Research Project: Design of new tools for tomato protection against Tuta absoluta based on semiochemicals to reduce pest oviposition and to attract parasitoids and predators.

Pascal is an ARPPIS PhD scholar registered at University of Pretoria, South Africa working in the Plant health theme under Drs. Emilie Deletre, Thibaud Martin and Samira Mohamed.   His PhD thesis is titled “Design of new tools for tomato protection against Tuta absoluta based on semiochemicals to reduce pest oviposition and to attract parasitoids and predators”, project hosted by ECOPLUS funded by Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), and HORTINET-CI funded by PreSed/CI. His research focusses on Identifying the tomato volatiles that attract Tuta absoluta and the chemical cues that lead to oviposition behaviour. The T. absoluta induced tomato volatiles that are repellents for the pest and attractants for its predator, Nesidiocoris tenuis and one specific parasitoid will also be identified.  He holds a BSc in Sciences and Techniques of Plant Production and an MSc in Sustainable Pest Management and Valorization of Biopesticides from University of Abomey Calavi, Benin.