Why Insects Avoid Healthy Plants with Dr. Tom Dykstra and Dr. Elaine Ingham

[@Im-just-Stardust]

I really want to thank you Elaine. Years ago I was very depressed and was very lost in my life and I found out gardening. Then I heard about your work and it really inspired and helped me a lot on my journey of learning how to grow organic veggies. Thank you for your work!

[@Al-LetThereBeEarth]

❤

[@cu0ngpitt]

wow, this is the missing link to my understanding of "why healthy plants are pest free". such a great presentation! thank you for sharing this video!

[@backroom8301]

I haven't even finished watching the video, but I gotta pause and comment first. Thank you so much for such insightful informations, from a student in Thailand.

[@_sticks_]

These KZbin collaboration videos are gold! We definitely need more collaboration and sharing of data.

[@peterhoevermann6673]

That was a good explanation for my observings at our organic farm. Insects prefer weak unhealthy plants, even the Colorado Beetle attacks almost potato plants growing slowly and not good. Fantastic work by Dr Dykstra.

[@MrMymorph]

Wow, what a mind blowing webinar. Absolutely fascinating. Dr Dykstra - awesome work I applaud you.

[@DE47H]

Best video ever. Words from heaven. Cannot thank you all enough

[@donovanclayton5763]

A raw Brix reading ignores the diurnal nature of photosynthesis production and so depending what time of day you take your reading, the sugar concentration would be different. A switch doesn't flip at night and turn photosynthesis off, it increases to a max at midday in full sun, and decreases to zero at night. I imagine you could come up with an standardardized Brix reading for something like light intensity at the plant, measured with a light meter, but using an arbitrary measure of refraction through a sap sample (also containing crushed chloroplasts, cell walls, pigments, and other refraction increasing substances) doesn't control for any other variables. Also curious on Dr. Dykstra's opinion on other measures of photosynthetic activity like Infrared Gas Analyzers as a proxy for plant health. Thank you for this discussion! I very much enjoy tiptoeing the boundary of the unknown with you lot

[@nicolasbertin8552]

He does say that he has done Brix measurements in all kinds of situations, precisely because of effects such as this. Brix levels also vary according to temperature, hydric stress, growth stage, etc... That's why he has done enough (hopefully) measurements to get a statistically significant result for each plant, insect attack etc... I'm assuming the main Brix level VS insect type attacking graph, the main result of the conference, is the result of thousands of Brix measurements.

[@marynunn1708]

Learned SO much! Thanks Tom and Elaine!!

[@crisnadevaraya7671]

Doubt: since harvest is the time plants are almost dead / dead , does that count as unhealthy plant? Since bugs attack unhealthy plants and harvest lost?

[@heraldpotgieter2443]

Really a fantastic presentation Tom. I enjoyed it very much.

[@Zenthanol]

This is interesting, I also have made many presentations and videos about exactly this subject of insect physiology! I agree somewhat with the question by Abraham at 1:54:52 and appreciate the discussion these sessions bring. The published, peer-reviewed research and replicated experiments I have read (and participated with) on the subject, especially literature in the last 5-10 years, contradicts some of these points made by Dr. Dykstra who I respect has several patents and degrees but unfortunately, no published research that I or anyone else in my field of pest management science and ecology are able assess. I do hope that Dr. Dykstra will be publishing some of his personal efforts in a peer-reviewed journal in the near future because I would enjoy seeing the mechanistic data and how it fits with other observations. A follow up regarding some of these points would be helpful for my understanding. For example at 28:26 Dykstra explains that "they (aphids and other homoptera) are extracting water and sugar so they can get other various nutrients", but for example aphidologist Angela E. Douglas describes along with Shakesby et al. in, "A water-specific aquaporin involved in aphid osmoregulation" published in 2009, that: "Water cycling in phloem-feeding insects is suggested by the anatomy of the gut, in which a close physical association exists between proximal and distal regions. In some species, the association is anatomically complex and is termed as a filter chamber; in other species, there is a close juxtaposition of different gut regions without structural elaboration. The structural organization of the aphid gut anatomy provides the opportunity to transfer water rapidly from the stomach to the distal intestine without altering the endpoint of osmotic adjustment. For aphids with transglucosidase activity in the proximal intestine (i.e. the region immediately distal to the stomach), the putative direction of water transfer is from the distal intestine to the stomach. The resultant dilution of ingesta in the stomach would protect the insect against the osmotic loss of water from the haemolymph to the gut contents... In summary, the function, localisation, and consequences of reduced gene expression in vivo suggest that ApAQP1 is a waterspecific aquaporin involved in a homeostatic water cycling mechanism that transfers water from the distal intestine to the stomach and, thereby, contributes to the osmoregulation of the pea aphid.". More simply, many aphids transfer water from the end (distal) back into the stomach (proximal), not the reverse, diluting the ingested plant sugars while they digest them with various enzymes like α-glucosidase and sucrases rather than to bypass these sugars in an effort to digest other substances, I would be curious what physiological studies are being referenced here. It is very surprising that Dykstra totally glosses over all the protein- and sugar-digesting enzymes that aphids and grasshoppers both have, not to mention myriad mutualist microbes, that contribute to amino acid synthesis in aphids specifically, as evidenced in many research papers since the early 2000s, such as "Honeydew Sugars and Osmoregulation in the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon Pisum" published in 2014, that states: "Many insects of the order Homoptera, including most aphids, feed on the phloem sap of plants, a diet rich in sugars and usually dominated by sucrose. The insects ingest the phloem sugars at rates in excess of their requirement for carbon, and high concentrations of unassimilated sugars are voided in their honeydew (Klingauf, 1987)".

[@rosemarydaigh3642]

Are your videos accessible on KZbin?

[@Zenthanol]

@@rosemarydaigh3642 Yes, you might be interested in, "Why aphids can (and do) attack healthy plants | Matthew Gates | Regenerative Ag" and "The Role of Insect Digestion in Integrated Pest Management". In both I go over the evolutionary and physiological capabilities that allow insects to feed on even healthy high brix plants, as well as studies that show insects like aphids and leafhoppers feeding on high brix plants. Gut microbes play a major role, as does gut pH and many enzymes that are used to suppress the plant immune response, degrade defenses, and digest plant sugars and other materials, so I was surprised to see these well documented aspects absent.

[@charmainechia7599]

Would like to know if you have a channel too

[@nicolasbertin8552]

How does that contradict the main result that is insects can't attact healthy plants though ? The result isn't that insects don't eat sugar, it's that they eat different sugars depending on the brix levels of the plant. A healthy plant will produce complex sugars and metabolites that insects can't digest, that's the main result. All these details about the aphid's stomach are pretty confusing and useless.

[@Zenthanol]

@@charmainechia7599 That's interesting, I wrote a comment confirming that I do have a channel that talks about this in several videos for the above commenter rosemarydaigh3642 but the comment no longer appears for me.

[@rajdevarapalli4346]

Hope the other 3 parts of the 4 part presentation are uploaded.

[@Tsuchimursu]

This was such a wonderful speedup to my workday. Thank you for the great information!

[@joasia077]

Dr. Tom Dykstra thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining the dots in this field. Easy to integrate learning and very well delivered. Dr. Elaine & the team thank you for bringing this on 😊

[@elizabethmensah3102]

I'm highly motivated.Thanks.

[@Scott-nx8bn]

So glad dr white was mentioned, his work is amazing. This is so fun thank you so much dr dysktra.

[@martimcgowan-chitwood761]

I have witnessed this phenomenon over and over. I leave the insects to their work. The outcome is amazing... Let nature do it's natural work. We reap the benefits... Patience is essential!

[@dentongordon3956]

Great presentation. That's why I believe in design. THANKS much 🙏

[@brankosturm3487]

TY DR TOM U ARE A GENIUS WHAT U SAYS MAKES SENSE THATS WHAT I PRACTICALLY THINK THOUGH IM AN AMATEUR GARDENER U ARE A BLESSINGS GLAD WE FIND THIS VIDEO TY TO DR ELAINE TOO FOR LOADING THIS TREASURE INFO MORE POWER 💕 MILA FR SEBRING FL

[@garthwunsch7320]

Slugs are my nemesis and I've determined I have half the world's slugs in my garden because of the huge amount of mulch I use. The slimy critters eat 99% of any crop I direct sow, such as carrots. I don't think the tiny seedlings have had the time to develop natural immunity to the slugs, who see them as filet mignon of the plant world. I'm now working at eliminating most of the early season mulch and other slug hiding spots in my garden. I've found that an after dark application of 10% household ammonia solution does a real number on the slugs without damaging the plants. It also kills every other bug it hits. like tent caterpillars. Just be careful not to spray in bright sunshine or you'll likely damage your plants. A half inch layer of sifted compost slao makes it difficult for them to crawl on becasue it sticks to their body and prevents them laying down a slime trail which is how they move. BTW, recent soil tests show my garden has 14% organic matter.

[@joshuafinch9192]

There are definitely many creatures that don't particularly care of the plant in front of them is super healthy, they'll eat it anyway. Like us. Your experience was like mine when veggie farming. Quite healthy (appearing, storing, and tasting) vegetables but provide slugs and snails with habitat reasonably close by and they'll have a feast. I did what you are doing now and it helped a lot. I kept at least a meter wide clean (wood chipped) pathway around the perimeter before perennial vegetation and mulched with compost. Kept slugs and snail numbers to a dull roar or absent. Even with 16% soil organic matter according to one test, it was likely that a nutrient could have been out of proportion. Never had time to follow up on it though. Would have been very interesting to see some sap tests on those veggies... Good luck getting the upper hand!

[@nicolasbertin8552]

Slug is a different matter than insects, but I observed that they do favor weak plants like insects, especially plants with thin leaves like in the case of excess fertilization. However, many gardens have slugs from being an isolated patch of greenery in the middle of nothing. If your garden is raised beds surrounded by gravel or a very shortly cut lawn, no trees, no hedges, no flower beds, then there's nothing for slugs to eat other than your veggies in the raised beds, no shelter for slug predators like toads, birds and hedgehogs. One "trick" that veggie farmers in France use against slugs is to sow their small seeds like carrots, turnips or radishes on sifted mature compost, like a 10 cm layer on top of the ground. No mulch. Slugs don't like crawling on mature compost for some reason. If it still does not work, you may have to resort to ducks, the ones used for that are usually indian runner ducks, because they don't fly. Like chickens, they need an enclosure though, otherwise after eating the slugs they eat your leaf veggies.

[@garthwunsch7320]

@@nicolasbertin8552 No raised beds, lots of lawn and vegetation around... too much, especially straw mulch... that's where they hang out during the day. Need to eliminate some hiding spots. Sowing into sifted mature compost is useful, but it must be kept moist for germination, and the slugs like that. I mentioned a similar thought in my comment. They can't crawl on the dry compost because it sticks to their body and they can't lay down a slime trail, so there they sit until the moning sun comes up... et voila - escargots (for the birds) LOL

[@bruceparker6142]

Have tried ducks?

[@garthwunsch7320]

@@bruceparker6142 no can do on a city lot. Quack quack!

[@hobbitlady7568]

Dr. Elaine IN THE HOUSE! ❤ 🏠 woot woot!

[@Yermanvillalrey]

Asombroso. Es un genio, Dr Thomas! Congratulations, thanks! 🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏

[@andrecardoso996]

Incredible to getting so good info and science for free.. i am so gratefull for you guys, very important to give more strength to agroecology movement and regeneration models for agriculture. Thanks!

[@nscanna2680]

After watching this, I supplemented my grow (cannabis) with some UVA lights and my BRIX, after 4 days has already jumped up from 6 to 9. I never had any insect problems but the fact that the plant was not able to produce certain amino acids got me curious about raising for increased secondary metabolites. Curious to see what the levels are after a few weeks and how it will change the end result.

[@202lbs]

any update on your grow?

[@carloscardoso1342]

excelente presentation. best regards from Colombia.

[@firstname-qq3xp]

This is one of the greatest most eye opening presentations on plants I have ever come across. Please tell me you will present the other parts you mentioned at the beginning of the video.

[@jacobbrizammito7187]

Why is Tom not allowed to publish on the research he does?.. also great talk, tantalizing concepts.

[@bounsanongvongphachanh823]

love you Dr Tom and Dr Elaine

[@pattreacy5178]

I was really inspired until he got to the bit about light and greenhouses. I live in Ireland where sunshine is rare and greenhouses are a must for alot of crops.. I guess my brix goals are doomed!

[@neilbennett9281]

Considering the brix levels in fruit, would it not be the case that in plants, brix is reliant on maturity and time of season? Or is it the case that we are talking about the plant leaf and stem only. Apologies if this is unclear.

[@srinivasa2008]

An extraordinary presentation. Now I know what data I need to collect in the mango farm!

[@davidquartey]

What data will you be collecting from your mango tree?

[@73lmargaret]

What a fantastic presentation!! I was curious about fungus gnats that I typically have problems with in my plant room overwintering. And I was also very curious about symbiotic relationships for example peonies depend on carpenter ants to liberate their flowers

[@shunyabinduinteriors]

very useful information, thankyou for the video. HOW TO CREATE RIGHT SOIL CONDITIONS TO GET THE WHITE RING IN THE FRUIT WHICH PREVENTS THE INSECT ATTACK

[@KhanAndMrPointyEars]

Composting. That adds the microbes into the soil, which will eventually get the minerals to the plants which they need to create that white ring in the fruit.

[@TheRexona1986]

Mind blowing :) Thank you!

[@naturesfloororganic]

Now I know why my guavas always have larvae. Mind blown.❤

[@dasm000]

There is a mistake here, beginning around 30:05. A nucleotide is not a protein, not at all, and not composed of amino acids. It is a sugar-phosphate-nucleic acid, best known for being a subunit of deoxyribonucleic acid (that's DNA). Dr. Dysktra meant to say "peptide." A peptide is a short protein or protein segment composed of amino acids. With appreciation for the information presented here, this mistake should be corrected.

[@oscar86456]

i am really agree with this lesson or topic.

[@Javon10000000]

Great video

[@bvalice]

What would you say was the main cause for the ammonium concentration problem in the soybeans? PNK? Over feeding?

[@devinsullivan7233]

I can tell you for a fact that termites WILL eat young healthy seedlings. They do not just eat dead wood.

[@camilovallejos9462]

Young planta seem to be an exemption to the rule. Maybe because they hace not developed their resistance mecanismos. Maybe the mother planta health wasnt optimal.

[@wadepatton2433]

Some farmers get rewards (crop insurance) for plantings that are destined to fail. Some of them do it repeatedly. There can be a return (enough positive for repeat performances) on failed crops. Crop insurance. Which is of course, totally unnatural. Only humans could work up a system that pays for failure. Nature does not.

[@wildmanofthenorth1598]

Had a good year with peppers this year. Had some different night shade plants weeds growing, They were sacrificial the aphids and the Beatles attached those weeds all season.

[@cannawithkendall1872]

I'm going to spam this video everywhere. 😂

[@MikeAlpha-lr9wx]

Why so

[@abdelkaderbouebdellah6842]

Great job!! When we'll get the other presentations?

[@VincenzoNotaristefano]

We are wondering why he can't publish any scientific paper

[@davenichter7569]

I believe it is because his research is privately contracted and he is legally obligated to keep that research proprietary for his clients.

[@Wavy_Gravy]

​@davenichter7569 Yeah, keeping secrets to ensure job security for the maximum amount of time seems to be the reason, IMO.

[@davenichter7569]

@@Wavy_Gravy maybe that too. He mentioned it a couple of years ago in a webinar with John Kempf. I understood him to mean that those ag firms who contracted the research would sue him if he published.

[@ArthurWierzchos]

Im curious what Dr. Dykstra would have to say about the Coconut Rhino Beetles (CRB), as well as the Longhorn Beetles (QLB), which are creating catastrophic problems for Hawaii. What might be the solutions?

[@RobynAdAbsurdum]

Why can’t you publish your findings?

[@MicrobeMomma]

👋 Hi Carla! 💚

[@Afrikaislife]

Thank you so much for this insightful webinar. Most importantly, for not rushing and explaining everything very clearly. English isn't everyone's first language.

[@emilyhinman5089]

I need help with understanding what I could convince flea beetles to eat rather than what seems like healthy brassicas?

[@pharder1234]

probably getting too much heat in the middle of summer and starting to die, therefore attracting pests

[@daffodil837]

How do you explain this- sometimes if we get rid of insects somehow, the plants get healthier again?

[@mikisonofbenjie]

Tom, are you not allowed to publish by the chemical manufacturers?

[@GerhardBothaWFF]

I think the idea of keeping plants or animals “clean” - i.e. free of other organisms, instead of making sure they are populated with healthy other organisms that crowd out the options for bad organisms. And the concept of monoculture. Those are at the root of most issues with pests

[@bryaneasterdaysr2223]

Cabbage moth land on healthy Cabbage. Lay eggs they eat the Cabbage.

[@Eiscola]

How can you effect the brick level in the plant?

[@KhanAndMrPointyEars]

Sunshine, water, air, and nutrients. =) Nutrients is the tricky part as it requires good microbes in the soil, which is done through good composting.

[@wadepatton2433]

AHA! that's why my Ash trees haven't be affected as much as other areas. They're healthier. USDA Forestry told me to sell all my Ash when we logged the forest a few years back.

[@evertkervezee]

I wonder why fruitflies go after mushrooms? Is it because the mushrooms are nutrient deficient, or because of their unseen decay? Fruitflies are a mushroom cultivator's nightmare.

[@cannawithkendall1872]

Fruit flies find rotting food. There's your answer. Sterilize your growing area.

[@MarinaEvaFil]

Super! Thanks! 👍

[@smeargut1809]

Can fruit trees have a high brix reading to where they are not being attacked but still not produce high yields of fruit? or does having a high brix reading in fruit trees mean they will likely produce high yields of fruit.

[@Artur-d8u]

Why is Tom Dykstra not allowed to publish his research?? Anybody knows??

[@rochrich1223]

It would take less training than a wine-taster to be able to judge the health/brix of a plant by taste. For general plants, the accuracy would be reasonable and for a plant you trained on daily you should become quite accurate. Could be a useful skill for crop surveillance or pasture management.

[@virusmyth4930]

The title of this video is a classic case of loaded question. Before you ask _"why insects avoid healthy plants"_ you should first establish that this is the case. Not only it is an over generalization, but in fact what we see in many cases is the exact opposite of that. For example, many insects will seek the most healthy plants and their healthiest fruit or tissue they can find in which to lay their eggs. This is not only evolutionary logic, but also evidence that is abundantly corroborated.

[@dingdonglong803]

Agree with this, for example aphids tends to feed on new leaves and shoots because they are tender and they can pierce the plants easier. I have some mango trees that were all ravaged by mango leaf cutting beetles this year. These beetles lays eggs on new leaves then cut off the healthy young leaves for their larvae feed on. And his example of fruit flies, they will lay eggs on healthy fruits then when their larvae hatches at eats the fruit it causes them to spoil. Some species will lay eggs on the fruits well before the fruit is ripe. So I have a lot of doubt on this presentation.

[@kennypridemore5466]

How do you create a high brix soil !!!!

[@KhanAndMrPointyEars]

Good soil that can lead to high brix levels in plants, is created mostly by good composting. That is compost that adds a lot of microbe diversity to the soil.

[@RubberDuckStyle]

Stop tilling , don't use pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Tilling is the worst thing you can do to your soil. Compost and compost teas are really good and always have your soil covered with a mulch. Leaves are the best mulch. Also add mycorrhizal fungi to your plants.

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

So interesting…

[@rickorider]

In the UK I compost all my vegetable and grass cuttings every year. I put no fertilisers on the soil. Last year black fly went for all my healthy runner beans. This year no black fly and a good crop of beans. Planted broccoli and was stripped by insects. Looked healthy to me!😂

[@ironrendell2380]

what about slugs and snails? Does a higher brix mean an end to slugs and snails demolishing a crop?

[@gggggggggg-ms8lm]

Can I fertilize plants with sugar?

[@MikeAlpha-lr9wx]

Yes with jaggery....

[@SophyaAgain]

I do know who he is! I've recognized his voice immediately. "How Brix Levels Impact Insect Pressure on Plants" is a great video.

[@bodhi-f6p]

What about Japanese beetles slugs thrips spider mites ? Thanks

[@sonnymery4193]

what about slugs? do they too only eat unfit and dying plants?

[@jurajvins4375]

Am immediatelly ordering a Brix refraktometer.

[@rhondamoffit6490]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

[@EnggMohdRafe]

I was also gone mad after listening to Tom Dykstra. The video was uploaded by Jhon Kempf at AEA. And I was using brix meter everywhere and many times I am getting brix above 15 but insects also feeding on plants. I was very disappointed. But later I came to know it was not sugar level. It was mixed with salt level. So sugar level is true reading. Brix dont show exact situation.

[@neilbennett9281]

Absolutely loved this video. Fantastic information. Thank you all so much.

[@JoRoBoYo]

My plant only attracted grasshopper and ants

[@Romel-ng8qv]

What invaluable information I learned today thank you Dr. Dykstra and Dr. Elaine. I can now evaluate the effectiveness of my soil amendments in the lens of sugar levels (brix measured levels)

[@TheDiversifiedFarmer]

Its not just unhealthy plants, the insects are the nurseryman of nature. The plants request the insects to prune them.

[@earlwilson6153]

Clean cow manure fixes soil problems, adds good fungi and bacteria and microbes

[@PaulHopkins-z3k]

Work as a community work as a community interdependent on soil biology

[@NatsolEnergy]

Are healthy plants pest free? Why do farmers use pesticide? Do farmers plant unhealthy crops? Why is it impossible to plant cabbage without some form of pesticide, natural or otherwise?

[@broomers3]

Richard Dreyfuss sure knows his stuff....And drinks a lot of coffee.

[@tylerharry6319]

Dr. Elaine, I gotta ask, why do you keep implying that anaerobic microbes are bad? They're just as important to a diverse soil food web as aerobic microbes. Plus only the first foot or two of the soil is aerobic, the rest is mostly anaerobic. If you look at practices like Korean Natural Farming or JADAM, many of the fertilizers are fermented by anaerobic microbes that help break down the nutrients in order to feed the plants. The same happens in nature, so I'm not sure why you'd try and say all these microbes are somehow bad or harmful, the most important thing is diversity.

[@romeupb5110]

I assume that it is because of being dangerous to humans (while applying them)

[@sallyjohnstone8535]

spider mite info pleeeeeeeeeeease🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@CreedmoorFury]

To Dr.D, "Insects only feed upon unhealthy, unfit plants" is very much taught to the practicers of the Back To Eden Method. Before, you didn't know where else this principle was being openly taught. Now you do!

[@Gardenfundamentals1]

A lot of claims in this video. Lets look at one, that GMO plants have very low Brix. I did a search for scientific studies supporting this claim and found none. Can you provide one published study that supports this claim?

[@666bruv]

Considering there are few studies in brix levels in plant production in general, it's really not surprising that there would be no studies in gmo's. What are your are your other issues?

[@benyjoseattias8431]

Great! Science finally researching Ana Primavesi's (trofobiosis) and Ernst Goetsch principles.

[@duongtran9282]

have just been enlightened by an agricultural Buddha

[@casiandsouza7031]

Work and recreation are attitudes towards employment. This man didn't work for his degrees. He enjoyed doing it. Workaholic is usually a misnomer for folks who enjoy what they do.

[@assignmentuot7963]

T

[@beansdork]

Insects totally do attack healrhy plants. Come on.

[@bryaneasterdaysr2223]

Locusts eat everything in there path

[@i2aymond]

At 1:21:54 I remembered why I stopped watching this channel.

[@acabbagemerchant]

Dr. Thomas Dykstra W

[@Raul28153]

maybe he's never tried gardening.

[@frankiecal3186]

U will eat ze 🐛 BUGZ!!!!!!

[@EarthCrust722]

What a load of crap lol