19 July 2023
By: Nico van Burick
A new viral agent has been registered in South Africa to control harmful macadamia pests such as the false codling moth, macadamia nut borer and lychee moth.
River Bioscience, a South African Citrus Growers’ Association company that focuses on crop protection, has registered MultiMax (reg. no. L11365 Act 36 of 1947) and believes it will have a significant impact on the macadamia industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Until now, farmers relied on broad-spectrum chemical agents for pest control.
River Bioscience, with research institutes such as Citrus Research International and the Centre for Biological Control, began developing the Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) in 2011.
According to the distributor, significant progress has been made, leading to patent rights and protection of intellectual property in key markets.
Studies have also been conducted in Europe to demonstrate the success of CrpeNPV in the European pome and stone fruit industry.
It is particularly effective in combating codling moth populations that have developed resistance to commercial Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) viral agents, which also kill the moth larvae.
Alongside MultiMax, another CRpeNPV registration, CodlMax (reg. no. L11359 Act 36 of 1947), has been approved by the South African registrar for the control of codling moths in pome fruits. This will play a crucial role in preventing the development of resistance to CpGV in Southern Africa.
MultiMax provides growers with an additional tool to combat economic and phytosanitary pests while reducing the use of chemical agents on important export crops.
Market development in other African countries where MultiMax can be used is expected to continue through a collaboration agreement between River Bioscience and Dudutech Integrated Pest Management, a company specialising in agricultural sciences.
