Classical and augmentative biological control against ... - IOBC-WPRS

Chapter 4
The survey was limited to uses concerning seven crops or cropping groups which are subject to
ENDURE case studies: pomefruit (apples and pears), grapevine, cereals, rape, maize, potatoes and
tomatoes (greenhouse and field), the latter being extended to other vegetables where deemed of
interest. Country lists of representative products (generally up to two) were created and sorted
according to uses in crops, target pests and pathogens were identified by English and scientific
names wherever possible.
Biocontrol substances registered on Annex 1 of the EU (Pesticides Database)
The complete list compiled from data retrieved in April 2009 in the EU Pesticides Database is
presented in Appendix 10. Excerpts concerning the four categories of substances compatible with
biological control are presented in Table 11.
Botanicals
Botanicals are plant-substances resulting from simple processing e.g. pressing or from extraction.
By extension the definition applies to a small numbers of compounds or even single ones extracted
from plants and purified e.g. laminarine.
Fourteen botanicals have been identified (Table 11) including two borderline cases for which
single molecules identical to naturally occurring substances have been synthesised.
- Four botanicals are authorised as repellents only: Extract from the tea tree, garlic extract, clove
oil (plant oils) and pepper.
- Six botanicals enter into the category of plant growth regulators.
- The phytohormones gibberellic acid and gibberelline are botanicals produced in fermenters
acting on plant growth. Spearmint oil and sea-alga extract are listed for their effect on plant
growth as well.
- The phytohormone ethylene is naturally present in plants and in soil and can be included here
although it is typically produced in the petrochemical industry by steam cracking.
- Carvone is a terpene produced by aromatic plants in particular by the mint. It can also be
classified among the botanicals. To obtain a pure grade it is generally synthesised. In plant
protection it is used as a growth regulator.
- Laminarin is extracted from sea weed and is classified as elicitor. Rape seed oil enters into the
category of insecticides/acaroids. Citronella oil is the only BCA approved as herbicide.
- Pyrethrins are extracted from Pyrethrum flowers, from cultivars of Chrysanthemum
cinerariaefolium. By their origin they are botanicals but their structures are analogous and their
properties are similar to those of synthetic pyrethroids. Due to their mode of action which is
analogous to conventional insecticides and their toxicity for aquatic and other non target
organisms, they are not typical biological substances although they are accepted in organic
farming.
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