Research Scientist Pat Dowd holds a colony of cigarette beetles. Dr. Dowd demonstrated that intracellular symbionts are responsible for detoxifying some defensive chemicals from plants. The cigarette beetles are still used for comparative testing of plant defensive compounds.

The Crop Bioprotection Research unit has a long and productive history of collaborative research involving stakeholders, universities and other research institutions within the USA and around the world.

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Research scientist Robert Behle holds an imported cabbage worm feeding on a cabbage leaf, and the adult butterfly. Caterpillars from the cabbage looper, imported cabbage worm and black cutworm cause significant economic losses to field crops, vegetable crops and turf grasses. CBP scientists are developing environmentally friendly microbial biopesticides to reduce the impact of these insect pests.

Research scientist Eric Johnson and research technician Mark Doehring observe basil seedlings. Downy mildew of basil causes tens of millions of dollars in loss to this crop. CBP scientists are working on identifying methods to grow basil downy mildew in the lab to accelerate research on controlling this destructive fungus.

Insect agriculture is a growing industry that has the capacity to provide sustainable and highly nutritious protein for food and agricultural feed. NCAUR scientists are working to support mass insect production by conducting research that improves the health and yield of farmed insects. Additional research efforts aim at improving insect production sustainability by harnessing the insects’ ability to feed on agricultural wastes, such as grain contaminated with mycotoxins.