# Gaining control over tomato potato psyllid

- Link: https://rd2.co.nz/gaining-control-over-tomato-potato-psyllid/
- Published: 2024-12-05T23:50:38+00:00
- Author: RSF Admin

This article was published in October and caught our attention.  It’s great to read
about Canterbury Potato growers’ success in fighting tomato potato psyllid, which
causes ‘Zebra Chip’ disease.  It is also heartening to read that natural solutions,
rather than chemicals, are being investigated to combat this destructive pest.

At Roots, Shoots & Fruits, we are all about using natural solutions to ensure crops
are produced well for the farmer, their whanau and the wider community and environment.

We know that healthy crops have natural defence mechanisms that they deploy against
pests and diseases.  The utilisation of different mechanisms is an important factor
in prevention and one of the reasons why pathogens do not become resistant to natural
biological agents.  

Precision targeting is mentioned in the article as a key factor in reducing the 
population of tomato potato psyllids in potato crops.  Attacking the eggs and the
nymphs means that the numbers of adults are limited and less spraying is needed –
saving the grower time and money.  

### **Bio-repel**** garlic oil**

This trial, [**_Effects of Garlic Oil on Tomato Potato Psyllid_**](https://rd2.co.nz/trial/effects-of-garlic-oil-on-tomato-potato-psyllid-and-zebra-chip-in-fried-potato-crisps/),
conducted in 2013 by Plant and Food Research in Patumahoe using Bio-Repel, a completely
natural insect repellent from Garlic oil, discovered the same thing.  Bio-Repel 
garlic oil significantly reduced nymph numbers over four assessment dates.  The 
reduction of insecticide applications in the potato industry, and across all horticultural
and agricultural sectors in New Zealand, is crucial to improve environmental and
human outcomes.  

Taking chemicals out of the food chain and adding nutrition should be goals we strive
for, and using natural, non-toxic solutions such as Bio-Repel to fight pests is 
a great start.  Bio-Repel will not harm beneficial insects that predate the tomato
potato psyllids. 

You can read more about Bio-Repel here: [_BioRepel (O) 2022.pdf_](https://drive.google.com/file/d/151oTRYSj-1Q4lPekPTH6z9W6YQ1JSGca/view)

The researchers at Lincoln University have also found that Calcium deterred the 
tomato potato psyllids from feeding and spreading zebra chip disease (based on work
in the laboratory).  While researchers said they did not yet know why the Calcium
worked so well, there is much evidence to show that healthy plants do not get attacked
by insects.  Entomologist Dr. Thomas Dykstra has studied this at length and we at
Roots, Shoots & Fruits agree!  

Insects use diverse feeding strategies to obtain nutrients from their host plants.
Rather than acting as passive victims in these interactions, plants respond to insect
attacks by producing toxins and defensive proteins that target physiological processes
in the insect.  Emitting these volatiles attracts insect predators and bolsters 
resistance to future threats.  A detailed understanding of plant immunity to insect
predators will likely provide new insights into basic mechanisms of chemical communication
and plant-animal coevolution and may also facilitate new approaches to crop protection
and improvement.

### **How does that tie in with Calcium showing efficacy against the tomato potato psyllid? ** 

Calcium is a super-essential nutrient for plant growth and development.  Many plant
diseases are associated with low calcium, and many physical disorders in crops can
be attributed to calcium deficiencies.

Calcium has an effect on the cell walls of plants by making them more resistant 
to insect attack and pathogen penetration.  A plant under attack will mobilise Calcium
to promote natural immunity defences and hormone responses.  And if there is no 
Calcium to mobilise? Calcium deficiencies mean plants cannot activate built-in responses
to insect attacks, and a lack of calcium will also impact fruit quality.

For potatoes, Calcium is important for tuber development and a lack of Calcium can
result in what is widely referred to as an ‘internal rust spot’. This is a physiological
defect caused by cell death, resulting in small brown spots in the flesh. Calcium
is vital for optimum storage and keeping qualities – crucial for a vegetable like
Potatoes.

Our glycine-chelated Biomin Calcium can move via the phloem, which is important 
since xylem bundles in many crops break, reducing the ability of Calcium inputs 
to correct deficiencies. Biomin Calcium moves systemically through plants, to the
fruit and other areas of need. 

You can read more about Biomin Calcium [**_here._**](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D8A9UccYmijteJ6Kswl1W45xFqLdSPfi/view)

Read the **_[full article here](https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/horticulture/gaining-control-over-potato-pest)_**.
For more information and reading – [**_Plant defense against insect herbivores_**](https://rd2.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ijms-14-10242-Plant-defense-against-insect-herbivores.pdf)&
[**_Calcium Signaling in Plant-Insect Interactions_**](https://rd2.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/plants-11-02689-v2Calcium-Signaling-in-Plant-Insect-Interactions.pdf)