ISCA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.12

Description

2023 USDA/NIFA SBIR Phase I: Semiochemical Control of the Diamondback Moth for the Small Crucifer GrowerCompany: ISCA Technologies Inc. PI: Agenor Mafra-Neto PhDField 7 Project Summary/AbstractThis project will develop novel control solutions for a key crucifer pest diamondback moth(DBM) Plutella xylostella. ISCA will develop two DBM control strategies:Acttra Plutella alure containing a blend of crucifer plant extracts to draw adult moths to traps for a pesticide-freemass trapping strategy; and Acttra Plutella A&K (attract-and-kill) a sprayable formulationblending Acttra Plutella with small amounts of killing agents designed for application to or amongcrops. Crucifer crops which have an estimated US market of >$1 billion are attacked by multipleinsect pests but the most widespread and impactful of these is DBM which attacks nearly allcrucifer crops including broccoli kale cabbage Brussels sprouts canola rapeseed and mustards.Worldwide DBM has an estimated impact of US$4-5 billion including crop damage and controlcosts. Acttra Plutella mass trapping and A&K strategies will be of great value for organicproduction systems where broad-spectrum pesticides cannot be used; and in conventional cruciferproduction where DBM's capacity for resistance has undermined the efficacy of pesticide sprays.DBM resistance has been reported to nearly 100 insecticide active ingredients (AIs) includingorganophosphates benzoylureas avermectins pyrethroids carbamates spinosyns and diamides.Preliminary field trials in Mexican kale farms showed that traps baited with a prototype ActtraPlutella blend captured high numbers of DBM and an A&K prototype containing the same cruciferextracts attracted and killed large numbers of DBM moths. Trials with Africanized honeybees inBrazil demonstrated that the formulation had no attractancy to the bees indicating that applicationsof Acttra Plutella in crop fields would do no harm to pollinator populations. Phase I research anddevelopment on Acttra Plutella and Acttra Plutella A&K will build on these successes byoptimizing the Acttra Plutella lure determining optimal trap placement and density and assessingits impact when blended with insecticide as an A&K technique. Phase I will consist of five tasks:1) dose response trials to evaluate the effects of sequential dilutions of the original formulation onDBM trap capture and A&K efficacy; 2) field studies with the best-performing formulation fromTask 1 to assess the comparative efficacy of mass trapping using different trap densities in thefield; 3) A&K trials assessing Acttra Plutella A&K's impact on DBM populations and cropdamage; 4) rain simulation trials to assess Acttra Plutella's persistence under rainfall; and 5)stakeholder involvement in problem identification and implementation of results. Phase II studieswill focus on further optimization of Acttra Plutella using mass trapping and A&K techniquestailoring the former to the needs of organic growers while the latter product will be marketed toconventional growers empowering reliable production of brassicas with reduced reliance onconventional pesticides. Acttra Plutella A&K will also be designed to be blended with toxicantsusing multiple distinct modes of action minimizing the risk of resistance.Successful development of Acttra Plutella and Acttra Plutella A&K will bring effective andsustainable pest management technologies to the market and will help to reduce the need forpesticide use in crucifer production and consequently decrease the health and environmental risksassociated with overuse of these toxic chemicals. The US and international market for ISCA'sActtra Plutella technologies are large as DBM is recognized as the most damaging crucifer pestin the world and has developed resistance to virtually all pesticides used to control it creatingenormous opportunities for alternative