Suchergebnisse

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is a promising agent for use in insect control. Its pathogenic activity, as well as other factors such as temperature that can interfere with its development, should be assessed, thus, establishing the foundations for B. bassiana use in biological control programs. The objective of this study was to select and induce tolerance of B. bassiana isolates to high and low temperatures and to assess their virulence before and after exposure to those temperatures. A pre-selection test was performed, in which the tolerance of isolates to stress temperatures was tested and compared to the ideal growth temperature of 25 °C for this organism. For the isolates/temperature combinations resulting in growth, conidia germination and colony-forming units (CFUs) were assessed. The isolates Unioeste 4 and Unioeste 40 exhibited >95% germinated conidia at 16 and 31 °C. Thereafter, they underwent four consecutive passages at maximum and minimum tolerated temperatures (10 and 37 °C). A significant difference in germination was observed between the two isolates at all temperatures tested. More CFUs were observed for Unioeste 4 compared to Unioeste 40 at all temperatures, and in the case of the latter, there was no difference in CFU formation at 10 and 25 °C. For both isolates, decreased vegetative growth was observed at 37 °C. Recovery of virulence was observed in both isolates, as determined by insect mortality. No relationship was observed between production of the enzyme Pr1 and the virulence of the isolates.

The use of insecticides known as insect growth regulators, which are considered more selective to natural enemies, may be an alternative to integrated pest management of stink bugs of the main crops in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate histological changes in the reproductive system of Dichelops melacanthus as well as female fecundity and egg fertility after use of growth-regulating insecticides. The insecticides used were buprofezin (a chitin biosynthesis inhibitor) at a sublethal concentration (LC30 of 2.99 g L-1) and pyriproxyfen (a juvenile hormone analog) at a sublethal concentration (LC30 of 8.35 mL L-1). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with 10 repetitions and 10 insects per experimental unit. Two bioassays were performed: in the first bioassay, fecundity (eggs/female) and fertility (nymph eclosion) of the insects that survived the insecticides were evaluated; in the second bioassay, morphological alterations of the ovarioles of adult females and of the testes of adult male insects that survived the insecticides were evaluated. Buprofezin and pyriproxyfen did not affect the adult sex ratio or female fecundity. Pyriproxyfen reduced the percentage of ecloded nymphs (71.6%) compared with that of the control and buprofezin (96.4 and 90.6%, respectively) treatments and had an ovicidal effect, with direct and indirect action on embryogenesis. Morphological changes were observed in both treatments with buprofezin and pyriproxyfen. The alterations observed in female and male reproductive systems may occur by the action of buprofezin and pyriproxyfen on the morphology of both ovarioles and testes.

Laboratory studies was carry out to evaluated the potential of inert powders: bentonite, kaolin and diatomaceous earth (DE) applied as dust and aqueous suspension alone and associated with neem oil to the control Spodoptera eridania and Spodoptera frugiperda second instar larvae. In dust applications, 100% mortality of S. eridania, at the concentrations of 1.5 and 2.0 grams of bentonite, and 93.3% of S. frugiperda, at the concentration of 2.0 g were observed. DE at the height concentration (2.0 g) caused 76.2% mortality of S. eridania and 46.6% of S. frugiperda. Kaolin, in all concentrations, was the only treatment that did not differed from the control for S. eridania but was different, in the high concentration, for S. frugiperda. When the plants were treated, larvae of S. eridania fed in the treatment DE, had an increase of two days in larval period. For the sex ratio, the percentage of males was greater in the treatments with kaolin, for both species. When powders was applied suspended in water separately or combined with neem oil, the best results were observed in combined of the bentonite (10%) + neem, with 100% mortality for both species, and kaolin (10%) + neem with 78.5% and 95.6% mortality for S. frugiperda and S. eridania, respectively. These treatments were classified as non-additive synergistic.

The difficulty of storage and conservation of entomopathogenic nematodes (ENPs) is one of the major obstacles for the expansion of its use in the control of biological pest and in the maintenance of collections of these organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate cryopreservation as a storage and conservation method for ENPs, using glycerol as cryoprotectant. Infective juveniles (IJs) of the species Heterorhabditis amazonensis (RSC 05), H. bacteriophora (HP88), Steinernema feltiae (Sn) and S. carpocapse (IBCB-n02) were subjected to the following treatments: (A) immersion in glycerol at different concentrations (10, 13 and 15%); (B) different exposure times of the isolates to glycerol (24 and 48 hours); and (C) two freezing times in liquid nitrogen (LN) at –196 ºC (24 and 168 hours). Each treatment was replicated four times, and the design was completely randomized in a factorial 3x2x2 (glycerol concentrations x glycerol exposure time x freezing time in LN). IJs survival was evaluated after each exposure time to glycerol and freezing time in LN. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and means were compared by the Tukey test. S. feltiae and S. carpocapse survived when exposed to glycerol at 10, 13 and 15% for 24 and 48 hours. After storage in LN for 24 and 168 hours, only S. feltiae survived when exposed to glycerol for 48 hours at concentrations of 10, 13 and 15%, with 40.5; 58.2; and 57.7% survival, respectively. S. feltiae was able to infect Galleria mellonella larvae after freezing. However, for the freezing time of 168 hours, 90% reduction in infectivity was observed.

Abstract: Release of egg parasitoids for biological control of pests is a promising technique in integrated pest management (IPM). However, there is a lack of information on the performance of parasitoid females of different ages, and specifically on the behavior of the parasitoid Telenomus remus towards pest eggs at different stages of embryonic development. Thus, the relationships between host age, parasitoid age, and parasitism by T. remus on Spodoptera frugiperda eggs were evaluated. Three separate bioassays were performed, each in a completely randomized design. In the first bioassay, T. remus females grouped by age in days (ranging from 1 to 10 days old) were offered 100 ± 20 eggs of S. frugiperda for 24 hours. In the second bioassay, 100 ± 20 eggs of S. frugiperda (24, 48 or 72 hours old) were offered to females of T. remus for 24 hours. In the third bioassay, 24, 48- and 72-hour-old host eggs of S. frugiperda were offered to T. remus females in a choice test. The variables evaluated were: number of parasitized eggs, parasitoid emergence (%), and sex ratio of progeny in bioassays 1 and 2, and the number of eggs parasitized in bioassay 3. The age of T. remus females did not affect the number of S. frugiperda eggs parasitized or emergence of the progeny. However, the sex ratio was more male-biased in the progeny of 1- and 2-day-old females compared to older wasps. In bioassay 2, the highest parasitism was observed in 24- and 48-hour-old eggs. Percentage emergence and sex ratios were not influenced by the ages of the eggs tested. Telenomus remus preferred to parasitize 24-hour-old eggs in bioassays 3. Overall, the age of T. remus females tested did not affect the parasitism of S. frugiperda eggs, but the number of eggs parasitized decreased with increasing host age.

Infestations of Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas; Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in corn and wheat in Brazil, and the subsequent damage, have increased in recent years, mainly owing to this insect's ability to survive the off-season. The control of this insect is mainly carried out with chemical insecticides, but the development of alternative methods, such as biological control, can contribute to a more sustainable management. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) for the control of D. melacanthus. A selection test was performed with 15 isolates of genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis regarding their pathogenicity and virulence on adults of D. melacanthus. Concentration (10, 20, 40, 50, and 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/cm2) and greenhouse tests were carried out only with the Steinernema feltiae isolate (IBCB-n 47). All experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. The selection test data were submitted to the Scott-Knott averages test (P ? 0.05), and those from the greenhouse test to the Student's t-test. The results of the concentration assay were subjected to regression analysis. All isolates showed pathogenicity and virulence in adults of D. melacanthus. The isolates GL (Heterorhabditis amazonensis), IBCB-n27 (Steinernema sp.), and RSC05 (H. amazonensis) were the most virulent (80.0, 82.0, and 88.0% mortality, respectively). The higher concentrations of S. feltiae (50 and 100 IJs/cm²) were responsible for the highest mortality rates of green belly stink bug (88.0 and 86.0%, respectively). In the greenhouse test, S. feltiae caused higher mortality (38%) than the control.

Attack by the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei causes significant damage to coffee crops because it affects the quality of the coffee fruit during different developmental stages, which results in production losses. Control of the borer is difficult owing to its cryptic behavior and the fact that it spends its entire life cycle inside the coffee berries. This makes it difficult for natural enemies to reach it, as well as for it to come into contact with chemical insecticides. The objective of the present study was to select and evaluate the virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) on the coffee berry borer H. hampei and their compatibility with the insecticide cyantraniliprole under laboratory conditions. Initially, the pathogenicity and virulence of 16 isolates of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis towards coffee berry borer larvae and adults were evaluated. The most virulent isolates to both larvae and adults were determined by topical inoculation tests in coffee fruits (berries) infested by the insect, using a concentration of 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/fruit. The same isolates were also evaluated for viability and infectivity when combined with cyantraniliprole. The isolates S. feltiae (IBCB-n 47) and Heterorhabditis amazonensis (GL) displayed the highest virulence towards adults (54%). For larvae, we observed a high virulence of S. feltiae, Heterorhabditis amazonensis, Heterorhabditis indica, Heterorhabditis sp. (JPM4), Heterorhabditis sp. (NEPET 11), Heterorhabditis sp. (IBCB-n 46), and Heterorhabditis sp. (IBCB-n 44) that promoted 100% mortality. Regarding the topical inoculation test on infested fruits, S. feltiae and Heterorhabditis sp. (IBCB-n 46) were unable to penetrate the fruit through the hole made by the borer, infect, and cause the death of insects. Cyantraniliprole formulation affected the viability of IJs of S. feltiae and Heterorhabditis sp. (IBCB-n 46), mainly after 48 h of exposure.

The selectivity of insecticides, bio-protective mixtures, and biofertilizers used in organic soybean production was evaluated for adults and pupae of the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) under laboratory conditions in accordance with protocols proposed by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). The products sprayed (dosage/180L of water) were: 1) Baculovírus anticarsia 140x109 cpi; 2) Bacillus thuringiensis 16.8g; 3) Azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, nimbina and salamina 9.6 ppm; 4) Rotenoids 4 liters; 5) Nitrogen 1.3%, phosphorus 3.0% and total organic carbon 8.0% 3 liters; 6) Sodium silicate 2% 4 liters; 7) Copper 7% + calcium 3.3% 1.8 liters; 8) Sulfur 20% + quicklime 10% 1.8 liters; 9) Chlorpyrifos 384g (positive control); 10) Distilled H2O (negative control). The results of experiments using pupae indicate that the organic compounds were classified as harmless (Class 1), except for the copper 7% + calcium 3.3% and sulfur 20% + quicklime 10%, which were classified as slightly harmful (Class 2). The contact bioassay with adults showed that all products were classified as harmless (Class 1). Only chlorpyrifos (384g) was classified as harmful (Class 4) for both stages of the parasitoid. However, the use of this product (chlorpyrifos) is not permitted in organic farming, and even in conventional farming is recommended, where feasible, replacement of the product with one compatible with the preservation of T. remus in nature. Thus, the products tested and used in organic soybean production were considered compatible with the parasitoid eggs of T. remus.

The objective of this study was to describe phenotypically and biochemically the symbiotic bacteria associated with three populations of Heterorhabditis amazonensis Andalo et al., 2006 (isolates: UEL-n 01, UEL-n 07, and UEL-n 08) and evaluate their pathogenicity on Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. Bacteria were isolated by maceration of infective juveniles (IJs) and grown in culture medium (NBTA and MacConkey). The characterization of the bacteria was evaluated by employing motility test and biochemical tests like Gram staining, lipase activity, protease, and lecithinase. The production of antibiotics and bioluminescence was also evaluated. The pathogenicity was evaluated on the last instar larvae of G. mellonella at a concentration of 104 cells/mL. The bacteria from the three entomopathogenic nematodes isolates were positive for all biochemical tests except for lecithinase, and have presented bioluminescence when subjected to ultraviolet light, indicating that they belong to the genus Photorhabdus sp. Both were pathogenic to G. mellonella larvae causing 93.3 to 100.0% mortality.