Genetically engineered viral insecticides: New insecticides with improved phenotypes

Baculoviruses are natural pathogens of insects which have been used as biopesticides. In contrast to many chemical agents, baculoviruses affect only a limited number of insects and so can be used to target particular insect species. Unfortunately, unless the host receives a very high virus dose, the insect continues to feed and causes damage to crops, because the virus takes several days to kill it. This lag is unacceptable in the protection of many crops, especially where cosmetic damage seriously reduces the value of a crop (e.g. fruit). Strategies have been devised recently to circumvent this problem. The baculovirus genome has been modified, using genetic engineering techniques, to incorporate foreign genes encoding insect-specific toxins, or hormones or enzymes. Expression of some of these genes in the virus-infected host insect has been shown to reduce both the feeding damage to crop plants and the time taken to kill the insect pest. The current status of this developing field is described, together with an assessment of the possible risks involved in using such genetically modified agents in the environment.     

Patterns in disease progress and the influence of single and multiple viral infections on pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) growth

The patterns and progress of disease caused by multiple infections of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) and their effects on growth of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) were investigated in this study. Each virus induced distinct symptoms, but more severe symptoms, including reduced growth rates, were observed when pepper plants were simultaneously infected by more than one virus. When CMV was included in multiple viral inoculations, co-inoculations and sequential inoculations, PepMoV and PMMoV symptoms were observed but the symptoms characteristic of CMV were not masked, even though CMV titre did not increase greatly. In multiple viral infections, PepMoV titre and CMV did not increase significantly, but PMMoV titre gradually increased in most cases. Growth rates of pepper plants were greatly reduced during the 30 to 40-day post-inoculation period under both single-infection and multiple-infection conditions, but multiple viral infections of CMV pre-inoculated peppers were affected to a greater extent. A significant reduction in fruit size and fruit number was observed in single and multiple viral inoculations, and fruit malformation rates were high in CMV single-infection and multiple viral infections with CMV.     

The IUPAC International Congresses of Pesticide Chemistry (1963–2014) and Pest Management Science: a half‐century of progress

As we approach the 2014 San Francisco IUPAC Pesticide Chemistry Congress, we reflect on the 51 years of such congresses every 4 years since 1963. Meanwhile, our journal, Pesticide Science/Pest Management Science, has in parallel continually published relevant science for nearly as long (44 years from 1970). © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of phenanthridinotriazines: A structure–activity relationship study

A series of analogous tetracyclic 1, 12b-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-triazino[4,3-f] phenanthridines and 4H,12bH-1,2,5-oxadiazino[5,6-f]phenanthridines was prepared and tested for control of Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici (the causal agent of powdery mildew in wheat). Several analogs showed exceptional activity at doses as low as 6.25 mg litre^?1 with substituted analogs VII, X , and XIV being the most potent. Singly substituted tetrahydrotriazinyl or oxadiazenyl rings with lipophilic aromatic components appeared to be the key requirements for optimal powdery mildew control. Substitution of the heterocyclic ring with multiple groups attenuated activity.     

Imported furniture – A pathway for the introduction of plant pests into Europe

The finding of two pests which are on the EPPO Lists of pests recommended for regulation and are EU quarantine listed pests: Monochamus alternatus and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, within the structural components of imported furniture are discussed. This highlights the plant health risks associated with this neglected pathway.     

Ph 70–23: A new acaricide and insecticide interfering with chitin deposition

PH 70–23 is a new benzoylphenylurea interfering with chitin deposition. In larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, incorporation of N-acetyl-glucosamine into chitin was equally inhibited by PH 70–23 and diflubenzuron, the first commercially available benzoylphenylurea. In contrast to diflubenzuron, which is active only against insects and eriophyid mites, PH 70–23 has the advantage of also being highly active on spider mites. The latter activity might be partly due to leaf penetration of PH 70–23. Laboratory experiments indicate PH 70–23 to have a better ovo-larvicidal activity than the commercial acaricides tested (cyhexatin, dicofol, fenbutatin oxide and tetradifon) against Tetranychus cinnabarinus, T. turkestani, T. urticae and Panonychus ulmi. A method in which eggs were deposited on residues of cyhexatin or fenbutatin oxide resulted in much lower activities than application of the spray liquid after egg deposition. Activities of PH 70–23, dicofol and tetradifon were hardly influenced by this difference in the test method. The direct contact activity of PH 70–23 on eggs of mites is influenced by the relative humidity and the age of the eggs. The total ovolarvicidal activity of PH 70–23 is only slightly positively influenced by the relative humidity, however. Ovicidal activity of PH 70–23 is also achieved by transovarial transmission. The compound does not influence the fertility of the mites. Comparison of a strain of T. urticae, resistant to dicofol, parathion and tetradifon, with a susceptible strain indicated absence of cross-resistance to PH 70–23. Compared to diflubenzuron, PH 70–23 shows an interesting shift in the spectrum of insecticidal activity.     

First report of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis in Italy,and new host–pest associations

In September 2016, a survey conducted in the Circeo National Park revealed an outbreak and serious damage caused by the black twig borer (Xylosandrus compactus) and its associated fungi in the Mediterranean maquis. Among the affected hosts, Quercus ilex, Viburnum tinus, Ruscus aculeatus, Pistacia lentiscus, Laurus nobilis and Ceratonia siliqua, showed flagging and wilting of branches and, in younger individuals, the death of the whole plant occurred. In total, 18 different fungal taxa were found associated with the insect. These included Ambrosiella xylebori, Geosmithia pallida, Fusarium spp., Epicoccum nigrum and Bionectria sp. This is the first report in Europe of X. compactus and associated ambrosia fungi in a natural environment.     

A laboratory device for producing single drops in uniform sizes of 150–450 μm diameter

A device is described which can produce single drops of liquids in uniform sizes. Drop size can be adjusted, and with an aqueous solution of a non-ionic surfactant (“Agral”; 1 ml/litre) sizes 160–490 μm diam. were produced. Suitable techniques of calibration are given. The device is a useful research tool for study of the effects of form of deposit on herbicide performance.     

Systemic aspects of host–pathogen interactions in Austrian pine (Pinus nigra): A proteomics approach

The molecular basis of systemic resistance induced in Austrian pine by two canker pathogens was investigated using a proteomics approach. Protein from phloem located 50 cm above the induction site was extracted 26 days after inoculation. Nineteen proteins shown to be up/down-regulated by the pathogens were selected for sequencing. Fifteen proteins were assigned putative functions, revealing that several represented small heat shock proteins. No PR-proteins were identified among the others, which included a proteasome endopeptidase, two oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins, a nucleoside diphosphate kinase, a fructose bisphosphaste aldolase, a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, a phosphoserine aminotransferase, and a formate dehydrogenase.     

Interactions between tri-S-butyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) and growth regulator herbicides: I.—A preliminary report

Mixtures of tri-S-butyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) emulsion and the potassium salt of picloram were strongly synergistic when applied as foliar sprays to pot-grown privet, poplar, guava and Eucalyptus plants. A similar but less marked effect was observed in privet, using mixtures of DEF and a water-soluble amine formulation of 2,4,5-T. By contrast, mixtures of an oil-soluble ester formulation of 2,4,5-T with DEF were antagonistic with privet.     

A novel series of O,O-diethyl O-(1,3-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl) phosphorothioates. Part II. Quantitative structure–activity relationships

The in-vivo toxicity data of 33 O,O-diethyl O-(1-alkyl-3-R″-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl) phosphorothioates, reported in Part I of this series, were subjected to multiregression analyses for the following organisms: Leptinotarsa decemlineata (larvae), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (aphids), Culex pipiens (adults), Spodoptera littoralis (larvae) and the rat. The activities were found to depend mainly on the steric parameters of R″, these being best expressed by the values L, B₁ and B₄ of the computer program STERIMOL. It was shown that there were different steric requirements for each species and these are discussed. The predictive values of the best equations were also estimated.     

L‐P Molleyres,A Rindlisbacher,T Winkler and V Kumar,Insecticidal natural products: new rocglamide derivatives from Aglaia roxburghiana. Pesticide Science 55(4) 494–497 (1999)

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Pesticide Science 55 (4) 494–497 (1999)     

Validation of a real‐time PCR for the quantitative estimation of the G143A mutation in the cytochrome bc1 gene of Pyrenophora teres Arash Kianianmomeni,Gerhard Schwarz,Friedrich G Felsenstein and Gerhard Wenzel. Pest Management Science, 2007; 63: 219–224

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Pest Management Science 63 (3): 219–224