Université de Montréal
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Jacques Brodeur
Annie-Ève Gagnon, Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Start: 2018-09-03
End: 2020-08-31

Project

Carrot weevil (Listronotus oregonensis)population genetics in North America and potential natural enemies
Carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, is an important insect pest of carrots. Larval stages feed on roots which can cause important damage to carrots with yield losses up to 50% in heavy infested fields. In the 1980s, substantial research efforts resulted in an integrated pest management program to minimize impacts associated with this pest. However, this program now appears less effective in the principal carrot growing provinces. This loss of efficiency could be explain by the apparition of a second generation of carrot weevils due to global warming or by the result of regional population adaptations to phytosanitary interventions. The main objective of this study is to get a better understanding of carrot weevil populations in North America in order to optimise the pest management program. More specifically, the project aims to: i) determine the genetic diversity from various carrot weevil populations and ii) characterize the diversity and abundance of natural enemies that attack both generations of carrot weevils. Ultimately, this project will confirm the existence of distinct weevil populations in different carrot-producing regions, allowing an optimization of local management for this pest. Furthermore, a better understanding of natural enemies that can contribute to population control of carrot weevils will favor the implementation of conservation biological control programs and reduce the use of pesticides.