New tool in the battle against thrips

Authors: Choi, Man

Submitted to: Digger
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2025
Publication Date: 3/8/2025
Citation: Choi, M.Y. 2025. New tool in the battle against thrips. Digger. https://diggermagazine.com/new-tools-in-the-battle-against-thrips/.

Interpretive Summary: Western flower thrips (WFT) is one of the most important insect pests in horticultural and nursery crops, causing direct damage to leaves, flowers and fruits and transmitting plant viruses. WFT is consistently ranked as a top priority pest for the nursery industry, which is the most valuable commodity at nearly $1.2 billion in Oregon alone. Current control for WFT heavily relies on conventional chemical insecticides despite negative environmental impacts and insecticide resistance. We studied molecular physiological tools such as proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics on WFT for a new approach to develop thrips control.

Technical Abstract: 1. A sustainable mass rearing method: A new sustainable mass rearing system is simple and cost-effective in the laboratory and has improved rearing methods from other systems used previously. 2. Molecular identification method for thrips: We used internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) gene as a DNA marker for molecular identification of WFT. 3. Developed nano-injection method for thrips: Injections are essential in entomological research as they allow for direct delivery of biological compounds into the hemocoel of specimens to find the physiological impact on the insect. We developed a novel nano-volume injection technique for micro-insects (< 3 mm) using WFT, as a model insect. 4. Identification and characterization of neuropeptides from WFT: We have identified new members of the neuropeptides such as CAPA and pyrokinin (PK) peptides, that are associated with feeding, diuresis, muscle contraction, and pheromone biosynthesis.