To me, to you developing a push pull system for sustainable management of aphid pests in seed and ware potato crops

The value of seed and ware potato crops is reduced by a range of aphid transmitted viruses. These viruses are transmitted aphids, such as the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae) and the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Production of sufficient high-quality certified seed has become more difficult in recent years with the withdrawal of key insecticides. This situation has been compounded by development of widespread resistance in aphid populations to available insecticides. Effective alternatives are urgently required in order to minimise the spread of viruses in potato crops.

'Push-pull' or 'stimulo-deterrent diversion' is a crop protection method in which an intercrop or repellent is applied to the crop ('push') and a highly attractive trap crop is grown around the main crop, which acts as a lure for the pest ('pull'). When effectively applied this approach minimises damage to the crop and concentrates the pest in field margins where natural enemies are more numerous where flowering strips are used.

Project aim: to improve management of aphid pests of potato crops through development of a 'push-pull' system.

Specific project objectives include; confirming positive behavioural responses, e.g. landing behaviour of aphids to one or more potential trap crops; confirming negative behavioural responses, e.g. landing behaviour of aphids to one or more plant essential oils and/or companion crops; investigating aphid landing behaviour within prototype push-pull systems; optimising push-pull systems e.g. modifying plant mixes within trap crop, spatial arrangement of trap crop plants, use of novel formulations of plant essential oils (nano-formulations and microencapsulation technologies) as repellents; optimising push-pull system under commercial conditions working with colleagues at NIAB and CUPGRA to secure suitable sites. Recording aphid numbers and virus transmission within crops