Plant –plant communication in the context of biocontrol and agroecosystems functioning relationships – oilseedPrime

There is an increasing need towards natural and alternative solutions to the chemical control of pest populations. The design of biocontrol methods has been progressively increased, but biocontrol in field crops has been limited to certain methods which may be unlikely to achieve similar results as chemical pesticides. We aim to “learn from nature” and improve biocontrol on one of the utmost importance agricultural crop: oilseed rape (Brassica napus). It’s known for other brassicaceae species that they use egg-deposition of herbivore pests as a warning cue for herbivore attack. Upon egg recognition plants enhance their defensive-phenotype and shift to reproduction to safeguard their offspring; a phenomenon called priming. In this project we will test, on Brassica napus, how plant diversity affects priming of plant defenses and shifts to reproduction and how such plant responses affect members of the food web on the field such as pests, their natural enemies and non-target organisms.