Challenges facing arthropod biological control: identifying traits for genetic improvement of predators in protected crops

Biological control is an efficient pest control method but there are still limitations that are hindering its wider adoption. Genetic improvement of biological control agents (BCAs) can help to overcome these constraints, but the choice of key attributes for better performance that need to be selected is still an open question. Several characteristics have been suggested but the harsh reality is that selective breeding of BCAs has received a lot of attention but resulted in very little progress. Identifying the appropriate traits to be prioritized may be the first step to reverse this situation. In our opinion, the best way is to look at the factors limiting the performance of key BCAs, especially generalist predators (pesticide compatibility, prey‐density dependence, non‐suitable crops, and extreme environmental conditions), and according to these challenges, to choose the attributes that would allow BCAs to overcome those limitations. The benefits of selection for higher resistance to toxins, whether artificially applied (pesticides) or plant produced (plant defenses); increased fitness when feeding on non‐prey food (supplemented or plant‐derived); and better adaptation to extreme temperature and humidity are discussed. In conclusion, genetic improvement of BCAs can bring about new opportunities to biocontrol industry and users to enhance biocontrol resilience. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diversity in tree species in Southeastern Ohio Betula nigra L. Communities

Quantitative data were obtained for arboreal species within 50 lowland forests in southeastern Ohio. Thirty-seven communities were dominated by Betula nigra L. and 13 were dominated by Acer saccharinum L. The acidic soils collected from B. nigra communities contained toxic concentrations of exchangeable Al and low concentrations of Ca and Mg. Tree species diversity (Shannon-Weaver index) and species equitability were inversely related to high concentrations of exchangeable Al and H and directly related to high concentrations of exchangeable Ca and Mg and an increase in soil pH.     

Short-term dietary supplementation with the microalga Parietochloris incisa enhances stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary enrichments with the microalga Parietochloris incisa , rich in arachidonic acid (ARA), on stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata . The microalga was added to commercial diets as a neutral lipid (NL) extract and its fractions or as broken cells. Experimental diets were applied for a period of 14 days. In trial 1, commercial diets were supplemented with NL (containing 25 mg ARA and 0.11 mg β-carotene g⁻¹ feed), its triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction (containing 25 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed and no β-carotene) and the β-carotene fraction (containing 0.11 mg carotenoid g⁻¹ feed and minute amounts of ARA). Neutral lipid-fed fish demonstrated the highest resistance ( P <0.05) to osmotic stress (32-ppt NaCl), followed by fish fed with diets supplemented with TAG and β-carotene alone, which were more resistant than control ( P <0.05). In trial 2, fish fed diets supplemented with higher levels of broken alga (26.1 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed) were more resistant ( P <0.05) to stress as compared with fish fed lower ARA (16.3 mg g g⁻¹) or an unsupplemented control diet. We suggest a dietary supplementation with broken P. incisa cells to enhance stress resistance in guppies before a stressful event.     

Pathology of experimental amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and the effect of pre-maintenance of fish in sea water on the infection

Atlantic salmon were exposed to amoebic gill disease (AGD) immediately following their acclimatization to sea water (group 1), or following a 2 week period of maintenance in sea water (group 2). Three fish from each group were sampled on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 post-infection. Characteristic gill lesions began to occur between days 2 and 4, and dramatically increased by day 7. The number of gill lesions on fish from group 2 was significantly higher than on fish from group 1 on days 7 and 14 ( P <0.001), but the two groups did not differ in any other parameter. Histologically, Paramoeba sp., the aetiological agent of AGD, could be seen on the gills of fish as soon as 1 day post-exposure, attached to healthy-appearing gills. Gill pathology in the form of hyperplasia and lamellar fusion followed shortly. AGD infection was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of gill mucous cells ( P =0.002). Different methods for the diagnosis of AGD are discussed.     

Environmental and physiological conditions affecting Tetrahymena sp. infection in guppies, Poecilia reticulata Peters

Parasitic infections caused by Tetrahymena sp. constitute a serious problem in guppies, Poecilia reticulata. Tetrahymena was isolated from skin lesions of naturally infected guppies in a commercial aquaculture farm, cultured in vitro and used in subsequent experimental infections. In addition to guppies, angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare, platyfish, Xiphophorus maculates, and neontetra, Paracheirodon innesi, were susceptible, whereas tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus xO. aureus) was resistant. The ciliate had a high affinity for dead fish. Skin abrasion did not affect the infection, but fish with gas bubble disease exhibited a significantly higher infection than non-affected fish. Infection was significantly higher when fish were exposed to high levels of ammonia, high organic load and low water temperatures. Under shipment conditions, infection was significantly elevated. Full recovery was achieved at a low fish density. Results suggest that poor environmental and physiological conditions enhance infection with Tetrahymena sp.     

Production of salmonid amoebic gill disease by exposure to Paramoeba sp. harvested from the gills of infected fish

Atlantic salmon, S almo salar L., were exposed to different concentrations of Paramoeba sp. The lowest concentration which induced amoebic gill disease (AGD) was 230 Paramoeba sp. L^–1 and the severity of infection increased with increasing concentration. The concentration of Paramoeba sp. positively correlated with the number of gill lesions ( R ² > 0.7). This study provides evidence that Paramoeba sp. is the causative agent of AGD and describes an experimental model that enables the severity of the induced disease to be controlled.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis spores on growth performance,oxidative status,and digestive enzyme activities in Japanese quail birds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The present trial investigated the feeding effect of B. subtilis spores on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidative status, and digestive enzyme...