Metabolites of some biological control agents

The evidence is reviewed for the structure and biosynthesis of some metabolites of Trichoderma and Gliocladium species that are being considered as fungal biological control agents. The diverse biosynthetic capability of these organisms is proposed as a criterion for their potential application as bio-control agents.     

Potential biological control agents for Mikania micrantha hbk from the Neotropical region

Abstract

Mikania micrantha HBK, a sprawling composite vine native to the Neotropics, is a serious weed of plantation crops in Southeast Asia. A survey and assessment of its natural enemies in the Neotropics reveals nine major natural enemies and over 20 minor ones. The biology of the nine major natural enemies: Acalitus sp. (Acarina, Eriophyiidae), Liothrips mikaniae (Priesner) (Thysanoptera, Phloeothripidae), Teleonemia sp. (Heteroptera, Tingidae), Desmogramma conjuncta Bechyné, Physimerus pygmaeus Jacoby, Omoplata spp. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), Apion luteirostre Gerst. (Col., Apionidae), Pseudoderelomus baridiiformis Champ. (Col., Curculionidae), together with brief accounts of the minor ones, forms the bulk of this paper. The prospects for biological control of M. micrantha are considered reasonable, and an outline for a continuation of work on the project is given, beginning with the introduction of L. mikaniae to Southeast Asia.     

Work of the EPPO/IOBC Panel on biological control agents

EPPO started work on biological control agents (BCAs) in 1996, and the joint EPPO/IOBC Panel was established in 1997. The history of the Panel is provided and EPPO Standards developed by the Panel are described. These Standards are: PM 6/1 ‘First import of exotic biological control agents for research under contained conditions’, PM 6/2 ‘Import and release of non‐indigenous biological control agents’ and PM 6/3 ‘List of biological control agents widely used in the EPPO region’. The last of these has been annually updated as a ‘Positive List’ of BCAs for which EPPO recommends its member countries to use a simplified procedure for import and releases. EPPO activities in biological control have been focused on the safety aspects of the introduction of invertebrate BCAs. However, the scope of EPPO's work in this area is now under review, and a number of issues are being considered by the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations. These include the remit of the Panel and Standards in relation to micro‐organisms, the evaluation of potential environmental benefits as well as potential risks from releases and the potential for use of BCAs against regulated pests and those recommended for regulation.     

Regulation and use of biological control agents in Hungary

A wide range of biological control agents (BCAs) have been authorized and used in Hungary for the control of pests (including pathogens). BCAs are key elements of both integrated pest management and organic farming for different crops. Authorization of BCAs depends on the type of ‘active substance’. Micro‐organisms can be authorized under the EU Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 as plant protection products (PPP), while macro‐organisms are not within its scope. Plant protection tools (traps, mating disruption) are registered at a national level in Hungary, although mass traps and mating disruption pheromones are considered to be PPP. Plant extracts can be authorized as PPP, but some of them can be approved as a ‘basic substance’ and in this case they do not need further authorization. In Hungary, the vast majority of macro‐organisms used as BCAs have been mainly used in greenhouses and polytunnels for the control of thrips, whiteflies, aphids, leaf mining flies, phytophagous mites and lepidopteran pests in vegetable and ornamental crops. Recently a non‐indigenous chalcid wasp, Torymus sinensis, has been successfully introduced for the control of the oriental chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, on chestnut (Castanea sativa) on different sites.     

The regulatory landscape for biological control agents

A biological control agent (BCA) has been defined as ‘an organism [used] to reduce the population density of another organism’. However, an organism which is a BCA may, in addition, fall within the regulatory definition of an invasive alien species, a plant pest, a quarantine plant pest, a harmful organism, a plant protection product, or any combination of these. Therefore the regulatory landscape which has to be navigated by applicants wishing to release BCAs is complex. Examples are given of this complexity, drawing on relevant international standards and European Union legislation. A clearer understanding of the regulatory landscape across the EPPO region is necessary for agreeing routes through it to facilitate rapid adoption of biological control options, where these are available, and to ensure that potential risks and benefits are assessed in a coherent and consistent way.     

Harmonizing the regulation of invertebrate biological control agents in the EPPO region: using the NAPPO region as a model

Harmonized regulation of invertebrate biological control agents (IBCAs) is a major challenge for the 51 countries of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Although some of these member countries in the EPPO region have well‐defined regulations and follow a common approach, others do not. The North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) has achieved a common approach in North America through the development of Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures specific to IBCAs that outline the information required for submission of a request to release an agent. NAPPO has also developed a process to ensure that submissions are reviewed by experts and regulatory officials in all three member countries. It is proposed that EPPO takes advantage of the experience of NAPPO in developing a harmonized approach for regulating IBCAs.     

Combining biocontrol agents to reduce the variability of biological control

ABSTRACT Two biocontrol agents, a yeast (Pichia guilermondii) and a bacterium (Bacillus mycoides), were tested separately and together for suppression of Botrytis cinerea on strawberry leaves. The aims of the research were to determine whether the use of their combination would broaden the environmental conditions under which biological control is effective, and to test the hypothesis that it would reduce the variability of control efficacy under diverse conditions. Applied separately, the biocontrol agents significantly inhibited spore germination, lesion formation, and lesion development at most temperatures, relative humidities, and spray-timing combinations (temperatures: 10, 15, 20, 23, 25, and 30 degrees C; relative humidities: 78, 85, 96, and 100%; and spray-timings: 0, 4, and 7 days before inoculation). However, control efficacy was highly variable, and under certain combinations it was not adequate. Control efficacy achieved by the biocontrol agents applied separately ranged between 38 and 98% (mean 74%) and the coefficient of variation ranged from 9.7 to 75%. The mixture of Bacillus mycoides and Pichia guilermondii suppressed Botrytis cinerea effectively (80 to 99.8% control) under all conditions, and the coefficients of variation were as low as 0.4 to 9% in all cases. Thus, application of both biocontrol agents resulted in better suppression of Botrytis cinerea, and also reduced the variability of disease control. Application of more than one biocontrol agent is suggested as a reliable means of reducing the variability and increasing the reliability of biological control.     

Viability and stability of biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seeds

Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi-year, multi-state regional (south-eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping-off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non-Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short-term (< or = 3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (i.e. isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera (Bacillus and Paenibacillus) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non-Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T-22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package.     

Effect of reduced risk pesticides on greenhouse vegetable arthropod biological control agents

BACKGROUND: Arthropod biological control agents (BCAs) are commonly released for greenhouse vegetable insect pest management. Nevertheless, chemicals remain a necessary control tactic for certain insect pests and diseases and they can have negative impacts on BCAs. The compatibility of some formulated reduced risk insecticides (abamectin, metaflumizone and chlorantraniliprole) and fungicides (myclobutanil, potassium bicarbonate and cyprodinil + fludioxonil) used, or with promise for use, in Canadian greenhouses with Orius insidiosus (Say), Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) and Eretmocerus eremicus (Rose & Zolnerovich) was determined through laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. RESULTS: Overall, the insecticides and fungicides were harmless as residues to adult BCAs. However, abamectin was slightly to moderately harmful to O. insidiosus and A. swirskii in laboratory bioassays, whereas metaflumizone was slightly harmful to E. eremicus. CONCLUSIONS: In general, these products appear safe to use prior to establishment/release of these adult BCAs. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prospects for the use of biological control agents against Anoplophora in Europe

This review summarises the literature on the biological control of Anoplophora spp. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and discusses its potential for use in Europe. Entomopathogenic fungi: Beauveria brongniartii Petch (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) has already been developed into a commercial product in Japan, and fungal infection results in high mortality rates. Parasitic nematodes: Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser have potential for use as biopesticides as an alternative to chemical treatments. Parasitoids: a parasitoid of Anoplophora chinensis Forster, Aprostocetus anoplophorae Delvare (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), was discovered in Italy in 2002 and has been shown to be capable of parasitising up to 72% of A. chinensis eggs; some native European parasitoid species (e.g. Spathius erythrocephalus) also have potential to be used as biological control agents. Predators: two woodpecker (Piciformis: Picidae) species that are native to Europe, Dendrocopos major Beicki and Picus canus Gmelin, have been shown to be effective at controlling Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky in Chinese forests. The removal and destruction of infested and potentially infested trees is the main eradication strategy for Anoplophora spp. in Europe, but biological control agents could be used in the future to complement other management strategies, especially in locations where eradication is no longer possible. © 2014 Crown copyright. Pest Management Science © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selection of biological control agents for controlling soil and seed-borne diseases in the field

Different screening methods for selection of biological control agents (BCAs), for controlling soil and seed-borne diseases, are discussed. The shortcomings of laboratory methods focused on mechanism of action are discussed and we conclude that these methods should be used with caution if candidates with multifactorial or plant mediated mechanisms of control are to be obtained. In vitro screens may be useful for specific groups of microorganisms, thus, screens for antibiotics may be relevant for Streptomyces spp., and promising results have been obtained using soil plating or precolonized agar methods to screen for mycoparasitism and competitive saprophytic ability. Experience with screening in the Nordic programme Biological control of seed borne diseases in cereals is summarized. Research in the four participating countries – Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark – followed the same paradigm: that of obtaining antagonists, well adapted to different Nordic environments, and developing them as effective BCAs. Potential antagonists were isolated from different sources and in planta screening methods were developed in order to optimize selection of antagonists effective against a range of seed borne pathogens. Screens in the laboratory or greenhouse were followed by screening in the field. The different screening procedures are compared and evaluated.     

Evaluation of biological control agents for managing cucurbit powdery mildew on greenhouse-grown melon

An evaluation was made of the ability of two mycoparasite-based products AQ10® ( Ampelomyces quisqualis ) and Mycotal® ( Lecanicillium lecanii ), as well as three strains of Bacillus subtilis , to manage powdery mildew disease, caused by Podosphaera fusca on melon seedlings maintained under different regimes of relative humidity and on plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Spain. In every case fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents (BCAs) performed better under conditions of high relative humidity (90–95% RH). In greenhouse experiments, the effectiveness of the mycoparasites to manage powdery mildew was absolutely dependent on mineral oil. The strains of B. subtilis provided disease control similar to that achieved with the mycoparasites or the fungicide azoxystrobin. Microscopic analysis showed the ability of these bacterial strains to efficiently colonize leaf surfaces and revealed the occurrence of antagonistic interactions between biological agents and P. fusca structures. These results confirmed the usefulness of these BCAs for managing powdery mildew on greenhouse-grown cucurbits either as single products or as a component of integrated control programmes.     

Procedures and policies in the USA regarding precautions in the introduction of classical biological control agents

Classical biological control, the introduction of exotic natural enemies to control non-indigenous insect pests and weeds, has been practised in the USA for over 100 years. To date, there have been no fully documented, substantial negative results, and many important insect pests and weeds have been successfully controlled. Over the past decade, concern about the safety of biocontrol agents has increased in line with concern for general health of the natural, native biota. This concern has focused primarily on endangered, threatened, and listed species of plants, but is broadening to include most other organisms. Scientists, administrators and others involved in the process have long recognized the need to ensure that natural enemies of weeds do not attack commercially or horticulturally important plants and to ensure that natural enemies of insects do not attack beneficial species. Procedures for testing the host specificity of the natural enemies of weeds in their area of origin, before shipment to the country of release, have been developed to quite high levels of reliability but there is need for further improvements. Further host-specificity testing is often required in quarantine in the USA. The rigour of this system is helped by the fact that all applications for permission to introduce biocontrol agents are examined by an Inter-agency Technical Advisory Committee for Biological Control of Weeds (TAGBCW) before import permits are issued by the relevant authority (USDA APHIS/PPQ). TAGBCW review includes study of research plans and of lists of host plants for testing host specificity; it also analyses and offers advice on potential conflicts of interest. A ‘TAGBCW’ could be recommended for the European Union. With regard to natural enemies of insect pests, there is relatively little need for host-range testing of most parasitoids because these are generally co-evolved and intimately related organisms that are restricted to one or a few host species. Concern about the potential impact of oligophagous predators on non-target organisms has increased recently and is a developing field of research. Some operating procedures that involve safety are discussed. The import permit system in the USA is presented, and two suggestions for changes in European permit procedures are suggested. Past regulatory procedures for classical biological control in the USA are described, and the current situation is presented.     

Interactions of air temperature,relative humidity and biological control agents on grey mold of bean

The interactions ofBotrytis cinerea and seven biological control agents (BCAs) were examined in controlled environments to determine the influence of selected relative humidities (RH) (90,95, and 100%) and air temperatures (20,24 and 28 C) on grey mold of bean. All main effects and interactions were significant (P0.05) among the 72 treatments. In the control, lesions of grey mold developed under all environmental conditions but were largest at 24 C×95 and 100% RH, and 28 C×95% RH. Interactions of environment, BCAs and grey mold were complex.Alternaria alternata, Drechslera sp.,Myrothecium verrucaria, Trichoderma viride, Gliocladium roseum and an unidentified pink yeast were all highly dependent on environment for biological control efficacy, and changes of 4 C or 5% RH were associated with variability in disease suppression that ranged from 15 to 100%. Efficacy ofEpicoccum purpurascens appeared independent of environment and this BCA suppressed disease by 100% in all of the environmental treatments. Suppression of grey mold by many of the BCAs was most effective under environmental conditions least conducive to disease. Therefore, evaluations of potential BCAs in environmental conditions that are marginal for disease can overestimate their efficacy in field environments. Assessments of biological control efficacy in various environments can be used to more accurately assess the potential of BCAs.     

5种生物制剂对设施蔬菜根结线虫防治技术研究

蔬菜根结线虫已成为内蒙古赤峰市设施蔬菜园区的主要病害,对黄瓜和番茄造成严重的产量损失,为了筛选高效、安全的生物杀菌剂,2011-2012年在赤峰市松山区设施蔬菜园区进行了5种不同生物杀菌剂对设施黄瓜和番茄根结线虫防治的田间试验,在黄瓜和番茄定植时用100亿cfu/g厚孢轮枝菌粉剂0.2kg/667m2撒施,2%阿维菌素+多聚糖乳油3 000倍稀释液灌根处理,0.2亿cfu/g淡紫拟青霉颗粒剂5kg/667m2撒施,10亿cfu/mL蜡质芽胞杆菌水剂6L/667m2灌根,1.8%阿维菌素乳油500倍稀释液灌根,设4次重复,并设空白对照。定植20d后再用同样的浓度和方法处理一次,结果表明:5种生物杀菌剂对黄瓜和番茄根结线虫的防治效果为20%~60%,10亿cfu/mL蜡质芽胞杆菌水剂效果最好,达到56.3%,同时可以提高黄瓜和番茄的商品性,适于在设施蔬菜上推广使用。     

Effects of active substances of plant protection products on biological control agents used in glasshouses

Tables are presented classifying over 80 active substances for their harmfulness to natural enemies in protected cultivation, particularly parasitic hymenoptera, predatory mites and predatory insects. The categories used are: harmful, harmful under certain circumstances, not harmful. Results are given for different application methods in some cases. The duration of after-effects is given for Encarsia formosa, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus cucumeris.