The aphid alarm pheromone (E)-�-farnesene has a negative impact on aphid pests and increases foraging by antagonistic organisms such as aphid parasitoids. Genetic engineering in an elite wheat variety has produced stable expression of highly pure (E)-�-farnesene giving excellent results in the laboratory against cereal aphids and in increasing foraging by braconid parasitoids of aphids. Field trial results are currently being analyzed. New targets for other semiochemicals, in addition to pheromones, are studied. These are chosen when evidence of their effectiveness is available from agroecological systems exploiting companion cropping to release semiochemicals for crop protection and includes a series of defense related isoprenoid oxidation products. Induction and primed release of the pheromones and other semiochemicals is being developed via natural plant defense elicitors. The work extends to pathogens and weed control, and even to plant production related traits.

First GM crop releasing an insect pheromone for defence and evidence for further opportunities from agroecology

248th National Meeting (2014)

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