Opportunities for integrated management of insect pests of grain legumes

Abstract

Architects of the integrated control strategy (now known as Integrated Pest Management [IPM]) for insect pests envisaged a biologically-based system in which chemical control was to be used only at times and places where natural pest control was inadequate. Another interpretation of IPM accepted by many pest managers puts pesticides at the center of pest management in crops. This paper reviews research achievements which are supportive of IPM (insect forecasting and modeling, field sampling and monitoring, economic thresholds) and pest management methods (conventional and biological insecticides, plant resistance, transgenic plants, biological control, among other methods) for the major arthropod pests of the cool season food legumes. Despite many examples of research outcomes that have been successfully applied, the number of established IPM programs is scarce. For the present, conventional insecticides will continue to play a key role in grain legume production because farmers have few economic alternatives. However, pressures on pulse farmers to implement IPM programs will increase because of modern society’s fear of pesticide residues in food, however minute, and tightened regulations governing pesticide use. Declining budgets for grain legume research, add uncertainty to future progress in IPM in many parts of the world.