Structure
The group was set up by a number of rape crop pathologists and entomologists in 1982. In 1990 the group’s activity was expanded to linseed, sunflower and false flax. It comprises approximately 30 active scientists.
Subgroups
The activities of the group are organised within 2 subgroups:
- Sub-Group Pathology. Convenor: Gosia (Malgorzata) JEDRYCZKA
- Sub-Group Entomology. Convenor: Samantha M. COOK
Activities
To keep up with rapid progress made in this field of research, meetings are held regularly. The group exchanges experiences and maintains a close collaboration with experts in crop protection and the production of oilseed crops, as well as with other international oilseed crop organisations such as the Groupe Consultatif International de Recherche sur le Colza (GCIRC), the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA) and the European Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO). Joint field experiments are carried out in different member countries to study the interaction between varietal resistance and disease control in order to minimize the use of fungicides in rape.
Research is made into the occurrence and distribution of pests and diseases, monitoring, forecasting, establishment of damage thresholds, plant resistance biofungicides, seed pathology and seed quality, crop rotation, parasitoids, use of bait plants for pest control, possible pest control by entomophagous fungi and on pheromones.
Exchanges of scientists assure dissemination and sharing of knowledge and expertise. Many members of the group are involved in EU research projects and concerted actions such as Biocontrol of Oilseed Rape Insect Pests (BORIS and MASTER), Integrated Strategies for the management of Stem Canker of Oilseed Rape in Europe (IMASCORE), Stem Canker of Oilseed Rape: Molecular Tools and Mathematical Modelling to deploy durable Resistance (SECURE) and alternative oil-seed crop Camelina saliva.
Achievements
The results of the working group’s activities are published in bulletins, scientific journals, and proceedings.
Meeting reports are available here: https://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~iobc/index.php
Keywords
durable disease resistance of cultivars, early identification of pathogens and pests, biological control, biodiversity, gene technology, IPS-strategies
Aim
- Identification of factors stimulating and limiting implementation of biological and integrated control of oilseed crops at different levels of research, development, consultation and technology transfer
- Development of strategies to improve implementation of integrated control in integrated production with regard to gene technology and its impact on the environment and the quality of agricultural products
- Development of sustainable low-input oilseed crop production systems to minimize pesticides and fossil fuel usage and to maximize the exploitation of gene resources
- Improvement of new strategies in research and development in harmony with integrated production, for example molecular biology of harmful and beneficial micro-organisms, biology of pathogens and quality of agricultural products (e.g. seed quality)