Non chemical treatment

[Martin Coleman]

NEW YORK: Termites can now be killed without using any chemical insecticides which may pave way for the development of natural protective shield for wooden material and crops, a new study headed by an NRI scientist suggests.

Ram Sasisekharan, Director of Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciencesand Technology at Massachusetts, has led the discovery of a novel method of blocking the immune system of these pests which helps them evade the deadly attacks of bacteria and fungi on their nests.

Termites normally secrete a form of an antimicrobial protein into their nests to prevent these pathogenic infections which can kill them. Scientists have identified a naturally found derivative of glucose called GDL which blocks the effects of the protective protein.

"GDL is relatively simple to make chemically. Also it can be genetically engineered to be produced in plants
. It is conceivable that GDL or GDL like compounds can be designed to be used in the field to protect things from termites," Sasisekharan told PTI.

The researchers found that introduction of this natural, nontoxic and biodegradable substance on the termite nests causes quick deaths in colony from fungal infections
.

The findings published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' say that findings may provide a non-toxic method for protecting crops and buildings against termites and other destructive insects.