DNA testing to identify biological controls on cotton grubs

A DNA diagnostic testing service has been set up to quantify the effectiveness of biological control tools on cotton pest management.

The Universtity of Queensland has joined forces with crop protection provider Cotton Growers Services to generate rapid feedback on virus infection levels and parasites that offer biological control of cotton pests.

UQ's Centre for Identification and Diagnostics is using DNA techniques to not only identify grub species in the crop, but also determine whether they have been parasitised by wasps or infected by viruses that will evntually kill them.

CID Director Dr Dave Merritt said that within a matter of hours of receiving the insect samples, scientists could determine whether the "goodies" had infected the "baddies" and the pest battle can be won without the assistance of an application of an insecticide.

Cotton Growers Services development manager Philip Armytage said insect infestation levels and biological control effectiveness were key variables in the cotton crop, and Australian growers were hungry for information and tools that enable them to fight nature with nature.

Under the joint venture, UQ scientists will be able to provide a 24-hour diagnostic turnaround by November this year.

Item provided courtesy of The University of Queensland