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Our Success in Biological Control |
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Since 1998, Bangkok Green has been success in employing a biological controlling approach for destroying
the larvae Spodoptera Litura or so-called cutwarm in Thailand, which significantly damage our orchid production
. Since 1997 our orchid farm "Potharam 11" in Rachaburi province, which covers 100 acres, had encountered a
serious problem - the severe spread out of the larvae Spodoptera Litura. Old larvae were detected in the average
of 2,000 - 3,000 per day. They chewed orchid leaves, young stems and young inflorescence, considerably
damaging and reducing our cut-orchid yields. |
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To decrease cutwarm larvae in our farm, we first sprayed insecticides on orchid plants at day time and use light to trap
the larvae at night. However, this solving was ineffective because the more we sprayed insecticides, the more resistant to
the chemicals the cutwarms are. Moreover, we faced the problem of fake insecticides that occurred throughout the
insecticide industry during that time. After that, we tried to flood on the ground under orchid plants to destroy the cutwarms,
considering that some cutwarms larvae avoided insecticides by moving to the ground. We nevertheless could not reduce
the number of cutwarms because we found out that, instead of moving to the ground, the cutwarms moved to coconut husk,
which is orchid plant media. |
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Having an idea of controlling the cutwarms biologically, Mr.Surapon Sanguthai, Managing Director of Bangkok Green, contacted
the Microbial Pesticide Production Unit for Insect Pest Control, Entomology and Zoology Division, Department of Agriculture of
Thailand regarding their project in biological-control research. Bangkok Green has been cooperated with the research group in
testing the effect of using Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) produced by the group in controlling the number of the cutwarms in
the orchid farm. We subsidized the NVP production in the amount of 224,000 baht and applied the virus in the total of 200 liters
to orchid plants at our farm during 1999 and 2000. The result from using NPV was very well satisfied. NPV could effectively destroy
the cutwarms in 2000. |
Since 1972, Mr. Surapon and Mrs. Orasa Sanguthai were doing Genome Breeding study in the University of Hawaii.
Reference: Sanguthai, O., S. Sanguthai and H. Kamemoto. 1973. Chromosome doubling of a dendrobium hybrid with colchicine
in meristem culture. Na Okika O Hawaii. 2:12-16
After Bangkok Green's development for more than 30 years, ANNA BRIDE is currently one of the top selections from yearly 50 cross-pollination
based on Genome Breeding. This variety was the only one selected from almost 1 million seeding! So costly, but it's true value.
Future Plan -
cooperation with the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in Thailand for breeding by Genetic Engineering
Methodology (gene transfer) by Microparticle Bombardment, Electroinjection and Agrobacterium-Mediated that will be our next 10-year
product in the future flower market.
Trend of Future Breeding -
1) Hybrid Vigor 2) Disease Resistance 3) Insect Resistance 4) Chemical-Cost Reduction 5) Diversity of Colors; Coral, Blue
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