NEWS v Feature

Meet Rhyzopertha Dominica, the lesser grain borer now being hunted by an Adelaide University research team

UNIVERSITY of Adelaide research- tive methods for stored grain protecers are using nanotechnology and the tion which are ecologically sound and fossils of single-celled algae to develop resistance-free. The researchers are using a natural, a novel chemical-free and resistancefree way of protecting stored grain non-toxic silica material based on the diatomaceous earths formed by the from insects. The researchers are taking advantage fossilisation of diatoms. The material of the unique properties of these single- disrupts the insects protective cuticle, causing the insect to dehydrate. celled algae, called diatoms. Diatoms have been called natures nanofabrication factories because of their production of tiny (nanoscale) structures made from silica which have a range of properties of potential interest for nanotechnology. One area of our research is focussed on transforming this cheap diatom silica, readily available as a by- product A high-resolution image (5000x) showing the of mining, into valuable diatom silica particles attached to the wheat nanomaterials for diverse weevil, where it disrupts the insects outer applications one of layer, causing dehydration. which is pest control, said professor Dusan WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY: The Losic, ARC Future Felbranch of technology that deals with low in the Universitys dimensions and tolerances of less School of Chemical Enthan 100 nanometres, especially. the gineering. manipulation of individual atoms and Their research was molecules. Nanometre: one billionth of presented at last weeks a metre. ICONN2014-ACMM23 conference for nanosciThis is a natural and non-toxic mateence and microscopy hosted by the University of Adelaide at the Adelaide rial with a significant advantage being that, as only a physical mode of action Convention Centre. There are two looming issues for is involved, the insects wont develop the world-wide protection against insect resistance, said professor Losic. Equally important is that it is envipests of stored grain: first, the development of resistance by many species to ronmentally stable with high insecticidal conventional pest controls insecticides activity for a long period of time. Thereand the fumigant phosphine and, sec- fore, stored products can be protected ond, the increasing consumer demand for longer periods of time without the for residue-free grain products and need for frequent re-application. PhD student Sheena Chen presented food, professor Losic said. In the case of Australia, we export her findings on the material. Fellow PhD grain worth about $8 billion each year student John Hayles also is working on about 25 million tonnes which could the project. The research, now in its final stages, is funded by the Grains Research be under serious threat. We urgently need to find alterna- and Development Corporation.
Plains Producer, Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Fighting to protect our grain from insect pests

BUG bUSTERS
ADELAIDE Universitys grain researchers (from left) John Hayles, Dr. Mahaveer Kurkuri, Prof. Dusan Losic, Dr. Lucas Johnson and Sheena Chen.

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