised and dynamic thresholds and improved forecasting and monitoring tools, growers will be able to radically reduce insecticide use, with all associated economic and environmental benefits. Novel safe and precise control tools will help growers to manage occasional pest population peaks, even without insecticides.
The key components of our work includes: (i) Cropping system buffering against pest outbreaks via innovative biological control, (ii) Development of forecasting and monitoring methods, and revised dynamic treatment thresholds; (iii) Targeted precision biocontrol for delivery of novel biocontrol products; and (iv) Development of RNA interference methods for Meligethes (Brassicogethes) aeneus control. These are new, effective, non-toxic, and selective/biosafe approaches, to control the pest, and to avoid problems with pesticide resistance.
The main beneficiaries of the results to be obtained are the oilseed rape growers in Europe. Indirectly many other groups are targeted, including the OSR-based industries, crop protection industries, as well as crop protection authorities, regulators, policy makers and the general public. As the problem to be solved is pan-European, only a European project involving the best expertise available, can successfully address the question.
Publications:
Delivering Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM). Trends in Plant Science, 25: 577-589, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2020.01.006 (Egan PA, Dicks LV, Hokkanen HMT, Stenberg JA, 2020).
Insect pest suppressive soils: buffering pulse cropping systems against outbreaks of Sitona weevils. Ann Entomol Soc Am. 111:139–143 (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I, 2018) https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/say019
Urgent need to develop ecostacking techniques to enhance ecosystem services in cropping systems. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I, 2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-018-9620-2
Socioeconomics of adopting IPM strategies by oilseed rape farmers. EPPO Bulletin 48: 546– 551. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12498 (Menzler-Hokkanen, I & Hokkanen HMT, 2018).
Ecostacking: maximising the benefits of ecosystem services. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 11: 741-472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-017-9575-8 (Hokkanen HMT, 2017).
Long-term yield trends of insect pollinated crops vary regionally, and are linked to neonicotinoid use, landscape complexity and availability of pollinators. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I, Keva M 2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11829-017-9527-3
Integrated pest management at the crossroads: Science, politics, or business (as usual)? Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9: 543-545. (Hokkanen, H.M.T., 2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11829-015-9403-y
Managing Bees for Delivering Biological Control Agents and Improved Pollination in Berry and Fruit Cultivation. Sustainable Agriculture Research 4, No. 3; 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/sar.v4n3p89 (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I & Lahdenperä M-L, 2015).
Improving the efficacy of biological control by ecostacking. Chapter 1 in: Gao Y, Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I (eds), Integrative Biological Control. Progress in Biological Control Volume 20, Springer-Nature, (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I, 2020). https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-44838-7_1
Beneficial fungi for promoting plant health in cassava: ecostacking prospects for the management of invasive pests. Chapter 14 in: Gao Y, Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I (eds), Integrative Biological Control. Progress in Biological Control Volume 20, Springer-Nature (Nasruddin AD, Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I, 2020). https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-44838-7_14
The use of entomopathogenic fungi in the insect pest management of Brassica oilseed crops. In: Integrated management of insect pests on canola and other Brassica oilseed crops. Reddy, GVP (Editor), CABI, Wallingford, UK. pp 373-382. (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I 2017) https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780648200.0373
Entomovectoring: an agroecological practice of using bees for biocontrol. In: Wezel, A. (Ed.), Agroecological Practices for Sustainable Agriculture. World Scientific Publishing Europe, London. pp. 183-199. (Menzler-Hokkanen I, Hokkanen HMT 2017). https://doi.org/10.1142/9781786343062_0007
Trap cropping as a delivery platform for RNAi-based targeted control of the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie 21: 143-145 (Hokkanen HMT, Menzler-Hokkanen I 2018).
Webinars:
5.2.2021 Heikki Hokkanen: Rapsikuoriaisen ja kirppojen biotorjunta käytännön viljelyssä [Biological control of rapeseed pests in practise]. Rapeseed expert training/RypsiRapsi 2025 hankkeen Huippuosaajakoulutus https://rypsirapsi.fi/tilaisuudetjakoulutukset/huippuosaajat/
30.3.2021 Heikki Hokkanen: Rapsikuoriaisen ja kirppojen biotorjunta käytännön viljelyssä [Biological control of rapeseed pests in practise]. Viljelijäkoulutus [grower training], Alavuden Öljynpuristamo Oy [Alavus Oilseed Press Company]. https://alavudenoljynpuristamo.fi/rypsin-viljelyilta-webinaari-30-3-2021/
