A phenology-perceptive integrated biocontrol program for Large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora idaei) control: PHENCONTROL

树莓在英国是一种受欢迎的高价值软水果。然而，目前的生产受到蚜虫侵害的阻碍，主要是由于大型覆盆子蚜虫（amphorophora idaei_）。防治这种蚜虫历来是通过培育抗蚜虫的覆盆子品种和喷洒杀虫剂来完成的。然而，由于几个原因，这些方法不再足够。首先，蚜虫的生物型开始出现，它们能够抵抗在覆盆子中繁殖的基因。此外，由于对蚜虫传播的病毒的担忧减少，对蚜虫进行抗性培育不再是优先考虑的问题。其次，撤销对农药的批准限制了控制的选择。蚜虫的防治现在以综合虫害管理战略为基础，这种战略依赖于使用商业生产的有效生物防治产品，如拟寄生虫和多面手捕食者。然而，还没有研究将不同生物防治成分的有效性整合到一个有凝聚力的综合生物防治计划中，以保护覆盆子作物免受蚜虫的侵害。因此，覆盆子存在着生产损失、滞销果实浪费和资源利用效率低下等问题。这个1.47亿英镑/年的产业即使有10%的商业损失，也将转化为超过1400万英镑的损失，考虑到英国进口超过69%的本地消费覆盆子，这是一个不可接受的高金额。该项目将利用种植者组织、NIAB科学家和一家领先的生物防治生产商的专业知识，开发和测试覆盆子蚜虫综合生物防治方案。总体目标是将不同的生物防治成分纳入一个季节性计划，以应对植物和蚜虫的季节性变化。我们将包括额外的监测，以评估在冬季利用作物的天敌和害虫。这种扩大的范围对英国树莓种植者的蚜虫管理很有价值，并且与目前在树莓种植园中维持蚜虫天敌“常备军”的想法一致。此外，研究联盟将进行成本效益分析，以确保适当的控制维持当地生产的树莓的市场竞争力。此外，该研究将为未来研究英国其他软果的生物防治方案提供有价值的信息和数据。

Raspberry is a popular and high-value soft fruit in the UK. However, current production is hampered by aphid infestation, mainly attributed to the large raspberry aphid (_Amphorophora idaei_). Controlling this aphid was historically done by breeding aphid-resistant raspberry cultivars and spraying pesticides. However, these methods are no longer adequate for several reasons. First, aphid biotypes able to withstand genes bred into raspberry began to emerge. Additionally, breeding for aphids for resistance is no longer a priority due to fewer concerns about the viruses that aphids spread. Secondly, the withdrawal of approvals for pesticides has limited the options for control.Control of aphids is now anchored on integrated pest management strategies that depend on the use of effective commercially produced biocontrol products such as parasitoids and generalist predators. However, research has not been done to align the effectiveness of different biocontrol components into a cohesive integrated biocontrol program to protect raspberry crops from aphids. Consequently, there are losses to production, wastage of unmarketable fruit and inefficient resource use in raspberry. Commercial losses of even 10% to this £147M/year industry would translate to over £14M losses, an unacceptably high sum given that the UK imports more than 69% of raspberries consumed locally.This project will leverage the expertise of grower organisations, NIAB scientists and a leading biocontrol producer to develop and test an integrated biocontrol program for aphid control in raspberry. The overall aim is to incorporate different biocontrol components into a season-long program that is responsive to the seasonal changes in the plant and aphids. We will include additional monitoring to assess the natural enemies and pests which utilise the crop during the winter season. This expanded scope is valuable to raspberry growers in the UK for aphid management and aligns with current thinking on maintaining " a standing army" of natural enemies of aphid in raspberry plantations. Additionally, the research consortium will conduct a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that adequate control maintains the market competitiveness of locally produced raspberries. Furthermore, this research will provide valuable information and data for future research to create biocontrol programs for other soft fruit in the UK.