Institute for Plant Protection, NARO

The Biological Control Group develops sustainable control methods capable of reducing agricultural chemical use to control major pests on fruit trees and tea plants. These include the following initiatives:

• Spider mites are harmful pests and difficult to control on fruit trees because of their rapid development of resistance to many acaricides and insecticides. The group is developing an effective and sustainable control system for spider mites through the practical use of natural enemies, i.e., phytoseiid mites. The system includes methods such as the use of harmless pesticides for predators and the maintenance of moderate groundcover weeds to conserve the native phytoseiid mites, boosting control efficacy in orchards. Supplemental release of commercial predatory mites also stabilizes the suppressing effect on spider mite populations.
• Development of pest control technologies based on the use of disease-resistant varieties of fruit trees and tea plants. Countermeasures against bacterial canker of apples, pears, and peaches are also pursued.
• Development of insect behavior control technology using physical stimuli to reduce pest damage in fruit trees and tea shrubs.