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Canada is the second largest cranberry producer worldwide, with over 200,000 metric tonnes produced a year. Most of these crops are grown in British Columbia (B.C.) and Québec, the latter of which also happens to be the world’s largest producer of organic cranberries. But lurking in the vines is a troublesome, small, caterpillar pest, known as blackheaded fireworm.
Named for the scorched appearance it leaves on the field, blackheaded fireworm the most serious and economically important pest of cranberries in North America. Left unmanaged, it can destroy entire crops. Conventional growers currently rely primarily on synthetic insecticides to control the pest, while the large organic cranberry industry in Québec is limited to 2 biopesticides. But these products can have unintended impacts on other insects, including agriculture’s best friend – the bee. There’s also concern that blackheaded fireworm could develop resistance to insecticides with so few options available on the market.
Fortunately, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researcher Dr. Michelle Franklin, along with collaborating researchers from B.C., Québec and Nova Scotia, have taken up the cause. She now has a promising new sustainable pest management tool to help in the fight against cranberry growers’ biggest foe, using what is known as a baculovirus.
A baculovirus is an insect-infecting virus that does not infect people. It works when caterpillars feed on leaves contaminated with the virus. Once the virus is ingested, it replicates in the gut of the caterpillar until it eventually causes its death, which can take between 7 to 10 days.
A big benefit of a baculovirus-based biopesticide is that it’s highly targeted to a specific insect, a win for vertebrates (such as people), bees and other beneficial insects. It’s also a win for growers who will be able to continue to use the same conventional spray equipment they already own. Its long shelf-life will help prevent product waste due to spoilage, too.
“A baculovirus-based biopesticide would provide cranberry growers with an alternative to synthetic insecticide products for the control of blackheaded fireworm. It also has the added benefits of being safe for humans, pollinators and natural enemies, highly specific to the target pest, and compatible with organic farming practices, which could be a key benefit for organic cranberry production in Québec.”
- Dr. Michelle Franklin, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The baculovirus isolate used in Dr. Franklin’s biopesticide was first discovered by retired AAFC Entomology and Virology researchers Dr. Sheila Fitzpatrick and Dr. David Theilmann in 1992. This finding came when Dr. Fitzpatrick observed more than 60% of the blackheaded fireworm caterpillars from an unmanaged cranberry farm in Richmond, B.C. showed classic symptoms of baculovirus infection, including sluggishness, flaccidness and liquifying of their body tissues. Then, in collaboration with Dr. Theilmann, it was confirmed that the infectious agent was indeed a baculovirus.
Dr. Franklin and her team have made a lot of progress since the baculovirus was pulled out of storage in 2022. The steps taken in that time enabled them to develop a commercial-scale production model for the virus and start collecting the data needed to register the biopesticide with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency in the future. This included a full genome sequence done by Dr. David Theilmann that identified the virus as a unique species belonging to the betabaculovirus clade.
This year, testing moves from the lab to the field. The first field efficacy trial is underway at the B.C. Cranberry Research Farm in Delta, B.C, in partnership with AAFC’s Pest Management Centre. Dr. Franklin’s research has also caught the attention of biopesticide developer and manufacturer Andermatt Canada. The company is now collaborating with the research team as they continue to prepare for commercialization.
Key findings and benefits
- Dr. Michelle Franklin and her team are working to develop a baculovirus-based biopesticide to combat a major pest of the cranberry, known as the blackheaded fireworm
- A baculovirus is an insect-infecting virus that does not infect people. It works when the caterpillar feeds on a leaf contaminated with the virus. The virus then replicates inside the gut of the larva until it eventually causes its death
- Baculovirus-based biopesticides have the benefit of being more targeted than the broad-spectrum insecticides currently used to manage blackheaded fireworm, which reduces potential risk to other insects like bees. They are also safe for vertebrates
- The first field efficacy trial is underway at the B.C. Cranberry Research Farm in Delta, B.C.
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