Two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas chlororaphis (PA23) and Bacillus amyloliquifaciens (BS6) have been shown to control fungal pathogens in canola, through various mechanisms including induced systemic resistance. Chemical changes in other plant systems due to induced systemic resistance have been shown to control certain insect pests. Jasmonic acid, a signalling molecule required for induced systemic resistance, has shown potential for use in the control of insect pests on other crops. The effects of the two bacterial strains and jasmonic acid on insect pests of canola were investigated in the field. Initial laboratory experiments carried out using diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) have shown that jasmonic acid affects oviposition preference and larval feeding rates. Field experiments were carried out in 2006 to investigate the response of numerous insect pests to jasmonic acid and the bacterial treatments. Flea beetle damage, and numbers aphids, diamondback moths, lady beetles, lygus bugs, root maggots,and other species were assessed. No consistent treatment effects were seen, and potential explanations are discussed.
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