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Project Topic
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Agricultural crops are constantly exposed and/or threatened by pests, which affect their growth and product quality. In addition, the overuse and misuse of synthetic chemicals can result in harmful effects in humans, other non-targeted organisms, and the environment. This increased the demand to develop and implement of systems using biopesticides which represent a safe alternative to reduce the use of agrochemical inputs and allow sustainable production. The current proposed project „biopesticides“ aims to develop and implement natural pesticides (botanic and microalgae). A survey will be conducted in order to obtain up-to-date data about the distribution of medicinal, aromatics plants and plants with pesticidal effects in the Mediterranean region. The different partners will compile information on plants with potential pest control properties in each country to concentrate on promising plants that contain phytochemical substances. Bioactive substances particularly from the plant order Sapindales as well as from microalgae will be explored using inexpensive solvents to reduce the cost of production and minimize the problems associated with waste disposal. Analysis of bioactive substances, including triterpenes and limonoids, will be carried out using state-of-the-art analytics including mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Development of novel formulations (powder, tablets, liquid) of the identified bioactive substances will be realized according to the demands of end-users. After formulation of different bioactive substances to enhance the effects, botanical and algal preparations will be tested for their pesticidal effects and for their toxicological impact on beneficial insects, especially bees as well as for their biological activities on cell culture models and zebrafish embryos. The mechanism of action of selected formulations, based on their safety and in vitro efficacies, will be evaluated in vitro based on acetylcholinesterase activity, glutathione S transferase and proteomics techniques as well as in vivo using Drosophila melanogaster and Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. Finally, these products will be evaluated for their insecticidal and herbicidal effects as well as other biological effects under both laboratory and field conditions followed by assessment of the socio-economic impacts as well as value chain mapping and analysis to be used in integrated pest management strategies. The “Bio-Pesticides” project meets with the requirements of the “Section 2 Multitopic 2020” Thematic Area 2-Farming systems: Topic 2.2 1 -(RIA*[2]) Redesign agro-livelihood systems to ensure resilience. Agricultural crops are constantly exposed and/or threatened by climate change and pests, which affect their growth and product quality. To strengthen multinational research collaborations, the proposal is based on a multicountry approach with partners from five countries located in different geographical areas i.e. Germany (Middle Europe), Greece (South Europe), Tunisia and Algeria (North Africa), and Turkey (Europe-Asia). The project will expand and intensify networks between professionals in the contributing countries at national and international levels. This multinational collaboration combines complementary and synergistic research strengths that will also represent a unique opportunity to share protocols, methods, and expertise. The long-term and key goal of our research team is, through the implementation of this proposal, to provide alternative, economically, and ecological biopesticides which may partially replace synthetic chemicals used so far.
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