IJMEC_2025v15n2

International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 63-73 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 69 enemy insects. When aphids feed, Chrysanthemum morifolium releases specific volatiles (HIPVs), forming chemical signals to attract natural enemies such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps (Xu et al., 2021). This three-level interaction network of "plant-pest-natural enemy" significantly improves the control effect. Grafting technology provides a new way to control aphids. After chrysanthemum was grafted with Artemisia capillaris, the expression of defense-related genes was upregulated and insect resistance was significantly enhanced (Figure 3) (Zhang et al., 2019). The aphid density of the Cm/As grafted combination was significantly lower than that of the self-grafted control group, confirming the effectiveness of the technology. This integrated strategy of chemical ecology and genetic improvement maintains the stability of the farmland ecosystem while controlling insect pests. Figure 3 Representative pictures for aphid settlement at 3 d, 7d and 10d after aphid inoculation on selfrooted grafted chrysanthemum (Cm / Cm) and the grafted Artermisia-chrysanthemum (Cm / As) (Adopted from Zhang et al., 2019) 5.3 Red spider mite control As an important natural enemy of red spider mites, predatory mites can significantly suppress pest populations after being released in the field, showing excellent biological control potential (Escudero and Ferragut, 2005). By adjusting the ecological environment of farmland, such as introducing protective plants and improving vegetation diversity, the settlement stability and diffusion efficiency of predatory mites can be effectively improved. This type of control strategy with ecological regulation as the core can help maintain the dynamic balance of farmland ecosystems while reducing dependence on pesticides (Wang et al., 2024). 5.4 Successful practices of integrated pest management (IPM) The integrated pest management (IPM) model used in Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivation has shown significant advantages. The system integrates a number of biological control technologies: the rational use of natural enemy insects, the breeding of plant resistant varieties, and the optimization and regulation of field ecology. Studies have shown that the volatile terpenoids released by chrysanthemums when they are infested can effectively attract natural enemies (Xu et al., 2021); the application of grafting technology significantly improves the resistance of plants to aphids (Zhang et al., 2019). This multi-technical integrated control strategy not only enhances the effect of pest control, but more importantly, maintains the ecological balance of farmland by reducing the input of chemical pesticides. Practice has proved that the IPM model provides a reliable guarantee for the sustainable development of the Chrysanthemum morifoliumindustry and achieves a win-win situation of economic and ecological benefits. 6 Challenges and Limitations of Biological Control Technologies 6.1 Stability issues in field applications In actual planting environments, the effects of biological control methods are often interfered by multiple external variables and show strong uncertainty. For example, although biochar has the potential to regulate soil microecology and inhibit pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, its efficacy fluctuates due to factors such as application method, climatic conditions and soil type (Chen et al., 2018). In addition, the mechanism of Chrysanthemum morifolium to release herbivore-inducing plant volatiles (HIPVs) to attract natural enemies is highly dependent on the integrity of the surrounding ecosystem (Xu et al., 2021). Once the ecological chain is

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