Raptopoulos Dimitris, Betsi Petri-Christina, Manikas Neoklis, Borodina Irina, Konstantopoulou Maria
Novagrica Hellas S.A., TESPA "Lefkippos", 15341 Athens, Greece.
Chemical Ecology and Natural Products Laboratory, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, NCSR "Demokritos", 15341 Athens, Greece.
Insects. 2025 May 15;16(5):523. doi: 10.3390/insects16050523.
The use of insect sex pheromones as an alternative technology for pest control in agriculture and forestry offers a promising solution. The development of a novel technology for the biological production of pheromones through yeast fermentation significantly lowers production costs, enabling the adoption of sustainable pest control practices in field crops, a strategy previously reserved for high-value crops. Over three years of monitoring and mating disruption trials in Greek cotton fields, focusing on the cotton bollworm (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), it was confirmed that yeast-derived pheromones exhibit equal efficacy compared to their chemically synthesized counterparts. For the mating disruption of , a biodegradable, flowable, and paraffin-based matrix was developed. The matrix adheres to plants, protects the labile pheromone molecules ()-11-hexadecenal and ()-9-hexadecenal, and controls their gradual release into the environment. These biodegradable polymer blobs act as non-retrievable dispensers and can be deployed manually or via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ensuring efficient and accurate application. This precise, time-efficient, and economically sound technology aligns with European Commission initiatives, such as the Green Deal's Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy, contributing to food sustainability while respecting biodiversity.
在农业和林业中，使用昆虫性信息素作为害虫防治的替代技术提供了一个有前景的解决方案。通过酵母发酵生物生产信息素的新技术的开发显著降低了生产成本，使得在大田作物中采用可持续的害虫防治措施成为可能，而这一策略以前仅用于高价值作物。在希腊棉田针对棉铃虫（鳞翅目：夜蛾科）进行了三年多的监测和交配干扰试验，结果证实酵母衍生的信息素与化学合成的信息素具有同等效力。为了干扰棉铃虫的交配，开发了一种基于石蜡的可生物降解、可流动的基质。该基质附着在植物上，保护不稳定的信息素分子（Z）-11-十六碳烯醛和（E）-9-十六碳烯醛，并控制它们逐渐释放到环境中。这些可生物降解的聚合物团块充当不可回收的施药器，可以手动或通过无人机部署，确保高效准确的应用。这种精确、省时且经济合理的技术符合欧盟委员会的倡议，如绿色协议的“农场到餐桌”战略和生物多样性战略，在尊重生物多样性的同时促进了粮食可持续性。
