Studies on Short and Long Term Storage of Trichogramma spp

Abstract

With the growing field success the biotechnology-based RandD on mass production of this wasp has gained considerable momentum in India and is now a key component in promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM). One of the primary drawbacks faced by bio-agent production units is the inability to meet seasonal high demands. The major reasons for this problems are: uncertainty associated with host egg production rate due to newlinechanging environment and conditions and lack of suitable storage techniques. Thus, at this stage developing suitable and safe storage techniques for mass-produced biocontrol agents and their hosts are of sheer importance. The outcome of these technologies should be to offer flexibility and efficiency in the production, so as to synchronize availability of a desired stage of the bio-agent for large scale releases without hindering their biological newlineperformance. The shelf life period of Trichogramma species in India is required to be extended from the present level of few weeks to the desirable duration of several months so as to enable mass rearing units to manage and scale-up production to facilitate newlineuninterrupted supplies during the seasonal variations in demand for Trichogramma. Low newlinetemperature storage of bio-control agents like Trichogramma species is known to enable a producer to stock the bio-agents at a particular stage for release against target pest during peak season or during sudden pest outbreaks. Research on extending the shelf life via newlinedormancy (diapause, quiescence) induction in the mass produced Trichogramma is of great practical value. newline