Entomopathogenic nematodes and the protected crops industry

Entomopathogenic rhabditid nematodes of the generaSteinernema and Heterorhabditis are ideal biological control agents for use against insect pests living in soils, composts or other cryptic habitats. The protected crops industry provides particularly favourable conditions for the survival, dispersal and recycling of rhabditids. The parasites are an effective and economic alternative to chemicals for the control of black vine weevil in ornamental pot plants. Their ability to infest a wide range of insects has also enabled them to be used successfully against several fly pests of mushrooms. In mushroom culture they not only control sciarid flies but also stimulate significant increases in crop yield.     

栽培食用菌害虫生物防治技术研究与应用

利用无害化技术控制栽培食用菌害虫是当前食用菌安全生产亟待解决的问题之一。作者查阅了近20年来栽培食用菌主要害虫生物防治技术研究与应用文献,归纳报道较多的、作者认为有可能成为生产应用的技术成果,并就本研究组的研究结果和对已有生防技术优缺点的认识,提出在我国开展栽培食用菌主要害虫生物防治技术研究与应用的建议。     

Effect of compost and casing treatments of insecticides against the sciarid Bradysia ocellaris (Diptera: Sciaridae) and on the total yield of cultivated mushrooms,Agaricus bisporus

BACKGROUND: Bradysia ocellaris (Comstock) is one of the major pests of cultivated mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach. The feeding of sciarid fly larvae causes damage to the cultivation substrates, compost and casing. A comparative study of insecticidal treatments incorporated into compost and casing against B. ocellaris was conducted during 2003–2004. Treatments with an organophosphate, diazinon, a pyrazole, fipronil, and an insect growth regulator (IGR), triflumuron, were incorporated into casing. Another IGR, cyromazine, was incorporated into compost. Insecticidal incorporation into compost and casing has been associated with reductions in mushroom yield. Therefore, the effect of these insecticidal treatments on the overall yield was evaluated. RESULTS: A combined treatment, incorporation of cyromazine at 10 mg kg^?1 into compost and of triflumuron at 20 mg kg^?1 into casing, provided 100% control against B. ocellaris. There was no apparent reduction in yield as a result of incorporation of the tested chemicals into either compost or casing. CONCLUSION: The results obtained from this study suggest that incorporation of insecticides into both compost and casing is required to control a moderate to high pressure of insect pests. There were no significant yield reductions as a result of the incorporation of pesticides in the Australian mushroom‐growing system. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

对半翅目害虫具有活性的Bt杀虫蛋白研究进展

半翅目害虫寄主范围广、危害时间长, 给我国农林业生产带来了严重的经济损失。应用有效的绿色防控手段替代化学杀虫剂防治半翅目害虫, 对于保障粮食安全生产、保护动物及人类生命健康、维护生态平衡具有重要意义。苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis产生的杀虫蛋白对多种害虫展现出高效特异的杀虫活性, 对非靶标生物安全, 为全球农业、林业和卫生害虫的绿色防控做出了突出贡献。本文综述了我国农林业中重要的半翅目害虫种类、危害特点及主要防治手段, 重点归纳了Bt杀虫蛋白对半翅目害虫的杀虫活性研究进展以及挖掘具有半翅目杀虫活性的Bt杀虫蛋白基础, 并针对Bt杀虫蛋白在半翅目害虫绿色防控方面的应用提出了建议。     

Review: Date palm arthropod pests and their management in Israel

This review summarizes the current knowledge on the distribution, natural history, economic importance and management of 16 major species of date palm pests in Israel. Another 15, rarely occurring, pest species are also identified. Research on the date palm pests in Israel was initiated against a background of severe outbreaks of scale insects in the late 1950s. These outbreaks were caused mainly by unrestrained use of organophosphates. This situation led to the gradual development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, which was implemented first against scale insects and later against fruit pests. The IMP approach resulted in successful control of the scale insects, up to the present, whereas agrotechnical and crop management procedures, including covering the fruit bunches with plastic nets and early harvesting of several date cultivars, were successfully applied to achieve efficient control of the fruit moths. In addition, the use of chemical compounds in date plantations was drastically reduced and restricted to heavy foci of pest infestation. In time, microbial control, mainly application ofBacillus thuringiensis products against the lesser date moth, and the use of pheromone traps for monitoring and controlling red palm weevil, enabled further reductions in the use of synthetic insecticides. The overall change in pest management also significantly improved the preservation of natural enemies of the pests in the plantations. Whereas in the 1950s the major problems were caused by the parlatoria date scale and the green scale, in the early 2000s the key pests in date plantations in Israel are the lesser date moth and sap beetles in most of the date-growing areas, and spider mites which are restricted to the Arava Valley. Future management of the first two of these pests should rely on an improved monitoring system and integration of pheromone application for reduction of the population and damage. Efforst should be made to prevent the red palm weevil, which currently is a potential pest, from becoming an actual key pest in date plantations.     

Biological control of Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae) in commercial mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation: a comparison between Hypoaspis miles and Steinernema feltiae

BACKGROUND: Mushroom cultivation may be adversely affected by insect pests, including sciarids (Lycoriella spp.), which were previously controlled by application of chemical pesticides. However, owing to food safety and environmental concerns, availability of pesticides for use during mushroom cultivation has diminished. Consequently, it is imperative to investigate alternative control strategies, not reliant on chemical pesticides, which may be used in an integrated pest management system. RESULTS: Application of the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles Berlese to commercial mushroom‐growing beds at the beginning of spawn run or just prior to casing (830 mites m^?2) significantly reduced immature sciarids, Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour), in the growing substrate and also adult activity towards the conclusion of cropping. A trend towards lower sciarid emergence from substrates and reduced adult sciarid activity was observed following the application of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (1.5 × 10⁶ nematodes m^?2) at casing. No significant treatment effects on mushroom yield were observed. However, contamination of the mushroom crop by adult sciarids increased in untreated controls. Application of H. miles required a 12‐fold increase in labour when compared with application of S. feltiae. CONCLUSION: Contingent upon the development of an effective application system, H. miles has potential for the biological control of sciarids in commercial mushroom production. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Der Einsatz von Trichogramma-Schlupfwespen in Deutschland

The use of Trichogramma egg parasitoids has further increased. T. brassicae, released against the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis, holds the largest share in Germany with 11,000 hectare. For small-scale fruits crops the commercial use of T. cacoeciae and T. dendrolimi against the Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) and the Plum Moth (Grapholita funebrana) has been expanded. Trichogramma species are also being offered for controlling the vine moths, Lobesia botrana and Eupoecilia ambiguella on grapevine in homegardens. A strain of T. evanescens is available against cabbage pests, especially noctuids. Research has been conducted on the biological control of Autographa gamma in spinach, as well as of the Pea Moth (Cydia nigricana) and the Leek Moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella) in organic farming. Trichogramma is also important for the biocontrol of exotic pests in greenhouses. These are often polyphagous pests that have been introduced together with ornamental plants, such as Duponchelia fovealis and Clepsis spectrana. The Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronuba) was successfully controlled by Trichogramma in the field. The use of Trichogramma has been further established for the control of storage pests. T. evanescens is used against the Indian Meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) in stored cereal products. Other target pests in storage environments are Ephestia kuehniella and Sitotroga cerealella. In addition, Trichogramma species have been tested for the control of the Common Cloths Moth (Tineola bisselliella) under laboratory conditions. The range of target pests for Trichogramma egg parasitoids has therefore increased considerably in research and commercial applications in Germany.     

Biological control in Hungary: present situation and possibilities1

Biological control has already achieved certain results in Hungary, especially against soil-borne fungi and glasshouse pests. Nevertheless, experience has shown that locally found biological agents, however effective, could not be developed into registered, ready-for-sale plant protection products because of the lack of companies willing to invest. Biological control in Hungary is therefore limited to the conservation of natural antagonistic flora and fauna and to the application of imported biopesticides and bioagents, which are subject in Hungary to a registration procedure similar to that for chemical plant protection products. Current work includes the development of an anti-nematode product from a local strain of Arthrobotrys oligospora, application techniques for a local mirid Dicyphus hyalinipennis against insect pests, studies with native and imported strains of the nematodes Steinernema and Heterorhabditis against soil-borne insect pests, and introduction techniques for the chrysomelid Zygogramma sutularis against the weed Ambrosia elatior.     

氯虫苯甲酰胺种子处理对花生地上及地下害虫的防治效果

为明确氯虫苯甲酰胺种子处理对花生地下害虫及地上刺吸式口器害虫的防治效果,筛选出合适的田间用药剂量,通过室内盆栽接虫试验和田间试验研究氯虫苯甲酰胺对花生地下害虫沟金针虫Pleonomus canaliculatus（Faldermann）、铜绿丽金龟Anomala corpulenta Motschulsky以及地上害虫花生蚜Aphis craccivora Koch的综合防治效果。结果表明,盆栽药剂拌种处理后15 d,氯虫苯甲酰胺有效成分用量为2.40、3.20 g/kg种子处理对沟金针虫的防治效果为77.42%和82.58%,对铜绿丽金龟的防治效果为77.12%和85.62%;田间拌种处理收获时,2.40、3.20 g/kg种子剂量的氯虫苯甲酰胺对花生田沟金针虫的防治效果为68.12%和76.33%,对铜绿丽金龟的防治效果为71.38%和80.71%;3.20 g/kg种子剂量处理对花生蚜的防治效果最高,为36.39%;该药剂拌种处理后对花生种子无不良影响,对出苗和生长有一定的促进作用,2.40、3.20 g/kg种子剂量处理后增产率为16.16%和18.44%。表明氯虫苯甲酰胺种子处理对花生地下害虫沟金针虫和铜绿丽金龟具有很高的防治效果和持效性,同时对花生蚜也有一定的兼治效果,有明显的防虫增产作用,可推广应用于防治花生田地下害虫。     

木耳菌糠培养球孢白僵菌的条件筛选及优化

白僵菌是一种虫生真菌,目前在农林害虫防治中取得了明显的效果。为了进一步促进白僵菌农药的发展,开发低成本的白僵菌发酵方法或优化其发酵条件是不可缺少的一环。本文尝试以木耳菌糠作为主要培养基液体发酵球孢白僵菌,通过单因素试验和正交试验确定菌糠培养基配方并优化发酵条件。结果表明,废弃菌糠适宜作为球孢白僵菌的主要培养基,当料液比为1:4,补充0.3%硫酸锰、0.5%硝酸铵,接菌量10%,培养温度为25℃,培养时间为4 d时,球孢白僵菌的产孢量达到了2.0×109个孢子/mL。研究证实了木耳菌糠培养球孢白僵菌的可行性,希望为低成本发酵其他生防菌提供新思路。     

Breeding Plant Varieties Resistant to Pests1)

In The Netherlands at present the research on resistance against pests is aimed at red spider mite in cucumber, glasshouse whitefly in tomato, carrot fly, aphids in lettuce. In addition projects are planned with a view to breeding resistance against Myzus persicae Sulz. in paprika, and aphids in barley. Tolerance can hardly be considered as a type of resistance, since it does not control the parasite population. Non-preference has some advantages, but does not reduce the size of the insect population and causes pests to migrate to other plants and possibly to the neighbours. Antibiosis is the more desirable type of resistance. To prevent it from being broken, antibiosis ought to be based on polygenes. Another method of prevention is to breed multiline varieties. When creating new varieties that possess certain valuable qualities in combination with a resistance based on polygenes, the breeder has to test yearly thousands of plants. Rapid methods for mass-testing for resistance are therefore urgently needed. Breeders have found high-yielding varieties, which help to feed the world population. However, the desired resistance against pests must frequently come from low-yielding varieties. To combine the indispensable high yields with resistance against pests is a time-consuming work. The process will be shortened as better screening methods become available.     

Rational use of deltamethrin on potato against Leptinotarsa decemlineata and other significant pests1

In trials of deltamethrin against Leptinotarsa decemlineata on potato crops in several European and Mediterranean countries, high levels of efficacy were obtained. Recommendations are accordingly presented for rational use of this insecticide to control L. decemlineata, and also several other important insect pests of potato, taking due account of results on the safety of deltamethrin for the user, consumer and environment.     

Fumigant bioactivity of five Citrus essential oils against Tribolium confusum

During the past decades, the huge use of pesticides caused several environmental problems, so research investigations moved to find a series of compounds with selective toxicity, of a biodegradable and environment-friendly nature, maintaining a positive action in crop and stored products protection. In this perspective, interesting results in the control of pests and fungal pathogens were obtained using essential oils, which are compounds produced by many species of plants as secondary metabolites. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the fumigant activity of five Citrus essential oils against the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum Du Val, planning a possible employment in the mill industry. The fumigant effectiveness was evaluated 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days after the start of exposure and each essential oil was analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. Further evaluations about the toxicity of these compounds were made by partially filling the glass vials with food matrix, in order to assess the possible interference of this matter on the active compounds. The data obtained indicated that, at a low level of fumigant concentration, essential oils can effectively control stored product pests; in the presence of debris, like flour, the efficacy decreased. Plant extracts caused also increased mortality levels after the end of fumigation. The results obtained from this experimentation confirm the efficacy of essential oils in pest control and, in particular, against stored product pests.     

Soil application of neonicotinoid insecticides for control of insect pests in wine grape vineyards

BACKGROUND: Soil application of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides can provide opportunities for long‐term control of insect pests in vineyards, with minimal risk of pesticide drift or worker exposure. This study compared the effectiveness of neonicotinoid insecticides applied via irrigation injection on key early‐season and mid‐season insect pests of vineyards in the eastern United States. RESULTS: On vines trained to grow on drip irrigation, early‐season application of imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran provided high levels of control against the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae. Protection of vines against Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, and grape berry moth, Paralobesia viteana, was also observed after mid‐season applications. Efficacy was poor in commercial vineyards when treatments were applied to the soil before irrigation or rain, indicating that vines must be grown with an irrigation system for efficient uptake of the insecticide. CONCLUSIONS: In drip‐irrigated vineyards, soil‐applied neonicotinoids can be used to provide long residual control of either early‐season or mid‐ to late‐season foliage pests of vineyards. This approach can reduce the dependence on foliar‐applied insecticides, with associated benefits for non‐target exposure to workers and natural enemies. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

植物内生真菌及其展望

内生真菌在自然界广泛存在,有些内生真菌可以促进植物营养吸收、提高植物抗生物逆境和非生物逆境的能力、刺激植物产生活性物质等。因此,内生真菌是植物病虫害生物防治领域的重要研究内容之一。本文就内生真菌与寄主共生的分子基础、内生真菌对植物影响机制、内生真菌与寄主特异性相互作用、特殊的内生真菌--植物病原真菌、内生真菌形成的分子机制和内生真菌研究展望等6个方面对内生真菌进行了叙述,期望为科学地利用内生真菌资源提供一些参考。     

Review: classical biological control of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids – what does success look like?

Although the enemy release hypothesis forms the theoretical basis for classical (=importation) biological control of invasive pests, its core assumptions are not always examined. This could contribute to unrealistic expectations for some biological control programs. In this paper we examine the assumptions that: (i) enemy release has contributed to the invasive nature of four exotic pentatomids in North America; and (ii) classical biological control with egg parasitoids has been or will be successful in reducing populations of these pests below economically significant levels. First, we review the history of biological control programs against invasive stink bugs to highlight the variable and controversial levels of success of introducing egg parasitoids against stink bugs. Then, we use simple stage‐structured matrix models to demonstrate that it may be easy to overestimate the contribution of egg parasitism alone to a reduction in stink bug population growth. Finally, we discuss what realistic expectations might be for success of biological control against invasive stink bugs using egg parasitoids in the context of integrated pest management programs. © 2020 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Pest Management Science © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

利用昆虫病原线虫防治草菇双额岩小粪蝇

草菇双额岩小粪蝇Bifronsina bifrons是当前草菇生产中的重要害虫。本文测定了5个线虫品系在（30±0.5）℃下对草菇双额岩小粪蝇的致死率和LT50。结果表明,各线虫品系在浓度4000 IJs mL 1下的LT50范围为2.13～4.71 d,其中夜蛾斯氏线虫Steinernema feltiae SN品系对双额岩小粪蝇的毒力最大,LT50为2.13 d,侵染5 d后的致死率达86.67%。菇房施用4×106IJs.m 2S.feltiae SN品系和嗜菌异小杆线虫Heterorhabditisbacteriophora H06品系悬浮液于培养基表面6 d后,对双额岩小粪蝇的防治效果分别达到70.37%和45.68%,SN线虫对双额岩小粪蝇的防效与阿维菌素相当。     

A Review on Options for Management of Cowpea Pests: Experiences From Uganda

More than 100 field pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) can be found in most of the crop production agroecologies in Africa, but four of these – aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch), flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom), the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata Fab. Syn. Maruca testulalis Geyer) and pod sucking bugs – are commonly encountered and are of economic importance in Uganda. The diverse cowpea pest complex dictates that a single control strategy is unlikely to produce satisfactory control.Earlier field studies done in eastern and northern parts of Uganda demonstrated that close spacing (30 × 20cm) effectively reduces aphid infestation (early season pest) but seems to promote thrips, legume pod borers and pod bugs infestation. The other option for management of early season pests and nematodes is seed dressing, especially with carbofuran (Furadan 5G). Late season pests are more effectively controlled by the use of foliar sprays, the type of pesticide depending on the pest profile. Intercropping also offers remedial control, but the crop combination must consider the pest profile, cowpea/sorghum intercrop being effective against aphids and thrips, and cowpea/greengram against legume pod borers and pod sucking bugs. Selected combinations of agronomic, chemical and cultural control measures (Integrated Pest Management), especially when combined with early planting, offer better management options than the use of sole treatments. The success of these packages is highly dependent on the degree and level of farmer involvement and to what extent they are tailored to meet his/her production goals.     

Precautions for and experiences with introduction of exotic biological control agents into the former USSR1

The experience of introducing more than 120 species of exotic biological control agents for use against more than 40 species of pests during 70 years in the countries of the former USSR is analysed. The examples of biological protection of citrus orchards and some other programmes using biological control agents are described in more detail. The precautionary measures elaborated for these programmes consist of: (1) the prohibition of use by insufficiently qualified persons or non-State organizations; (2) phytosanitary procedures preventing the spread of quarantine pests; (3) elimination from the biological control material of any hyperparasites, diseases or other accidentally introduced organisms under adequate quarantine conditions; (4) investigations at the place of release of the biological control agent into the environment.     

对植物寄生线虫具有活性的苏云金芽胞杆菌研究进展

植物寄生线虫是重要的植物病原物之一,给农业生产带来了巨大的经济损失。长期以来,一直缺乏有效防治植物寄生线虫的手段。苏云金芽胞杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt）是重要的昆虫病原细菌,广泛应用于鳞翅目、双翅目、鞘翅目害虫等农林及卫生害虫的防治;部分Bt菌株对植物寄生线虫具有很高的活性。本文总结了杀植物寄生线虫Bt菌株筛选的模型与方法的建立、Bt菌株杀植物寄生线虫的作用机理及其相关应用、以及杀植物寄生线虫的伴胞晶体蛋白与相关基因等,可望为杀植物寄生线虫Bt制剂的研究与开发提供借鉴。