Enhancement of defence potential of crop plants for insect pests by application of LED generated narrow bandwidth light (NBL)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hans-Michael Poehling
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259549235

Aim of the study is the induction of defence reactions in crop plants in protected cultivation systems by means of additional narrow bandwidth light (NBL) generated by LED technology. In cabbage (model plant) and tomato we will analyse whether in particular short wavelength photon fluxes (UVB, UVA, Blue) can trigger pant resistance to selected important herbivorous insects. Important factors such as wavelength, intensities and lighting pattern should be optimized. Moreover we want to know whether the efficacy of resistance induction depends on plant and herbivore species, in particular different feeding strategies (grazing vs sucking) of pests. Moreover possible effects on higher tropic levels will be considered by studies of parasitoids searching and parasitization efficacy on induced vs non-induced plants. After description and selection of convenient systems (induction scheme, plant, pest) first pilot analysis of the complete metabolom will be performed to characterize light induced compounds related to the induction process.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants