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Jennifer Spinner

BScAgr (Hons1) (University of Sydney)

PhD Student
School School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences
Location Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Phone 02 6933 4212
Fax 02 6933 2812
Email jspinner@csu.edu.au

FoR Codes

060505 Mycology
070603 Horticultural Crop Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
100202 Biological Control

Project

Biopesticides for the control of greenhouse whitefly

Summary

The greenhouse whitefly (GHWF), Trialeurodes vaporariorum is one of the world's most destructive greenhouse pests attacking more than 275 species of ornamental and horticultural crops worldwide. Non-chemical controls are gaining popularity due to increasing chemical resistance and public pressure. Fungal biopesticides are suited to the control of sap-sucking insect pests because they penetrate the insect cuticle, unlike other microbial controls. However, new biological controls must be compatible with existing insect biological control agents if they are to function effectively in integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

This project aims to determine the effect of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces spp. on GHWF and its natural enemies in order to determine the optimal isolate for the control of GHWF in an IPM context. In addition, the mechanisms behind the interaction between the entomopathogenic fungus and the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa will be examined.

Supervisors

Assoc Prof Gavin Ash, Dr Ben Stodart, Dr Bree Wilson, Dr Carrie Hauxwell

Funding source

CSU Postgraduate Research Scholarship, GRDC Top Up Scholarship