Researchers from Wageningen University & Research ( WUR ) and Leiden University have engineer a biologic barrier that protects plant from diseases and pests . It have-to doe with a mucilaginous substance that is spray on leaves , to which pestis bind . The researchers desire that this insect glue will help to bring down the usage of toxic chemical pesticides . They published their finding in the scientific diary PNAS .
In February , the European Commission withdrew its proposal to halve the role of chemic pesticides . However , the goal of reducing their use stay due to the harmful core of these pesticides on human , creature and environmental wellness . In the lookup for alternative , scientists from WUR and Leiden University turned to nature for brainchild . " The carnivorous sundew plant has so - call glandular tomentum that release a sticky substance to pick up insects , " says Thomas Kodger , Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter . " We wanted to mime this to protect our works and craw in a natural way . "
Targeted trapThe researchers follow in their endeavor . They transform vegetable rice oil into a yellow , sticky substance by blowing air over it and grinding it into small particle using a science laboratory liquidiser . This termination in beads of about one mm in diameter that are as sticky as canal tape . The size matches one of the common pesterer insect : thrip . By entrance these louse , plant stay put healthier and are less likely to become infect with fungi that the thrips carry with them . So far , the researcher chiefly focused on this type of pest , but the dirt ball glue may also puzzle out against other pest , such as the Suzuki yield fly front that presently threatens cherry polish . At the same time , the drops are small-scale enough that good insects , such as pollinators , do not get bond .
Unlike chemical substance pesticide , insects are unconvincing to develop resistance against this adhesive agent , Kodger thinks . " Insects have already evolved so that they keep off adhesion , for exemplar through hairs on their body and a bumpy surface , " he explains . " increase their physical structure sizing remains one of the few leak method from this steamy maw . " That is not nearly as well-situated as developing allowance to a chemical marrow . If it happen at all , it takes many generations and only happens if the insect glue is used on a magnanimous scale .
As ( un)healthy as frying oilAfter applications programme , the sticky substance continue on the folio for three months and can not be wash out off by rain . That is retentive enough to control pests until harvesting . By spraying the worm glue on crops before the fruit develop , Fannie Merritt Farmer minimize the chance of the pesticide getting onto the food . However , contact with solid food can not be ruled out . " The advantage of our pesticide over chemic pesticides is that you may see the little , scandalmongering drops , " suppose Kodger . " you may wash it off with water and dish soap . " If you do ingest some of it , it is probably not harmful . As it is derived from veg rock oil , Kodger expects it to be no more harmful than frying adipose tissue , but scientists still need to investigate how ( un)healthy it is exactly .
In the future , farmers may spray the sticky pesticide on their field . This can be done using subsist chemical sprayers . A special additive in the mixture ensures that the beads do not stick to each other or the auto . Nevertheless , research worker must assess the environmental impact . " We rather not dump big amounts of fake oil on the fields , " says Kodger . In the fare years they will therefore meditate how apace the oil degrades in ground .
Spin - off companyConfident in their sustainable pesticide , Wageningen and Leiden research worker plan to launch a spin - off company to further develop and market this invention . They stand for to utilise various waste oils based on availability , adapt the process accordingly . Kodger is enthusiastic about the company : " It is rewarding to witness our idea potentially commute the world within my lifetime . " The fellowship aims to depart up by the oddment of this twelvemonth .
Source : wur.nl
