Bioassay Master Class

Advancing Bioassay Excellence: Master Class Highlights

In April, researchers from Indonesia and the Philippines delivered an insightful session in the latest Biocontrol Masterclass Series, organized under the ASEAN FAW Action Plan. Designed to strengthen regional capability in pest management, the session focused on enhancing skills in conducting bioassays.

Foundations and Principles of Bioassay Work

Prof. Andi Trisyono from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) opened the session by underscoring the importance of consistency and standardized methodology in bioassay practices.

“Without standardization, comparing data becomes difficult, if not impossible. It’s like trying to compare apples and oranges,” he explained.

Prof. Trisyono highlighted best practices for ensuring robust and reproducible results, including:

• Double-check replication procedures for reliability.

• Closely monitor concentration levels during preparation.

• Use log-scale plots to detect erratic patterns early.

• Monitor control mortality meticulously.

“Your data is only as good as the method you use to get it.”

Undertaking Probit Analysis

Valentina (Research assistant at UGM)

Ms. Valentina Aryuwandari, a research assistant at UGM, focused on the statistical dimension of bioassays, particularly the use of different software for probit analysis, a key method for analyzing dose-response relationships. She reviewed several commonly used tools:

• POLO – Highly standardized and reliable, but input formatting is strict.

• JMP – Offers flexible modeling and strong visual diagnostics.

• SPSS – User-friendly for basic analysis but lacks advanced visualization.

• Excel – Accessible but limited in statistical depth for complex assays.

  
  

“Choose your tool based on your goal—not because it’s familiar,” Valentina advised, emphasizing the importance of aligning software capability with research needs.

Field Insights: Challenges and Innovation in FAW and RPW Bioassays

Dr. Divina Amalin from De La Salle University, Philippines, closed the session with valuable lessons from real-world bioassay applications. Focusing on Fall Armyworm (FAW)—she discussed early challenges, such as poor survival rates due to unsuitable artificial diets. This changed with the development of an improved diet formulation which significantly enhanced larval survival and egg production, enabling more consistent testing. She stressed the importance of

using neonate larvae for accurate mortality data and ensuring reliable oviposition and rearing chambers for large-scale assays.

Artificial Diet: mass rearing of FAW

Red Palm Weevil (RPW) and the damage on the coconut palm tree

Dr. Amalin also talked about some of her work on Red Palm Weevil, a pest causing substantial damage to coconut palms. Her team is pioneering innovative control methods, including acoustic detection systems for early pest identification and trunk injection treatments as targeted pest control.

This master class underscored the critical need for standardized bioassay methods, data-driven tool selection, and continued innovation in pest management.

The videos of the Bioassays masterclass presentation can be watched on the ASEAN FAW Action YouTube channel through these links:

PART I: Bioassay Foundations: Presented by Prof. Andi Trisyono, UGM, Indonesia

PART II: Using Different Program for Probit Analysis: Presented by Ms Valentina Aryuwandari, UGM, Indonesia

PART III: Challenges and insights from conducting bioassays. Presented by Dr Divina Amalin, De La Salle University, Philippines.