JournalTOCs

BioControl
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.813

Citation Impact (citeScore): 2
Number of Followers: 2

Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 1573-8248 - ISSN (Online) 1386-6141
Published by Springer-Verlag

[2468 journals]

Potential biological control agents of Geosmithia morbida restrict fungal
pathogen growth via mycoparasitism and antibiosis
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  Abstract: Abstract Thousand cankers disease of Juglans (walnut) and Pterocarya (wingnut) spp. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) is caused by the fungal pathogen Geosmithia morbida Kolarík, Freeland, Utley, and Tisserat (Hypocreales: Bionectriaceae) and bark beetle pest/vector, Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). To further the development of biological management strategies for thousand cankers disease, we assessed the ability of 14 endophytic Trichoderma (Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) isolates and the commercially available isolate T. afroharzianum strain KRL-AG2 to inhibit the in vitro growth of three different G. morbida isolates via mycoparasitism and antibiosis. To identify factors that may affect field success of candidate biological control agents, we quantified the growth responses of Trichoderma spp. and the commercially available entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) strain GHA, to the plant secondary metabolite and antimicrobial compound, juglone in vitro. A total of 12 Trichoderma isolates (from six different Trichoderma species) demonstrated antagonistic activity towards G. morbida in dual-plate assays. Juglone consistently reduced the growth of B. bassiana strain GHA and 14 of the 15 screened Trichoderma isolates in vitro. Additionally, one metabolite-producing Trichoderma isolate, TN4-47, completely inhibited the growth of all three G. morbida isolates across all tested metabolite concentrations and had comparatively greater tolerance to juglone compared to other Trichoderma isolates. Future lines of research should focus on characterizing the active antagonistic compound present in the metabolite filtrates, determine the mode of action of the active component(s), and elucidate how abiotic and biotic factors may influence the growth, persistence, and antagonistic activity of candidate biological control agents in planta.
  PubDate: 2024-08-09
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10277-y
Climate modelling of the potential distribution in South Africa of two
Zygogramma species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) released for the biological
control of invasive weed Tithonia rotundifolia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae)
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  Abstract: Abstract Two Mexican leaf-feeding beetles, Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål) and Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), were released in South Africa for the biological control of the invasive species Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill.) S.E. Blake (Asteraceae: Heliantheae). The aim of this study was to predict the potential of these beetles to establish and spread in South Africa, using MaxEnt climate modelling that incorporated locality data recorded in Mexico between 2008 and 2019 and data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Zygogramma signatipennis displayed a wider distribution than Z. piceicollis in Mexico, with some overlap between the two species. The average receiver operating characteristic curves obtained for Z. piceicollis and Z. signatipennis predicted high mean area under curve values of 0.910 and 0.885, respectively. Jackknife tests revealed that mean annual temperature had the highest gain when used in isolation for Z. piceicollis, compared with minimum precipitation of the driest month for Z. signatipennis. These tests also revealed that the highest and lowest contributing environmental variables for Z. piceicollis and Z. signatipennis were minimum precipitation of the driest month (37.9 and 46.7%) and maximum annual temperature of the warmest month (3.8 and 12.3%), respectively. MaxEnt modelling predicted that at least six of South Africa’s nine provinces provide regions that would support the proliferation of both beetles, with conditions best suited for Z. piceicollis. Despite predictions that both beetles should establish throughout the range of T. rotundifolia in South Africa, their realized establishment has so far been poor. Other factors, besides climate, including release size, site destructions, drought, soil moisture and texture could be constraining establishment.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10261-6
Vertebrates and flying insects provide biocontrol services to Australian
urban food gardens
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  Abstract: Abstract Biocontrol by wild insects and other organisms is an important service provided to agriculture, but few studies have linked the role of this service to urban garden crop production. In 15 urban food gardens in Sydney, Australia, we assessed predation and parasitism of two sentinel prey species, recorded pest control activities undertaken by gardeners and the produce yielded by garden crops. We observed substantial removal of sentinel prey (mean removal 22% for Tenebrio molitor larvae and 59% for Helicoverpa armigera) but no parasitism. Vertebrate predators primarily consisted of urban adapted birds and mammals common throughout Australian cities. We measured a range of local and landscape scale environmental variables including plant richness and abundance, light, canopy cover, building density and distance to remnant vegetation. We found that gardeners undertook only basic pest control activities with little chemical use, yet high amounts of produce were harvested. Pest control services were poorly explained by environmental variables. Low active pest control activities, and high predation rates suggest pests are either well controlled or in low numbers in the surveyed urban food gardens. Given the vertebrate predators were generalist birds and mammals common to many parts of urban Australia, the provision of predation services to urban gardens by these taxa could be widespread across the continent.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10264-3
Submersed herbicides and thrips biological control effectively reduce
biomass of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), a widespread
aquatic invasive plant
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  Abstract: Abstract Alligatorweed [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.; Amaranthaceae] is a globally problematic, aquatic invasive weed with a long history as a target for control efforts. Although chemical and biological control methods have been widely studied to manage alligatorweed infestations, many research questions remain unanswered. This paper seeks to assess the efficacy of two understudied alligatorweed control methods: submersed herbicide applications and biological control with alligatorweed thrips (Amynothrips andersoni O’Neill 1968; Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). These assessments were carried out in mesocosm experiments, in two stages. The first stage tested five herbicides applied as submersed injections at two different rates, and the second tested the same five herbicides alone and in combination with alligatorweed thrips biological control. The submersed herbicides used in this study were penoxsulam, bispyribac-sodium, imazamox, fluridone, and topramezone. The control effect of these treatments was measured as percent biomass reduction 12 weeks after treatment. These data showed that, with the exception of bispyribac-sodium, submersed herbicide application was generally successful at reducing alligatorweed biomass. Also, thrips biological control was broadly effective at reducing alligatorweed biomass. However, these data did not identify a specific herbicide whose control was significantly benefitted by thrips biological control at the rates these herbicides were applied. While the results of this study show promise for combining submersed herbicides and alligatorweed thrips for integrated alligatorweed management, questions remain regarding this combined control strategy including whether or not these results translate to the field.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10262-5
Effects of Beauveria bassiana on the growth and reproductive rates of
Nezara viridula
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  Abstract: Abstract A laboratory colony of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was used to evaluate the effect of two strains of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) on its growth and reproductive rates. Four concentrations (106, 107, 108, and 109 conidia g−1) of native (NI8) and commercial (GHA) entomopathogenic fungi alongside a water control were used. Cumulative oviposition and survival of nine groups (ten couple per group per concentration) were used to calculate the demographic parameters of this insect. Two computations were done based on total offspring (fertile and infertile eggs) and eggs with developed embryo (fertile eggs). Net reproductive rates (Ro) on insect sprayed with NI8 calculated based on total offspring showed a dose-dependent effect (72.55, 85.50, 58.15, and 37.60 females per newborn female) compared with water control (87.65). In populations sprayed with GHA, only the highest concentration (109 conidia g−1) was lower than control (27.15). The calculated Ro values based on fertile eggs were much lower as it was expected with 60.75, 61.45, 45.45, and 32.05 females per newborn female from lowest to highest concentrations of NI8 and 21.50 for GHA highest concentration compared with water control (78.45). These results demonstrated that both native and commercial strains affected embryo development, decreasing growth and reproductive rates of N. viridula populations. Further field testing is needed to evaluate the potential for in-field control.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10258-1
Comparative efficacies of two fungal insecticides in field control of
cereal aphids heavily infesting winter wheat
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  Abstract: Abstract Sustainable control of cereal aphids during late spring and early summer requires alternatives to mitigate increasing resistance to chemical insecticides. Emulsifiable oil-formulated Beauveria bassiana ZJU435 (Bb) and Metarhizium anisopliae CQ421 (Ma) commercially registered in China were tested as alternatives against the aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae, which infested 29% of winter wheat tillers with ~11 aphids per tiller at elongating stage, followed by rapid population growth. Bb and Ma were sprayed biweekly at the low and high rates of 1.0 × 1013 and 1.5 × 1013 conidia ha−1 over five weeks of three independent field trials from elongating to milk ripening stages. In four fungal treatments (three randomized plots of 100 m2 per treatment), percent tiller infestation and aphid density were reduced respectively to 19–23% and 9.5–15.8 aphids per tiller, contrasting with 53% and 63 (~110 at peak) aphids per tiller in unsprayed control throughout the field trials. Overall mean (±SE) control efficacies of Bb and Ma assessed with weekly sampled aphid densities were 85% (±0.3) and 80% (±0.6) at the high rate and 79% (±0.6) and 75% (±0.8) at the low rate, and differed significantly with each other at either spray rate (P < 0.01). Conclusively, both Bb and Ma were highly efficacious against cereal aphids, and Bb was superior to Ma perhaps due to a lower rate of larger Ma conidia deposited on wheat plants at either spray rate. Their high efficacies were attributed to the qualified formulation and the season warming up with frequent drizzles to favor fungal aphidicidal activity.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10265-2
Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) spores carried by Scleroderma
guani (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): a novel strategy for improving the
control efficiency of Semanotus bifasciatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in
the field
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  Abstract: Abstract One common biocontrol strategy employed to combat the wood borer Semanotus bifasciatus Motschulsky (the Chinese fir borer, CFB) is the release of parasitic wasps, specifically Sclerodermus guani Xiao et Wu. However, the rate of parasitism of these wasps is not sufficient to meet the increasing demand for effective control. To address this issue, the present study explored the potential of releasing parasitic wasps carrying spores of the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana. Vuill. BD01 (Bb@Sg) to enhance the control efficacy against CFB. Administering spore powder on the wasp bodies retained more spores compared with using spore suspensions. Releasing parasitic wasps in a CFB to S. guani ratio of 1:3 resulted in higher rates of parasitism compared with ratios of 1:2 or 1:4. In addition, the Bb@Sg strategy resulted in a mortality rate of 91.55% at day 90 against CFB in a laboratory biocontrol experiment using cypress (Juniperus chinensis L.), being 16.24–19.30% more effective than using only S. guani. Promising results were also observed in the field, where the mortality of CFB in cypress trunks reached 83.36%, 11.62% higher than the rate obtained solely from S. guani release. This study introduces a novel biocontrol strategy for CFB and advances our understanding and application of joint strategies against longhorned beetles and other wood borers.
  PubDate: 2024-08-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10263-4
Life cycle, host specificity and potential impact of a gall-inducing
thrips Acaciothrips ebneri, a biological control agent for prickly acacia
(Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica) in Australia
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  Abstract: Abstract Prickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica (Benth.) Kyal. & Boatwr.; Fabales: Fabaceae) is a Weed of National Significance and a target for biological control in Australia. Currently there are no effective biological control agents for the weed in Australia. Based on genetic and climate matching, a gall thrips (Acaciothrips ebneri Karny; Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) inducing rosette galls resulting in shoot tip dieback, was identified as a prospective biological control agent from Ethiopia. No-choice host-specificity tests were conducted on 59 test plant species in a high security quarantine in Brisbane, Australia. Acaciothrips ebneri is host-specific, inducing galls and reproducing only on prickly acacia. Acaciothrips ebneri, as predicted by the CLIMEX model, is suited to hot and arid western Queensland where major prickly acacia infestations occur. The Australian Government approved A. ebneri for field release in October 2022. This is the first time a true gall-inducing thrips has ever been approved as a weed biological control agent. Field releases commenced in January 2023 and are in progress. There are early signs of field establishment resulting in shoot tip die back in the field, and field release and monitoring will continue.
  PubDate: 2024-07-23
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10269-y
Flowering zinnia as companion plant increases predatory arthropod
abundance and improves yard-long bean yield
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  Abstract: Abstract Companion plants can play a role in agroecosystems by supporting predatory arthropods, thus enhancing their biological control services. However, the effects on natural pest control and crop productivity associated with the blooming periods of companion plants remain unclear. We examined how the presence of seedling, vegetative, and flowering stages of zinnia (Zinnia × hybrida) as a companion plant affected predatory arthropod populations and their biological control of cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora), and crop productivity in yard-long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis L.) intercropping system compared to yard-long bean monoculture (control) over three cropping seasons in 2019–2020. We found a significant increase in the abundance of coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae), and in crop yields when flowering zinnia plants were provided at the start of the crop season, with varying degrees among seasons. However, zinnia had no observed impact on cowpea aphid reduction. These findings demonstrate that the early arrival of predatory arthropods in vegetable crops could be enhanced by initially providing floral resources from zinnia at the beginning of the crop season, contributing to yield improvement. Zinnia could be an effective companion plant, offering alternative resources for predatory arthropod colonization and promoting their biological control service of certain pests in legume crops.
  PubDate: 2024-07-09
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10275-0
Dusting Metarhizium rileyi conidia with a drone for controlling fall
armyworm and soybean looper in maize and soybean fields
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  Abstract: Abstract Exploring the utilization of drones for field applications of entomopathogenic fungus as a dry powder marks a pioneering effort in pest management. In this study, Metarhizium rileyi isolates CG381 and CG1153 were utilized to target third instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda in maize and Chrysodeixis includens in soybean field plots, respectively. A drone, calibrated to dispense the equivalent of 50 g of non-formulated conidia per hectare (approximately 5 × 1012 con ha−1), was utilized, with untreated plots and plots treated with an equivalent dose using a CO2-powered backpack sprayer serving as controls. The application of M. rileyi via spraying exhibited uniformity with minimal drift, with 88% of the expected conidia per unit area collected by conidial collectors. However, the recovery rates after dusting on soybean and maize plants were estimated to be only 3.4 and 16.2%, respectively, with less uniform distribution. Despite this, infection rates in dusted plots were comparable to those achieved with conventional spraying, ranging from 35–48% for S. frugiperda to 29–34% for C. includens. Laboratory susceptibility assays revealed higher infection levels when first instar larvae were fed M. rileyi-dusted leaves, emphasizing the importance of accurate pest monitoring for optimal timing of drone applications or other methods. While adjustments are necessary to improve both conidia deposition and operational efficiency, our findings demonstrate the significant potential of drone-based conidial powder release for caterpillar management in soybean and maize fields.
  PubDate: 2024-07-06
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10276-z
Host preference and mortality caused by the parasitoid Sclerodermus guani
on different cerambycid species
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  Abstract: Abstract Parasitoids of wood borers and bark beetles rarely encounter different host species simultaneously in nature, so whether they exhibit any preferences for particular species, and the relative suitability of different host species is unclear. Sclerodermus guani (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is an ectoparasitoid of cerambycid larvae and has also been reported from multiple host species. In this study we used S. guani as a model parasitoid to evaluate preferences for different host species. Moreover, we determined how levels of intraspecific interaction amongst S. guani adults affect host species preference, and subsequent mortality of those different hosts. S. guani adults display high levels of preference for particular hosts and cause rates of non-reproductive mortality of Aromia bungii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Monochamus alternatus (Cerambycidae) larvae that are higher than the reproductivity mortality of both hosts. Under different parasitoid densities interaction, S. guani always preferred A. bungii and Monochamus saltuarius (Cerambycidae) and varied in its responses to Thyestilla gebleri (Cerambycidae) and M. alternatus. In addition, the mortalities of single T. gebleri, A. bungii or M. saltuarius larvae caused by the parasitoids (1–3 individuals) were all 100%. These results can help us to better understand S. guani host choice behavior and its biological control potential.
  PubDate: 2024-07-02
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10273-2
Within-host competition between Cotesia flavipes and Heterorhabditis
bacteriophora in Diatraea saccharalis
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  Abstract: Abstract The larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron, 1891) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has been widely used for biological control of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1974) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Brazil. The entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) also has shown to be a promising agent for controlling the pest. However, in some cases, EPNs can negatively affect non-target organisms, such as parasitoids. Thus, this work evaluated the within-host interaction between C. flavipes and H. bacteriophora. Caterpillars of D. saccharalis were offered to adult females of C. flavipes for parasitism and then inoculated with H. bacteriophora in intervals of three days until the 12th day. After death, caterpillars were kept for four days and dissected to verify the agent that caused death. We observed an intraguild competition between both control agents. When the EPN was applied until the 12th day after parasitism, it developed and killed the parasitoid, even colonizing its larvae and pupae inside the caterpillar body. On the other hand, when the EPN was applied after 12 days from the parasitism, the parasitoid could develop, but not the EPN. We could conclude that the parasitoid C. flavipes and the EPN H. bacteriophora are not compatible for controlling D. saccharalis. If combined in a single control strategy, it must be considered a safe interval of more than 12 days between applications of each of them.
  PubDate: 2024-06-26
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10272-3
Effects of mealybug and female body sizes on host examination and
offspring developmental performances in the gregarious hyperparasitoid
Cheiloneurus nankingensis
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  Abstract: Abstract Understanding how native hyperparasitoids are attuned to novel hosts has practical implications for the classical biological control of invasive pest insects. This research focuses on both host size and female parasitoid body size to examine their joint effects on host evaluation and offspring performance. The parasitoid is Cheiloneurus nankingensis, which is native to Asia and an obligate gregarious hyperparasitoid attacking Aenasius arizonensis, which parasitizes the mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis invasive to Asia. There was a quadratic ‘dome-shaped’ relationship between mealybug body size and both antenna-tapping and ovipositor-drilling frequencies and durations. Parasitoid body size did not affect these behaviors, except having a slight negative effect on ovipositor-drilling duration. Offspring egg-to-adult development time was similar for both large and small females when attacking large mealybugs, but it was longer for large females compared to small ones when attacking small mealybugs. Brood size at eclosion increased with both mealybug size and female size. Brood sex ratio (percent males) decreased with mealybug size while remaining unaffected by female size. The body size of adult offspring and their longevity increased with mealybug size while remaining unaffected by female size. These findings imply that mealybug size is much more relevant than female size to host examination behaviors and both aspects of size exert separate effects on brood allocation but an interaction to affect offspring developmental time.
  PubDate: 2024-06-22
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10274-1
Biocontrol of Fusarium spp. root rot in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis)
by native rhizospheric Trichoderma spp.
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  Abstract: Abstract Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a native plant from South America where its leaves and branches are popularly consumed in warm drinks. Species of Fusarium may attack the plant and cause root rot. Biological control using native fungi may support the yerba mate protection against root rots. This work aimed to identify and characterize Trichoderma isolates able to control Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani and promote growth in I. paraguariensis. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma were isolated from the rhizosphere of I. paraguariensis and identified molecularly using the ITS, TEF-1α and RPB2 regions. The in vitro antagonistic activity of Trichoderma isolates was evaluated by direct confrontation and production of volatile compounds against the Fusarium spp. In planta experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, where Trichoderma isolates were incorporated into substrate at different times in relation to the Fusarium spp. inoculation. Seven isolates were identified as T. asperelloides, T. hamatum and T. koningiopsis. All Trichoderma isolates reduced up to 30.17% the mycelial growth of the pathogens in the confrontation test. Also, the volatile emission reduced significantly the Fusarium spp. mycelial growth. In the greenhouse, isolates T. koningiopsis IMDI, T. asperelloides ACI and T. asperelloides AVRIII reduced rot symptoms and promoted seedling growth. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that Trichoderma isolates increased oxidative enzymes in the plants. Therefore, native isolates of T. asperelloides and T. koningiopsis antagonized and controlled root rot pathogens and promoted I. paraguariensis growth, demonstrating potential to be used in yerba mate protection.
  PubDate: 2024-06-19
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10271-4
Correction to: Predatory behavior and potentiality of Toxorhynchites spp.
(Diptera: Culicidae) against Aedes mosquito
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  PubDate: 2024-06-17
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10270-5
The effect of bioC gene on ultraviolet radiation and oxidative resistance
of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae)
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  Abstract: Abstract Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt) has played a significant role in pest control, which is the most intensively studied, rapidly developed, and widely used insecticidal microorganism in recent years. However, due to the influence of environmental stress, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and oxidative stress, its persistence is limited. Therefore, improving the stress resistance of Bt strains would be effective in prolonging the durability of related Bt products. Biotin is an important coenzyme that has been linked to stress responses in a variety of species. In this study, we successfully knocked down the bioC gene involved in biotin synthesis to further explore its function on the stress resistance of Bt. The removal of the target gene resulted in a decrease in Bt biotin content and a reduction in its survival rate under UV/oxidative stress. At the same time, the removal of bioC gene could reduce antioxidase activities. All of these observations demonstrated that biotin was functional for Bt stress resistance. This study therefore provides a theoretical basis for enriching Bt strain resistance genes and developing new Bt preparations.
  PubDate: 2024-06-10
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10266-1
How plant and insect host characteristics affect pepper weevil Anthonomus
eugenii parasitism efficacy by the pteromalid Jaliscoa hunteri
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  Abstract: Abstract The pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii (Cano) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economically important pest of both field and greenhouse pepper crops, Capsicum annuum Linnaeus (Solanaceae) in North America. Among its natural enemies is the parasitoid wasp Jaliscoa (= Catolaccus) hunteri (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), whose potential control of A. eugenii appears promising but is currently unclear. We conducted controlled environment trials to quantify A. eugenii offspring emergence following exposure to J. hunteri, examining how parasitoid exposure period, weevil host life stage, pepper cultivar, fruit size and abscission status affect weevil-natural enemy dynamics. In pepper cultivar comparison trials, we identified a significant reduction in weevil offspring emergence from three different cultivars of ornamental peppers infested by A. eugenii, but no difference among them. In trials comparing wasp exposure period and weevil larval instar, pepper plants of one cultivar (Blaze) were exposed to A. eugenii adults, and subsequently to J. hunteri wasps for either three or seven days, when offspring weevils were either at the L1 or L3 instar. Offspring emergence was significantly reduced up to 62% when L3 but not L1 weevils were exposed to wasps for 7 days. Following this longer exposure period, significantly greater weevil suppression occurred in small (71.7%) versus large fruit (62.5%), with an additional 15.1% weevil suppression resulting from attached relative to abscised fruit. These results highlight the potential for J. hunteri as a biological control agent of A. eugenii on pepper crops, with particular value in commercial greenhouse production where wasp retention rates can be high.
  PubDate: 2024-06-06
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10268-z
Endophytic Beauveria bassiana in sugarcane and associated Eldana
saccharina host plants in South Africa
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  Abstract: Abstract Eldana saccharina Walker is a problematic sugarcane stalk borer pest in South Africa. Twenty-eight sugarcane genotypes (Saccharum spp. hybrids) and seven different species of host plants of E. saccharina were surveyed for the presence of endophytic Beauveria bassiana sensu lato (s.l.). Collectively, 326 plant samples (roots, stems, or leaves) were collected from five locations in sugarcane-producing areas (KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa). Following plant surface disinfection, 128 fungal colonies morphologically resembling Beauveria spp. were isolated from internal plant tissues. The sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region confirmed that 13 representative isolates were B. bassiana. s.l. Eight B. bassiana isolates were recovered from E. saccharina natural host plants, and 120 from different sugarcane stem parts (top node, top internodes, bottom node, and bottom internode). Endophytic B. bassiana isolates were recovered from 22 of 28 sugarcane genotypes surveyed. The number of B. bassiana isolates obtained from different sugarcane parts differed significantly, with more B. bassiana isolates obtained from the top than the bottom internodes. Furthermore, sugarcane genotypes N31 and N41 yielded B. bassiana from all plant parts sampled, while five sugarcane genotypes harbored no B. bassiana isolates. This study demonstrates for the first time the natural occurrence of endophytic B. bassiana strains in sugarcane plants and E. saccharina host plants in South Africa.
  PubDate: 2024-06-05
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10257-2
Recent contributions of molecular population genetic and phylogenetic
studies to classic biological control of weeds
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  Abstract: Abstract The use of molecular techniques in biological studies has rapidly grown and the tools have become more powerful, widely available, as well as cheaper and easier to implement. For classical biological control of weeds, molecular population genetics can uncover information about invasions that was recently unknowable but can be critical to improving control success, including clarifying taxonomy, hybridization and cryptic species, host plant evolutionary relationships with other plant species, and population structure and origin of invasions. This review provides recent examples of uses of molecular population genetics and phylogenetics that have improved our knowledge of target species, hoping to inspire and guide researchers as they begin planning a classical biological control of weeds program.
  PubDate: 2024-06-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-023-10230-5
Predatory behavior and potentiality of Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera:
Culicidae) against Aedes mosquito
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  Abstract: Abstract Toxorhynchites mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), also known as elephant mosquitoes or mosquito eaters, are the largest mosquitoes globally and do not bite humans but prey on other mosquito larvae. We used a dipping and pipetting methods to collect larvae of Toxorhynchites spp. and Aedes mosquitoes from discarded tires. In a laboratory study, we investigated how container type, water volume, and depth affect the predation behavior of Toxorhynchites spp., and we also examined its predation efficiency during both day and night. Our research revealed that an individual Toxorhynchites spp. larva can consume up to 45 Aedes larvae, with mean predation of 25.18 (± 9.35) larvae in 24 h. Interestingly, predation rates and impacts remained consistent regardless of container type, water volume, or depth. While predation was more active during the day, there were no significant differences between daytime and nighttime predation abilities. These findings highlight Toxorhynchites spp. larvae as a promising biological control agent for mosquito management in various settings, independent of seasonal or light conditions, especially for the Aedes spp.
  PubDate: 2024-05-31
  DOI: 10.1007/s10526-024-10267-0

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