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Erdei AL, David AB, Savvidou EC, Džemedžionaitė V, Chakravarthy A, Molnár BP, Dekker T. The push-pull intercrop Desmodium does not repel, but intercepts and kills pests. eLife 2024; 13:e88695. [PMID: 38477562 PMCID: PMC11021049 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over two decades ago, an intercropping strategy was developed that received critical acclaim for synergizing food security with ecosystem resilience in smallholder farming. The push-pull strategy reportedly suppresses lepidopteran pests in maize through a combination of a repellent intercrop (push), commonly Desmodium spp., and an attractive, border crop (pull). Key in the system is the intercrop's constitutive release of volatile terpenoids that repel herbivores. However, the earlier described volatile terpenoids were not detectable in the headspace of Desmodium, and only minimally upon herbivory. This was independent of soil type, microbiome composition, and whether collections were made in the laboratory or in the field. Furthermore, in oviposition choice tests in a wind tunnel, maize with or without an odor background of Desmodium was equally attractive for the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda. In search of an alternative mechanism, we found that neonate larvae strongly preferred Desmodium over maize. However, their development stagnated and no larva survived. In addition, older larvae were frequently seen impaled and immobilized by the dense network of silica-fortified, non-glandular trichomes. Thus, our data suggest that Desmodium may act through intercepting and decimating dispersing larval offspring rather than adult deterrence. As a hallmark of sustainable pest control, maize-Desmodium push-pull intercropping has inspired countless efforts to emulate stimulo-deterrent diversion in other cropping systems. However, detailed knowledge of the actual mechanisms is required to rationally improve the strategy, and translate the concept to other cropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Erdei
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
- Department of Chemical Ecology, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
| | - Aneth B David
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM)SalaamUnited Republic of Tanzania
| | - Eleni C Savvidou
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
- Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of ThessalyVolosGreece
| | - Vaida Džemedžionaitė
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Advaith Chakravarthy
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Béla P Molnár
- Department of Chemical Ecology, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection InstituteBudapestHungary
| | - Teun Dekker
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
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Pessoa P, Aboim S, Afonso L, Lopes JB, Sá-Pinto X. Tasting to preserve: An educational activity to promote children's positive attitudes towards intraspecific diversity conservation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0285649. [PMID: 38198443 PMCID: PMC10781109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
On the edge of causing the sixth big mass extinction event, the development of positive attitudes towards the conservation of intraspecific diversity from early ages is essential to overcome the biodiversity crisis we currently face. However, there is no information available on elementary school students' attitudes toward intraspecific diversity conservation nor is there a framework available to perform such analysis. For this study we designed, implemented, and evaluated an educational activity planned for third graders (8 to 13 years old) to explore the intraspecific diversity of vegetables and promote healthy eating habits. Additionally, a framework was developed to evaluate students' attitudes towards intraspecific diversity conservation and applied to semi-structured interviews conducted with students before and after engaging in the educational activity. In this paper we present a reliable framework, developed aligned with the ABC model of attitudes, based on literature, and adapted to elementary school students' responses, to evaluate students' attitudes toward intraspecific diversity. Our results show that, before the educational activity, most students choose a non-biodiverse option, justifying this choice with the affective component of attitudes: mostly emotional factors but also aesthetic and social/cultural factors. After the educational activity, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of students that choose the biodiverse option and that justified it with the cognitive component of attitudes: mainly with biology and health knowledge factors, but also with economic and ethical knowledge factors. Our findings support the positive impact of educational activities that explore vegetable varieties on students' attitudes toward intraspecific diversity conservation. This activity may also be used to foster education for sustainability and address socioscientific issues aligned with diverse sustainable development goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Pessoa
- Research Centre in the Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers of University of Aveiro (CIDTFF.UA), Aveiro, Portugal
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sara Aboim
- P. Porto: School of Education and Centre for Research and Innovation in Education (inED), Porto, Portugal
| | - Lisa Afonso
- Center for Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - J. Bernardino Lopes
- Research Centre in the Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers of University of Aveiro (CIDTFF.UA), Aveiro, Portugal
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Xana Sá-Pinto
- Research Centre in the Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers of University of Aveiro (CIDTFF.UA), Aveiro, Portugal
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Rahajaharilaza K, Muller B, Violle C, Brocke KV, Ramavovololona, Morel JB, Balini E, Fort F. Upland rice varietal mixtures in Madagascar: evaluating the effects of varietal interaction on crop performance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1266704. [PMID: 38053764 PMCID: PMC10694222 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1266704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Rice plays a critical role in human livelihoods and food security. However, its cultivation requires inputs that are not accessible to all farming communities and can have negative effects on ecosystems. simultaneously, ecological research demonstrates that biodiversity management within fields contributes to ecosystem functioning. Methods This study aims to evaluate the mixture effect of four functionally distinct rice varieties in terms of characteristics and agronomic performance and their spatial arrangement on the upland rice performance in the highlands of Madagascar. The study was conducted during the 2021-2022 rainfall season at two close sites in Madagascar. Both site differ from each other's in soil properties and soil fertility management. The experimental design at each site included three modalities: i) plot composition, i.e., pure stand or binary mixture; ii) the balance between the varieties within a mixture; iii) and for the balanced mixture (50% of each variety), the spatial arrangement, i.e., row or checkerboard patterns. Data were collected on yields (grain and biomass), and resistance to Striga asiatica infestation, Pyricularia oryzea and bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae-pv from each plot. Results and discussion Varietal mixtures produced significantly higher grain and biomass yields, and significantly lower incidence of Pyricularia oryzea compared to pure stands. No significant differences were observed for BLB and striga infestation. These effects were influenced by site fertility, the less fertilized site showed stronger mixture effects with greater gains in grain yield (60%) and biomass yield (42%). The most unbalanced repartition (75% and 25% of each variety) showed the greatest mixture effect for grain yield at both sites, with a strong impact of the varietal identity within the plot. The mixture was most effective when EARLY_MUTANT_IAC_165 constituted 75% of the density associated with other varieties at 25% density. The assessment of the net effect ratio of disease, an index evaluating the mixture effect in disease reduction, indicated improved disease resistance in mixtures, regardless of site conditions. Our study in limited environments suggests that varietal mixtures can enhance rice productivity, especially in low-input situations. Further research is needed to understand the ecological mechanisms behind the positive mixture effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koloina Rahajaharilaza
- University of Antananarivo, Faculty of Sciences, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- CIRAD, UMR AGAP Institut, Montpellier, France
- Dispositif en Partenariat Système de Production d’Altitudes Durable, CIRAD, Antsirabe, Madagascar
| | - Bertrand Muller
- CIRAD, UMR AGAP Institut, Montpellier, France
- Dispositif en Partenariat Système de Production d’Altitudes Durable, CIRAD, Antsirabe, Madagascar
- UMR AGAP Institut, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Cyrille Violle
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Kirsten vom Brocke
- CIRAD, UMR AGAP Institut, Montpellier, France
- UMR AGAP Institut, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Ramavovololona
- University of Antananarivo, Faculty of Sciences, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jean Benoît Morel
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Université de Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Elsa Balini
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Université de Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Florian Fort
- CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, L’Institut Agro, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Jones SK, Sánchez AC, Beillouin D, Juventia SD, Mosnier A, Remans R, Carmona NE. Achieving win-win outcomes for biodiversity and yield through diversified farming. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Sahelian smallholders’ varietal mixtures reconcile yield and agrobiodiversity conservation. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Cappelli SL, Domeignoz-Horta LA, Loaiza V, Laine AL. Plant biodiversity promotes sustainable agriculture directly and via belowground effects. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:674-687. [PMID: 35279365 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
While the positive relationship between plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is well established, the extent to which this is mediated via belowground microbial processes is poorly understood. Growing evidence suggests that plant community structure influences soil microbial diversity, which in turn promotes functions desired for sustainable agriculture. Here, we outline the 'plant-directed' and soil microbe-mediated mechanisms expected to promote positive BEF. We identify how this knowledge can be utilized in plant diversification schemes to maximize ecosystem functioning in agroecosystems, which are typically species poor and sensitive to biotic and abiotic stressors. In the face of resource overexploitation and global change, bridging the gaps between biodiversity science and agricultural practices is crucial to meet food security in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seraina L Cappelli
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Luiz A Domeignoz-Horta
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Viviana Loaiza
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anna-Liisa Laine
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Jones SK, Estrada-Carmona N, Juventia SD, Dulloo ME, Laporte MA, Villani C, Remans R. Agrobiodiversity Index scores show agrobiodiversity is underutilized in national food systems. NATURE FOOD 2021; 2:712-723. [PMID: 37117466 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The diversity of plants, animals and microorganisms that directly or indirectly support food and agriculture is critical to achieving healthy diets and agroecosystems. Here we present the Agrobiodiversity Index (based on 22 indicators), which provides a monitoring framework and informs food systems policy. Agrobiodiversity Index calculations for 80 countries reveal a moderate mean agrobiodiversity status score (56.0 out of 100), a moderate mean agrobiodiversity action score (47.8 out of 100) and a low mean agrobiodiversity commitment score (21.4 out of 100), indicating that much stronger commitments and concrete actions are needed to enhance agrobiodiversity across the food system. Mean agrobiodiversity status scores in consumption and conservation are 14-82% higher in developed countries than in developing countries, while scores in production are consistently low across least developed, developing and developed countries. We also found an absence of globally consistent data for several important components of agrobiodiversity, including varietal, functional and underutilized species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stella D Juventia
- Bioversity International, Montpellier, France
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Reinprecht Y, Schram L, Smith TH, Pauls KP. Enhancing In-crop Diversity in Common Bean by Planting Cultivar Mixtures and Its Effect on Productivity. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.00126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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