Seminar will announce in Chillán importance of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of pests in organic production of berries

22/05/2017

Researchers from the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA Quilamapu Regional Center) and representatives of certification companies will address the relevance of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of pests in organic berries.

For the Wednesday 24 of May the realization of the seminario "Organic production of berries: importance of biological control of pests and certification", an activity organized by INIA Quilamapu and specifically aimed at producers, professionals and technicians linked to organic crops.

The seminar, which will be held in the auditorium of INIA Quilamapu, aims to bring the producers of the sector closer to the use of entomopathogenic fungi as the main alternative of biological control in berries orchards.

What are entomopathogenic fungi?

These are microorganisms that parasitize and fall ill insects that have become pests, specifically those that attack commercial orchards of berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, sarsaparillas).

Insect larva parasitized by entomopathogenic fungus.

From 1996, INIA researchers have studied different strains of these microscopic fungi collected throughout the country. These are fungi that inhabit mainly different types of soil in our geography, and that have the particularity of being the natural enemy of different insects, attacking them and causing their death. What INIA researchers have done is to look for and identify the specific fungus strain that is the natural enemy of those insects that damage berry orchards.

Once the fungi were identified as specific controllers of an insect type, authorization was worked for them to be used in organic agriculture. In this way, it was achieved that five strains of entomopathogenic fungi discovered by INIA were backed by a certifying company, which complied with the strict protocols for exportation. This gave rise to the fact that these strains are currently in commercial development.

The green pololo is a complex pest in berries.

The existence and development of these entomopathogenic fungi, is inserted in a growing national and international demand for having healthier agricultural products that do not contain traces of chemical products. In this sense, these strains of fungi appear as an effective and reliable alternative in the control of insect pests, which do not generate waste in the environment, are harmless to humans and the rest of living beings, but very effective in controlling insects specific.

Focus on organic producers

"Understanding that the basis for success of biological control with entomopathogenic fungi lies in knowing the pests and understand the mode of action of these, is that this seminar seeks to deliver theoretical knowledge and train in practical way the producers of organic berriess ", said the INIA Quilamapu entomopathogenic fungi production manager, María Esperanza Sepúlveda.

The researcher indicated that this seminar is presented as a great opportunity for producers to have direct contact with the two main organic certification companies present in Chile, which will present the most relevant aspects and the main novelties of organic regulations.

Homologation with international standards

One of the exhibitions that call the attention is the one that will be in charge of the professional of the Department of Organic Agriculture of the SAG, Ligia Morend, who will refer to the new changes in the national norms that point to the homologation with the regulations in force in the European Union and Brazil.

The seminar organized by INIA is free and is intended for producers and agricultural advisors linked to the production of berries.

About INIA

The Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) is the main agricultural research institution in Chile, under the Ministry of Agriculture, with a national presence from Arica to Magallanes, through its 10 Regional Centers, as well as technical offices and experimental centers in each of the regions of the country. Its mission is to generate and transfer knowledge and strategic technologies on a global scale, to produce innovation and improve the competitiveness of the agri-food sector.

Source: INA