十种常用农药与球孢白僵菌的生物学相容性

球孢白僵菌孢子粉与10种常用农药相容性的测定结果显示,随着孢子浓度上升,所试农药对孢子的抑制作用均有不同程度的增强。在1/10田间常规使用浓度下,百菌清和代森锰锌均能抑制或杀死孢子(萌发率<1％)。除阿维菌素外,所有杀虫剂均与白僵菌孢子相容,在常规使用浓度的10倍稀释液中孢子萌发率达90％以上。吡虫啉、蚜虱灵、灭多威和氟虫腈与孢子的相容性最好,其中吡虫啉和蚜虱灵对孢子萌发率的影响不明显随药剂浓度的变化而变化,即使在田间常规使用浓度下孢子萌发率也在95％以上,而阿维菌素与白僵菌的相容性极差。因此,应用白僵菌制剂防治害虫,选择生物学相容性好的农药以低剂量与白僵菌制剂混用,既可使菌剂增效,又可大幅度降低化学药剂用量。     

Bioinsecticide production by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. 1. Pattern of cell growth,toxin production and by-product synthesis

To develop a cost-effective process for the production of Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide, it is important to cultivate the bacterial strain in rich medium to obtain the highest yields of spore-crystal complexes. It was found that cultivation of the bacterium in medium with high concentrations of glucose (50–90 g l^?1) resulted in much lower bacterial spores, crystal protein and lower toxicity, when tested against Spodoptera littoralis and Anagasta kuehniella larvae. The best results were obtained with glucose concentration of 20.0 g 1^?1 as 7.1 × 10¹¹ spores ml^?1 and 3.4 g l^?1 of crystal protein were achieved with LC₅₀ of 40.1 and 50.2 mg kg^?1 meal against S. littoralis and A. kuehniella, respectively. However, >21% of the consumed glucose was diverted into by-product synthesis at the expense of spore-crystal protein mixture. Only 78.3% of consumed glucose was converted into spores and crystal protein. Among by-products formed, acetic acid and β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) were produced during the phase of active growth and glutamic acid and succinic acid during the phase of active toxin production.     

Aesculus pavia foliar saponins: defensive role against the leafminer Cameraria ohridella

BACKGROUND: Recently, the leafminer Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic has caused heavy damage to the white‐flowering horse chestnut in Europe. Among the Aesculus genus, A. pavia L. HBT genotype, characterised by red flowers, showed an atypical resistance towards this pest. Its leaves, shaken in water, originated a dense foam, indicating the presence of saponins, unlike the common horse chestnut tree. The aim was to isolate and identify these leaf saponins and test their possible defensive role against C. ohridella. RESULTS: Spectroscopic analyses showed that A. pavia HBT genotype leaves contained a mixture of saponins, four of which were based on the same structure as commercial escin saponins, the typical saponin mixture produced by A. hippocastanum and accumulated only within bark and fruit tissues. The mixture showed a repellent effect on C. ohridella moth. The number of mines detected on the leaves of A. hippocastanum plants treated with A. pavia HBT saponins through watering and stem brushing was significantly lower than the control, and in many cases no mines were ever observed. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the exogenous saponins were translocated from roots/stem to the leaf tissues, and their accumulation seemed to ensure an appreciable degree of protection against the leafminer. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pesticides and reduced‐risk insecticides,native bees and pantropical stingless bees: pitfalls and perspectives

Although invertebrates generally have a low public profile, the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is a flagship species whose popularity likely derives from the products it provides and its perceived ecological services. Therefore, the raging debate regarding honey bee decline has surpassed the realm of beekeepers, academia, industry and regulatory agencies and now also encompasses non‐governmental agencies, media, fiction writers and the general public. The early interest and concern about honey bee colony collapse disorder (CCD) soon shifted to the bigger issue of pollinator decline, with a focus on the potential involvement of pesticides in such a phenomenon. Pesticides were previously recognised as the potential culprits of the reported declines, particularly the neonicotinoid insecticides owing to their widespread and peculiar use in agriculture. However, the evidence for the potential pivotal role of these neonicotinoids in honey bee decline remains a matter of debate, with an increased recognition of the multifactorial nature of the problem and the lack of a direct association between the noted decline and neonicotinoid use. The focus on the decline of honey bee populations subsequently spread to other species, and bumblebees became another matter of concern, particularly in Europe and the United States. Other bee species, ones that are particularly important in other regions of the world, remain the object of little concern (unjustifiably so). Furthermore, the continuous focus on neonicotinoids is also in need of revision, as the current evidence suggests that a broad spectrum of compounds deserve attention. Here we address both shortcomings. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

A novel use of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) as inoculative agent of baculoviruses

Background

Alphabaculoviruses are Lepidoptera-specific virulent pathogens that infect numerous pests, including the Spodoptera complex. Due to their low environmental persistence, the traditional use of Alphabaculoviruses as bioinsecticides consist in high-rate spray applications with repeated treatments. Several abiotic and biotic factors can foster its dispersion, promoting their persistence in the agroecosystem. Amongst biotic factors, predatory arthropods can disperse the viruses by excretion after preying on infected individuals. Therefore, this study focused on promoting predator's ingestion of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV)-treated diets, and the later exposition of the insect host to leaf surfaces contaminated with predator excreta. The virus–host–predator system studied was Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter). The infective potential of N. tenuis feces and the retention time of SpliNPV were assessed under laboratory conditions after feeding on treated diets (sucrose solution and Ephestia kuehniella eggs).

Results

Mortality of S. littoralis larvae was lower via N. tenuis excretion than in positive control (spray application) in the first infection cycle, together with a delay in host death. In the second infection cycle, both SpliNPV-treated diets triggered 100% mortality. Both diets allowed the transmission of SpliNPV, with a faster excretion via sucrose solution compared to E. kuehniella eggs. SpliNPV remained in N. tenuis digestive tract and was viable after excretion at least for 9 days for both diets.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the potential of the predator N. tenuis as inoculative agent of baculoviruses, representing a new alternative that, along with inundative applications, might contribute to improve pest management strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

BIOINSECTICIDES AS FUTURE MAINSTREAM PEST CONTROL AGENTS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

•Wide use of botanical insecticides is limited by the availability of certain plants. •Studies are needed to improve RNAi efficiency and to assess their safety risk. •Microbial insecticides are promising, but they only control a narrow range of pests. •Multitarget approach should be a promising strategy in future pest control. •Nanoformulation could enhance stability and control the release of bioinsecticides. Bioinsecticides are naturally-occurring substances from different sources that control insect pests. Ideal bioinsecticides should have low toxicity to non-target organisms. They should also be easily degraded in sewage treatment works and natural environments, highly effective in small quantities and affect target pests only. Public concerns about possible side-effects of synthetic pesticides have accelerated bioinsecticide research and development. However, to develop bioinsecticides into mainstream products, their high production costs, short shelf-life and often uncertain modes of action need to be considered. This review summarizes current progress on bioinsecticides which are categorized as biochemical insecticides and their derivatives, plant-incorporated protectants, and microbial bioinsecticides. The current constraints that prevent bioinsecticides from being widely used are discussed and future research directions are proposed.