Revolutionizing Agriculture: Harnessing Biodiversity to Protect Crops from Herbivores

Credit:‌ Agronomy for Sustainable Development (2024). ‍DOI: 10.1007/s13593-024-00964-6

Discover a groundbreaking approach to reducing⁣ herbivore damage without the need for harmful pesticides. Researchers at the⁣ University of Zurich have ‍unveiled a revolutionary method that harnesses ‍biodiversity within plant species to naturally fend off ⁤insects. By combining different plant genotypes, plants can ⁤work together⁢ to resist herbivorous pests, as detailed in the prestigious journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

Plants, much like humans, interact with their surroundings in complex ways. Just as being around ⁢sick individuals‍ can increase your risk of getting sick, plants⁢ also influence each other’s susceptibility to pests and diseases.

This phenomenon, known as associative resistance, highlights how mixing different genetic types of the same plant species can create stronger defenses against threats. This innovative approach addresses the pressing challenge of balancing food security with environmental preservation and biodiversity conservation.

“Associative resistance offers a promising ‍solution to maintain ‍food production while safeguarding biodiversity,” explains Kentaro Shimizu, ‍Director ⁢of UZH’s Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies.

To determine which combinations of plant genotypes are most effective in resisting pests and diseases, researchers at UZH have developed‌ cutting-edge genomic ‍prediction⁢ methods using physics models to analyze genetic interactions among individuals.

Published on 2024-10-07 at 13:15:03
Original article available at phys.org