The EU project MASTER (Management Strategies for European Rape pests): a review of progress

The EU-funded project 'Integrated pest management strategies incorporating bio-control for European oilseed rape pests' (QLK5-CT-2001-01447) (acronymn MASTER for MAnagement STrategies for European Rape pests) is targeting the six most important European Rape Pests: Psylliodes chrysocephala (cabbage stem flea beetle), Meligethes aeneus (pollen beetle), Ceutorhynchus assimilis (cabbage seed weevil), Ceutorhynchus napi (rape stem weevil), Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (cabbage stem weevil) and Dasineura brassicae (brassica pod midge). This paper reports progress on the project’s five scientific objectives: 1. To determine the identity, status and potential of bio-control agents for rape pests in Europe, to increase knowledge of their ecology and identify key factors affecting their efficacy, 2. To develop economically-viable, environmentally-acceptable IPM strategies for European rape that maximise bio-control of target pests and minimise pesticide use, 3. To determine the socio-economic feasibility, importance and economic efficiency of the IPM strategies in Europe and to assess the socio-economic factors influencing their adoption, 4. To construct a Phenological Model of target pests and their bio-control agents, relating occurrence on the crop to growth stage and climatic/weather conditions, for integration into existing Decision Support systems, 5. To produce Technical Guidelines on the IPM strategies for end-users. Information about key natural enemies has been collated and published. Further information can be found on the project website www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/master/master.htm