Spores of Phytophtora ramorum grown in the lab.
Photo: Erling Fløistad

• PurPest aims to develop, validate and demonstrate an innovative sensor platform that can rapidly detect five different pests during import and in the field to stop their establishment and reduce pesticide inputs by at least 50%.

• The sensor concept is based on detection of pest-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by host plants invaded by one or several pests. PurPest will determine the VOC signature of Phytophthora ramorum, the Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), the Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), the Brown marmorated stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys) and the Pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) under different abiotic stress conditions.

The butterfly "Fall armyworm" (Spodoptera frugiperda). 
Photo: Erling Fløistad

Pestfagerfly (Helicoverpa armigera).
Photo: Vladimir Kononenko, Naturhistorisk museum/UiO

Brown marmorated stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys)
Photo: Erling Fløistad

Pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus).
Photo: Erling Fløistad