Plantix is a free mobile phone app to identify pests, diseases and deficiencies on crops. Images are uploaded on WhatsApp.
OptiNet is a patented anti-insect network that integrates physical and optical protection. It reduces the number of pests entering the growing environment, especially Thysanoptera, whiteflies and leaf miners. The netting contains optical (non-toxic) additives that blind and repel insects.
The Cyranose® 320 is a handheld chemical vapor sensing instrument to detect and identify complex chemical mixtures that constitute aromas, odors, fragrances, formulations, spills and leaks. It is also used to identify simple mixtures and individual chemical compounds. The Cyranose® 320 utilizes the NoseChip® array of nanocomposite sensors and advanced pattern recognition algorithms to detect and recognize the chemical vapor of interest via its smellprint. It also utilizes the versatile and intuitive PCnose software to “learn” the chemical profile of vapors of interest, enabling users to develop their own libraries of aromas, odors or the chemical characteristics of their own products.
The Garford Robocrop InRow Weeder uses video image analysis techniques to locate individual plants in order to mechanically remove weeds from the inter row and within the crop row between the plants. Developed for use on transplanted crops such as lettuce, cabbage, celery etc Robocrop InRow can however be used on most crops that are planted with regular plant and row spacing where the plant foliage is clearly separated from the next plant. The optional eRotor model uses a high torque electric motor for additional speed and accuracy.
PredaLure is a pheromone lure that attracts beneficial insects to crops and gardens to feed on destructive insect pests. PredaLure is encapsulated in a controlled release packet, the proprietary membrane releases effective rates of the attractant for several weeks. The PredaLure dispensers should be placed at crop height equidistant from each other or in "hot spots" where control is needed. It will attract lady beetles, Orius, Phytoseiulus, lacewings, hoverflies.
Thrips-Lure is a controlled release dispenser of potent attractant to attract thrips in close proximity to a blue or yellow sticky card. Growers can use it to monitor thrips in low population situations or early before thrips become established. Thrips-Lure has the potential to mass trap thrips and keep populations low in crops. Research at LSU demonstrated that yellow sticky cards placed next to Thrips-Lure caught an average of 3 times more than untreated cards. Other university trials have shown the active ingredients in Thrips-Lure increase capture by 1.8-8 times more on sticky cards or water traps.
Sticky traps baited with these lures consistently caught more (2× to 12×) flies than unbaited sticky traps. The lure appeared to remain effective over time in the field with only a decrease in potency after 39 days. Results indicated that both male and female seed corn maggot adults were caught on cards with a 4:1 to 2:1 male sex ratio bias on baited and unbaited cards, respectively. This lure may prove efficacious in assisting growers with IPM trapping and sampling procedures for purposes such as determining fly-free periods for planting crops such as beans, and pre-harvest insecticide application needs for crops such as onion.
The device transmits infrared, invisible light across flying insects and automatically detects the back reflected light of each individual insect. This allows it to accurately measure the wing beat frequency, colour and wing to body ratio of insects flying through the sensor’s monitoring volume. The technique can scout for many insect species at once providing real-time insights into in-field insect populations and activity. Species-specific insect activity data combined with time, geo-location and environmental data are an input to digital farming solutions and the aim is to offer data integration between in-field sensors and farming software platforms. There are no products on the market yet.
Spore Sentry is an automated fungal spore trap. The trap is placed within a cropped area and works by sucking in air at 100 litres/min, far more than traditional spore traps. At the end of capture, a liquid reagent is automatically mixed with spores to release DNA, which is analysed using Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Results are produced after about 30 minutes and sent wirelessly to a central database daily. Spore Sentry can take air samples and conduct tests unattended for up to eight pathogens per day over seven days before the LAMP consumables need replenishing. It has been developed for Septoria.
Using similar technology to a pregnancy test, Pocket Diagnostic® is a range of easy to use rapid plant disease tests kits for the detection of commercially damaging plant diseases in plants and crops caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses.
The rapid tests are designed to provide quick, reliable, in the field results to enable faster decision making and prevent the spread of disease for efficient crop disease management, and environmental protection.
The rapid plant disease tests of pocket diagnostics is available for Erwinia amylovora, potato virus Y, Ralstonia solanacearum and Phytophthora.
