Main subject area: Biodiversity, Conservation biological control, Biological control of aphids in faba bean, Eco system service providers
Faba bean has the potential to become the protein crop of the future. The crop is plagued by pests, especially aphids, where early attacks have major consequences for the yield, primarily. There are beneficial against aphids, but they arrive after the damage has been done. By using flower strips with early flowering species, the project will attract beneficials early, so that aphids can be limited below their damage threshold. In 2025 a flower strip with perennial species was sown in between a faba bean field and a barley field. Based on flowering, beneficial species impact their impact on the black bean aphid on faba bean will be evaluated. Shift of focus to pests and beneficials in spring barley is also possible.
Is field work part of the topic (yes/no)?
Yes
Is lab work part of the topic (yes/no)?
Yes
I coding part of the thesis topic (yes/no)?
No, only statistics
Summer 2026 or spring 2027
AU Flakkebjerg
30 ECTS (IMSOGLO and Agrobiology): Theoretical thesis based on literature studies and/or analysis of issued and edited data sets.
45 ECTS (Agrobiology): Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for collection and analysis of his/her own original data
60 ECTS (Agrobiology): Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for planning, trial design and collection and analysis of his/her own original data
Hansen L. M., L. Lorentsen and B. Boelt. 2008. How to reduce the incidence of black bean aphids (Aphis fabae Scop.) attacking organic growing field beans (Vicia faba L.) by growing partially resistant bean varieties and by intercropping field beans with cereals, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B – Soil and Plant Science, 58:4, 359-364.
Skovgård, H., and F. L. Stoddard. 2023. Reproductive potential of the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae Scop.) on a range of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) accessions. Legume Science 5.
Tschumi, M., M. Albrecht, M.H. Entling and K. Jacot. 2015. High effectiveness of tailored flower strips in reducing pests and crop plant damage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282.
