Research Fellow Partnership ProgrammeResearch fellow (Post-doc)Marco D’Alessandro,University of NeuchâtelSupervisorTed Turlings, University of NeuchâtelCollaboratorsGeorg von Mérey,University of Neuchâtel, /Kevin Pixley, Silverio Garcia, CIMMYT,Mexico / Jörg Degenhardt, JonathanGershenzon, Max Planck Institute forChemical Ecology, Jena, GermanyDurationMay 20<strong>07</strong> – May 2009Exploiting scents of distress:Making maize plants more attractive to beneficial insectsnatural indirect defence mechanisms. When plants areattacked by insect herbivores they respond by emitting specificvolatiles that are highly attractive to the natural enemiesof the herbivores, such as predators and parasitic wasps, butwhich also induce defence mechanisms in nearby plants. Inmaize, there is exceedingly high variability in the quantitiesand qualities of induced volatile emissions between varietiesand this is also reflected in varying attractiveness to parasitoids.In previous work we were able to isolate a part of thetotal volatile blend that is extremely attractive to a key parasitoidin the laboratory.The entomology team at the CIMMYT station in Agua Fria near Poza Rica,State of Veracruz, Mexico (second from left: Georg von Mérey; third from right:Marco D’Alessandro)The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) is one of the most destructive insectpests of maize in the Americas, where it causes severe economiclosses to farmers. In Mexico, this pest is commonlycontrolled with synthetic insecticides, which pose hazards tothe environment and humans. Moreover, resistance has beenobserved and many small-scale farmers, whose existencestrongly depends on a yearly-granted maize yield, might notbe able to cope with an increasing need for insecticides. Thus,biological control of the fall armyworm is considered a highlydesirable alternative, especially in countries such asMexico, where the use of genetically-modified crops is currentlynot possible.We are currently applying this highly attractive blend inmaize fields in Mexico to demonstrate that the attractivenessof maize plants to beneficial insects can be enhanced.We will also compare the attractiveness of varieties thatshow differential amounts of attractive compounds andfinally we will identify the essential genes involved in theirproduction. Our close collaboration with molecular biologistsat the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena andwith maize breeders of CIMMYT in Mexico should allow us toprovide the basis for the development of an ecologicallysound and sustainable fall armyworm control strategy.The aim of our project is to improve biological control inmaize against the fall armyworm by exploiting the plant’s60
Research fellow (Post-doc)Martin Jemo, <strong>ETH</strong> ZurichSupervisorsEmmanuel Frossard, Jan Jansa, IPW,<strong>ETH</strong> ZurichCollaboratorsFritz Oehl, University of Basel,Switzerland / Robert Abaidoo, IITA,Nigeria / Dieudonné Nwaga, Universityof Yaoundé 1, Cameroon / Jean Kuate,Institute of Agricultural Researchfor Development, CameroonDurationJune 20<strong>07</strong> – May 2009Research Fellow Partnership ProgrammeCan changes in the community structure of arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi contribute to explain the rapid yield decreaseof crops following forest clearance in <strong>South</strong>ern Cameroon?The proposed project is focused on a specific land use systemsequence found in the humid forest zone of <strong>South</strong>ernCameroon*. In this system, the major obstacle for sustainablecrop production is that yields are generally low and dramaticallydecline after a few cycles of cultivation following forestclearance. Traditionally, the sustainability of this systemrelies on combining long fallows and specific cropping systems,where nutrient demands of crops are covered throughweathering, biological nitrogen fixation and plant residuedecomposition. This assumes an important role for soilmicrobial communities during both the fallow as well as theproductive phase. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), symbiontsof a large majority of terrestrial plants, belong to thisgroup of soil microorganisms and play an important role inthe uptake of nutrients such as phosphorus by plants fromthe soil, thus contributing to the crop yields especially undernutrient-limiting conditions. Furthermore, these fungi have amultitude of other functions in the plant-soil continuumsuch as affecting disease and pathogen tolerance of theplants, and alleviation of plant abiotic stresses (e.g. droughtand aluminium toxicity). However, the question whetherAMF community deterioration after forest clearance contributesto explain the rapid yield decrease in recently clearedfields in the humid tropics has not yet been investigated. Thegoals of this project are to (i) monitor crop development andnutrition, physico-chemical soil properties and mycorrhizalcommunities during four crop cycles following forest clearancein the benchmark site in <strong>South</strong>ern Cameroon, (ii) assessthe benefits of AMF communities present in soils under secondaryforests, in Chromolaena odorata fallow, and incropped fields on the growth and nutrition of maize, (iii) separatethe members of the AMF community present in soilsunder secondary forests, and test their compatibility withand benefits to maize, and (iv) to propose managementstrategies utilising the potential of mycorrhizal symbiosis forcrop production on soils with widespread N and P deficiencyas well as Al toxicity. Field experiments are presently beingestablished at the village of Metet where the relationshipsbetween the composition and activity of AMF communitiesand yields of maize will be investigated. Treatments include:Phosphorus (P) fertiliser application (TSP, 30 kg P/ha), thefungicide Benomyl (50 kg/ha), the combination of P andBenomyl application and a control treatment.a b cField experimental sites were cleared and prepared for sowing in Metet during theSummer of 20<strong>07</strong> with (a) secondary forest site, (b) Chromolaena fallow, and (c)cropped field.*A (secondary) forest is slashed and burned and mixed-crop fields with groundnuts, maize, soybean, plantain, cassava and other crops are established. After several croppingseasons, the land is subjected to herbaceous fallow (mostly dominated by Chromolaena odorata). The land is cultivated again after a few seasons and this cycle is repeated2–3 times. Then the yields are so low that the land is abandoned for 10–30 years, allowing the establishment of secondary forest through natural succession.61
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Table of contentsZIL members. . . .
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