Research at the SLU Center of Biological Control

CBC develops knowledge about biological control, to use living organisms to control pests.

A man holding a tray of plants in a greenhouse, photo.

A strong research environment in biological control

We aim to build a strong research environment in biological control and work closely with related research at SLU aimed at the development of sustainable pest control methods. We interact with stakeholders in government agencies, businesses as well as organizations.

More about CBC:s mission

Chemical communication between plants, microbes and insects

Insect pests use chemical signals (semiochemicals) to find food, hosts and mates. Accordingly, chemical communication can be used as a target for pest control. Control techniques like monitoring, attract-and-kill, mating disruption or push-pull exploit primarily pheromones or plant signals.

Plant traits and cultivar mixtures

CBC investigates how crop traits and their genetic diversity can be optimized in order to achieve as good effects of predatory organisms in crop plantations as in wild plant populations.

Ripe and unripe strawberries on a plant, photo.

Nematodes in biological control

Some nematodes can be plant pathogens on our crops, while others can be used as biological control agents against insect pests. We focus on both naturally occurring nematode enemies and fungi that can be inoculated to control the plant damaging nematodes. In addition, we investigate how entomopathogenic nematodes can be used in a good way.

A hand with a syringe injects something into a flower pot, photo.

Biodiversity and conservation biological control

Natural enemies of crop pests, such as insects and arachnids, often have a large effect on pest populations. Research that CBC has participated in has shown that natural enemies can reduce crop losses due to bird cherry oat aphids with 40-75% in Swedish spring barley fields.

More research on biological control

Biological control research is taking place at many different places at SLU. Read more on the links below!

Nano technology for future plant protection Biological control of root rot in forestry Biological control of plant diseases

Published: 22 August 2024 - Page editor: cajsa.lithell@slu.se

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