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Research
Insect Control Research Unit (IC RU)
The long aim of the activities of this unit is to develop new effective
and environmental friendly control techniques based on Insect Behavioural
Regulators (IBRs) that could replace the traditional insecticides.
IBRs could also be useful to reduce the agricultural chemical input
by improving the monitoring techniques necessary to time the treatments.
IC-RU priorities include:
- identification and biological activity of insect semiochemicals;
- identification of plant volatiles involved in the research and
host plant selection;
- identification of plant surface metabolites involved in host
plant acceptance and the selection of the insect pest oviposition
sites;
- role of plant surface metabolites in plant resistance to the
insect oviposition;
- study on the detection mechanisms used by the insect to recognise
pheromones and gustatory signals involved in feeding and reproductive
behaviour;
- use of plant metabolites able to modify the insect behaviour
to improve the efficacy and/or the persistence of BCAs against
insects;
- investigation of the biodiversity of indigenous insect pathogens,
especially fungi, within different ecological zones and agricultural
systems;
- development of experimental biological products against insect
pests;
- investigation on the impact of abiotic environmental factors
on survival and performance of bio-insecticides;
- interactions between chemical and biological control measures
commonly used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
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