Paul Becher

My studies in biology focused on ecolgy, limnology, microbiology and landscape management (University of Freiburg, Germany). In my early research (University of Konstanz, Germany, 2001) I investigated food quality effects of lipids. During my PhD (University of Zürich, Switzerland, 2007) I studied chemical defense mechanisms (neurotoxic alkaloids) of aquatic microbes on invertebrates.
As a postdoc (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland) I started working on insect sensory physiology and behaviour with the goal to combine basic research with the development of sustainable control methods for (horticultural) insect pests. Subsequent postdoc projects at SLU and at Lund University, Sweden were influential for my research on chemo-ecological interactions between flies and yeast.
In 2012, I established my own research group. Since 2015, I combine research on chemical ecology and biocontrol. I became an Associate Professor in 2015 and was recruited as Senior Lecturer in 2022. 
Currently, I am the coordinator of Chemical Ecology at SLU Alnarp.

My research integrates both basic and applied perspectives, aiming to advance scientific understanding while addressing real-world challenges. For example, understanding the mechanisms by which semiochemicals such as pheromones influence insect behaviour provides a strong foundation for developing sustainable methods for insect pest control. From a practical perspective I am especially interested in plant protection within horticultural production systems. In recent years a focus of my research was on Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest and major problem for berry production. Another focus is on the biological control of pests and pathogens by use of hoverflies and microbial agents.
My main expertise is on chemical ecology, pest control, chemical analyses, behavioural assays, biocontrol, entomology and microbiology.

I am currently involved as teacher or course leader in about a dozen courses at SLU, mainly related to chemical ecology, plant protection and entomology. 

Selected publications:

Kwadha C, Rehermann G, Tasso, D, Fellous S, Bengtsson M, Wallin EA, Flöhr A, Witzgall P, Becher PG. (2024) Sex pheromone mediates resource partitioning between Drosophila melanogaster and D. suzukii. Evolutionary Applications 17:e70042

Sousa M, Andersson A, Englund J-E, Flöhr A, Pollet M, Karlsson Green K, Birgersson G, Becher PG. (2024) Behavioural responses of predatory flies of the genus Medetera Fischer von Waldheim (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) and the tree-killing beetle Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) to odour compound blends. Annals of Forest Science 81, 42 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01261-8

Naundrup A, Bohman B, Kwadha CA, Jensen AB, Becher PG, De Fine Licht HH Pathogenic fungus uses volatiles to entice male flies into fatal mating attempts with infected female cadavers. ISME Journal 16:2388–2397

Chakraborty A, Mori B, Rehermann G, Hernandez Garcia A, Lemmen-Lechelt J, Hagman A, Khalil S, Håkansson S, Witzgall P, Becher PG. (2022) Yeast and fruit fly mutual niche construction and antagonism against mould. Functional Ecology36:1639–1654

Rehermann G, Spitaler U, Sahle K, Cossu CS, Delle Donne L, Bianchi F, Eisenstecken D, Angeli S, Schmidt S, Becher PG 2021 Behavioral manipulation of Drosophila suzukii for pest control: high attraction to yeast enhances insecticide efficacy when applied on leaves. Pest Management Science  https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6699

Revadi SV, Giannuzzi VA, Rossi V, Hunger GM, Conchou L, Rondoni G, Conti E, Anderson P, Walker WB, Jacquin-Joly E, Koutroumpa F, Becher PG 2021 Larval stage specific expression of an odorant receptor correlates with differential olfactory behaviors in Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars. BMC Biology 19, 231

Stenberg JA, Sundh I, Becher PG, Björkman C, Dubey M, Egan PA, Friberg H, Gil JF, Jensen DF, Jonsson M, Karlsson M, Khalil S, Ninkovic V, Rehermann G, Vetukuri RR, Viketoft M 2021 When is it biological control? A framework of definitions, mechanisms, and classifications. Journal of Pest Science 94, 665–676

Kwadha CA, Okwaro LA, Kleman I, Rehermann G, Revadi S, Ndlela S, Khamis FM, Nderitu PW, Kasina M, George MK, Kithusi GG, Mohamed SA, Lattorff HMG, Becher PG 2021 Detection of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in continental Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Pest Science 94, 251–259

Becher PG, Verschut V, Bibb MJ, Bush MJ, Molnár BP, Barane E, Al-Bassam MM, Chandra G, Song L, Challis GL, Buttner MJ, Flärdh K 2020 Developmentally regulated volatiles geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol attract a soil arthropod to Streptomyces bacteria promoting spore dispersal. Nature Microbiologydoi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-0697-x

Becher PG, Lebreton S, Wallin EA, Hedenström E, Borrero-Echeverry F, Bengtsson M, Jörger V, Witzgall P 2018 The scent of the fly. Journal of Chemical Ecology 8, 2962–2974

Mori BA, Whitener AB, Leinweber Y, Revadi S, Beers EH, Witzgall P, Becher PG 2016 Enhanced yeast feeding following mating facilitates control of the invasive fruit pest Drosophila suzukii. Journal of Applied Ecology doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12688

Kromann SH, Saveer AM, Binyameen M, Bengtsson M, Birgersson G, Hansson BS, Schlyter F, Witzgall P, Ignell R, Becher PG 2015. Concurrent modulation of neuronal and behavioural olfactory responses to sex and host plant cues in a male moth. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282, 20141884

Stensmyr MC, Dweck HKM, Farhan A, Ibba I, Strutz A, Mukunda L, Linz J, Grabe V, Steck K, Lavista-Llanos S, Wicher D, Sachse S, Knaden M, Becher PG, Seki Y, Hansson BS. 2012. A conserved dedicated olfactory circuit for detecting harmful microbes in Drosophila. Cell, 151, 1345–1357.

Becher PG, Flick G, Rozpędowska E, Schmidt A, Hagman A, Lebreton S, Larsson MC, Hansson BS, Piškur J, Witzgall P, Bengtsson M. 2012. Yeast, not fruit volatiles mediate Drosophila melanogaster attraction, oviposition and development. Functional Ecology, 26, 822–828

Saveer AM, Kromann SH, Birgersson G, Bengtsson M, Lindblom T, Balkenius A, Hansson BS, Witzgall P, Becher PG, Ignell R. 2012. Floral to green - mating switches moth olfactory coding and preference. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 279, 2314–2322

Link to Paul G Becher's full publication list