UK research mulls use of spider venom to protect crops

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Publish time: 7th January, 2015      Source: www.cnchemicals.com
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January 7, 2015
   

   
UK research mulls use of spider venom to protect crops
   
   

   

Questionable methods of crop protection, particularly the use of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, may have to step aside if a UK-based project to develop spider venom peptides as an alternative proves successful.

   

   

Backed by a portion of US$24.2 million in UKgovernment sponsorships, as part of a US$106 million Agri-Tech Catalyst funding, the project is currently led by Arch UK Biocides Limited, in cooperation with the University of Durham, the Food and Research Agency (FERA) and I2LRESEARCH LTD.

   

   

The programme aims to produce an environmentally friendly pesticide which will not affect non-adversarial species, including bees, and can be produced commercially. In the early phases, formulation will be developed to combat against slugs and beetle, which attack wheat and rapeseed crops.

   

   

Supposedly harmless to mammals, natural peptides extracted from spider venom can be attached to a so-called ''carrier'' protein and then applied to crops on a large scale. Pests that consume such crops will eventually die as the ''carrier'' protein enters and delivers a fatalistic blow to the nervous systems.

   

   

Given the more restrictive nature of the method, other species will not be harmed as a result.

   

   

This new form of natural pesticide may find its place in some European markets. In September 2014, 17,000 hectares of winter rapeseed areas in England and Scotland were infested by cabbage stem flea beetles.

   

   

Some have blamed the problem on EU''s ban of neonicotinoid pesticides that are used in treating rapeseed seeds. The chemicals are said to pose a threat to local bee populations.