Wireworm continues to be a problem for potato and carrot growers and is increasingly being seen in other crops such as cereals, field beans, sugar beat, onions and maize. The pattern of wireworm damage is changing, however the industry is yet to understand why and how these damage patterns are altering. 

After launching in 2022, the project achieved substantial progress in developing a solution for sustainable wireworm control. The desired outcomes of the next stage of Enigma I research will include:

• Working with each project partner to assess their wireworm risk, dependent on local conditions, soil type, crop and wireworm species present.
• Analysing the efficacy of control measures on-farm, including natural control methods e.g. carabid beetles
• Investigating the relationship between cover crop seed mixes that can be funded through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and wireworm
• Building a bespoke risk assessment for each project partner, along with a suite of actions and options to reduce wireworm populations.

TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN BEING A PARTNER OF THE SECOND PHASE OF ENIGMA I - SUSTAINABLE WIREWORM IPM*

Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) is a leading cause of spraing disease in potatoes, rendering masses of them unfit for the market. The current standard tests for pre planting detection of TRV are ineffective.

With the support of industry partners, Enigma IV will focus on key outputs including:

• Develop a meaningful and validated diagnostic service for infield identification of TRV in the soil.
• Lowering testing costs and faster turnaround times while reducing waste across the system.
• Provide a meaningful risk assessment package for spraing in potatoes.

TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN BEING A PARTNER OF ENIGMA IV - IMPROVING PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSTICS FOR TOBACCO RATTLE VIRUS IN THE POTATO SECTOR 

Since the ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments, farmers have relied heavily on pyrethroid insecticides to control Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. This overuse has led to beetle resistance, reducing the profitability of growing Oil Seed Rape (OSR).

This project will seek to transfer the efficacy of combined products demonstrated in the laboratory into practical use in the field, towards improving OSR yields through a sustainable use of pesticides.

With the support of industry partners, Enigma V will focus on key outputs including:

• Scientific evaluation into the efficacy of botanical pesticides and optimise product applications.
• Understand which biopesticide/pyrethroid combinations will be selected for evaluation their efficacy and potential use in the field.
• Working with partners to improve control of cabbage stem flea beetles on Oil Seed Rape.

TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN BEING A PARTNER OF ENIGMA V - IMPROVING CONTROL OF CABBAGE STEM FLEA BEETLES ON OIL SEED RAPE