Mixture compatibility of Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) with pesticides used in soybean / Compatibilidade da mistura de nucleopoliedrovírus de Anticarsia gemmatalis baculovírus (AgMNPV) com agrotóxicos utilizados na soja

Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner: 1818) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is one of the main pests that affect soybean crops, causing defoliation. In the vegetative stages, defoliation occurs together with weeds, and in the reproductive stages with pathogens. In this sense, to maintain plant health, it is necessary to carry out the combined use of pesticides. Thus, this research determined the compatibility of the entomopathogenic virus AgMNPV with the main herbicides and fungicides used in soy at different times of the mixture. The artificial diet was immersed in the solutions of the pesticides and their mixtures and supplied to A. gemmatalis caterpillars, immediately and after one and two hours of mixing. The evaluation was performed by quantifying the number of dead caterpillars by mixing the AgMNPV virus with herbicides and fungicides, even after two hours of mixing if compatible. The observed scenarios showed a compatibility of the virus with the herbicides and fungicides, with mortality rates between 70 to 99% for A. gemmatalis.

Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner: 1818) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) é uma das principais pragas que acometem a cultura da soja, causando desfolha. Nos estágios vegetativos a desfolha ocorre juntamente com ervas daninhas, e no reprodutivo com patógenos. Nesse sentido, para manter a fitossanidade, é necessário realizar a utilização combinada de pesticidas. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a compatibilidade do vírus entomopatogênico AgMNPV com os principais herbicidas e fungicidas utilizados na soja em diferentes tempos de mistura. A dieta artificial foi imersa nas soluções dos pesticidas e suas misturas e fornecida às lagartas de A. gemmatalis, imediatamente e após uma e duas horas de mistura. A avaliação foi realizada quantificando o número de lagartas mortas. A mistura do vírus AgMNPV com herbicidas e fungicidas, mesmo após duas horas de mistura se mostrou compatível. Os cenários observados mostram a compatibilidade do vírus com os herbicidas e fungicidas, com percentuais de mortalidade entre 70 a 99% para A. gemmatalis.

Longevity of Apis mellifera workers fed on a diet incorporating entomopathogens / Longevidade de operárias de Apis mellifera alimentadas com dieta incorporada com entomopatógenos

The present study had the objective of evaluating the longevity of A. mellifera workers fed on a diet incorporating commercial entomopathogens, Beauveria bassiana, and Bacillus thuringiensis. It also aimed at verifying possible morphological alterations in the midgut. To this purpose, the entomopathogens used were B. bassiana (Product A) (5.0 × 1011 viable conidia.kg-1), B. thuringiensis (Product B) (2.5 × 109 viable spores.g-1), and B. thuringiensis (Product C) (1.0 × 109 viable spores.g-1); and two controls: T1: sterilized distilled water, and T2: sterilized distilled water + Tween 80® (0.01%). For the bioassays, 2 mL of each treatment were incorporated into Candy paste. For each treatment, 80 bees were individually in flat bottom glass tubes (2.5 cm Ø) covered with voile, containing a piece of cotton soaked in water and Candy paste. These tubes were stored in a B.O.D (30 ± 2°C, R.H 70% ± 10%, 12 h), and mortality was evaluated every six hours, for 10 days. Soon after verifying mortality, two bees per treatment were selected for the removal of their midgut. Midgut samples were processed using standard methodology for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was verified that products A, B, and C reduced the longevity of bees when compared to T1 and T2 controls. In the qualitative analyses carried out using SEM, it was not possible to observe external or internal morphological alterations to midgut tissues. Although products A, B, and C cause a reduction in longevity, their presence was not verified when tissues were analyzed using SEM.(AU)

No presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar a longevidade de operárias de A. mellifera alimentadas com dieta incorporada com os entomopatógenos comerciais Beauveria bassiana e Bacillus thuringiensis, e verificar possíveis alterações morfológicas em seu mesêntero. Para isso, os entomopatógenos utilizados foram B. bassiana (Produto A) (5,0 × 1011 conídios viáveis.kg-1), B. thuringiensis (Produto B) (2,5 × 109 esporos viáveis.g-1), B. thuringiensis (Produto C) (1,0 × 109 esporos viáveis.g-1); e dois controles: T1: água destilada esterilizada e T2: água destilada esterilizada + Tween 80® (0,01%). Para os bioensaios, 2 mL de cada tratamento foram incorporados à pasta Cândi. Para cada tratamento, 80 abelhas foram acondicionadas, individualmente, em tubos de vidro de fundo chato (2,5 cm Ø), cobertos com voile, contendo um pedaço de algodão embebido em água e pasta Cândi. Os tubos contendo as abelhas foram acondicionados em B.O.D (30 ± 2°C, U.R. 70% ± 10%, 12 h), e a mortalidade foi avaliada a cada seis horas, durante 10 dias. Logo após a verificação da mortalidade, foram separadas duas abelhas por tratamento para a retirada do mesêntero. Essas amostras foram processadas em metodologia padrão para Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Verificou-se que os produtos A, B e C reduziram a longevidade das abelhas quando comparados aos controles T1 e T2. Nas análises qualitativas realizadas com MEV, não foi possível observar alterações morfológicas externas ou internas nos tecidos do mesêntero. Apesar dos produtos A, B e C causarem redução na longevidade, sua presença não foi verificada quando os tecidos foram analisados por MEV.(AU)

Selectivity of different biological products to the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

ABSTRACT The selectivity of five entomopathogens and a chemical insecticide (positive control) to pupae and adults of the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Nixon) was evaluated in the laboratory under controlled environmental conditions according to protocols established by the International Organization for Biological Control. Baculovirus anticarsia (Baculovirus AEE®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Thuricide®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai (Agree®), Beauveria bassiana (Boveril®), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metarril®) and Trichoderma harzianum (Trichodermil®) are harmless to T. remus pupae, and adults. Thus, our results suggest that the insect control strategies applied here are compatible since entomopathogens were classified as harmless to T. remus in most examined cases and therefore facilitate a joint application to control different pests. Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Dipel®), despite being classified as slightly harmful in some of the evaluations, can still be considered compatible for use together with T. remus, especially when compared with chemical insecticides such as chlorpyrifos that might be considered harmful to the parasitoid survival.

Isolation, morphological and molecular characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains against Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

ABSTRACT The coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari, 1876 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is considered the most serious pest of the coffee crop and is controlled primarily with the use of chemical insecticides. An alternative to this control method is the use of the entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, 1911. Therefore, the objective of this work was to select strains of B. thuringiensis virulent against H. hampei and characterize them by morphological and molecular methods to identify possible genes for the production of genetically modified plants. To achieve this objective, 34 strains of B. thuringiensis underwent a selective bioassay to evaluate their toxicity to H. hampei first-instar larvae. Among the strains tested, 11 and the standard B. thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (IPS-82) caused mortality above 90%. Then, the median lethal concentration (LC50) was estimated for these strains followed by characterization using morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. The lowest LC50 was obtained for strain BR58, although this concentration did not differ significantly from that of the standard strain IPS-82 or from that of strains BR137, BR80 and BR67. The molecular characterization detected cry4A, cry4B, cry10, cry11 and cyt1 genes in 10 of the most virulent strains (BR58, BR137, BR80, BR81, BR147, BR135, BR146, BR138, BR139, BR140). Strain BR67 differed completely from the others and amplified only the cry3 gene. This strain was more virulent than BR135, BR146, BR138, BR139 and BR140, but it did not differ from BR58, BR137, BR80, BR81 and BR147. The protein profile revealed proteins of 28, 65, 70 and 130 kDa, and the morphological analysis identified spherical crystalline inclusions in all strains. The results showed that the 11 strains studied have potential for use as a gene source for insertion into coffee plants for the control H. hampei, especially the cry3, cry4A, cry4B, cry10, cry11 and cyt1 genes, that were repeated in the most virulent isolates.

In vitro sensitivity of antagonistic Trichoderma atroviride to herbicides

Trichoderma atroviride was tested in vitro for its sensitivity to different herbicides. The dosages tested were recommended dosage (RD), half dosage (½RD), and double dosage (2RD). Germination, colony-forming units (CFU), radial growth, and spore production were evaluated. Carfentrazone-ethyl and sulfentrazone inhibited the germination at RD and 2RD. A reduction in the CFU was observed for glufosinate-ammonium, atrazine, carfentrazone-ethyl, diuron + paraquat dichloride, imazapyr, oxyfluorfen, and sulfentrazone at each of the tested dosages. Radial growth was influenced by ametryn, atrazine, carfentrazone-ethyl, oxyfluorfen, and sulfentrazone herbicides, with an 80% reduction of the colonial area. Spore production was affected by carfentrazone-ethyl, oxyfluorfen, and sulfentrazone with colonial area reductions of over 70%. It was concluded that 2,4 D, clomazone, and imazapyr herbicides showed the least toxicity to T. atroviride and should be used in the crops where the fungus has been applied for phytopathogen control.

Associação de pós inertes com fungo entomopatogênico para o controle do cascudinho (Alphitobius diaperinus) / Association of inert powders with the entomopathogenic fungi for darkling beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus) control

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de Beauveria bassiana (Bb), da terra diatomácea (TD) e dos pós de rocha Protesyl e Rocksil, isoladamente ou em associações, para o controle de Alphitobius diaperinus. Os agentes de controle foram aplicados na forma sólida misturados à cama de frango. A concentração de conídios de Bb foi de 0,08 por cento e, para os pós inertes, as concentrações foram de 0,5; 1,0 e 1,5 por cento. Testaram-se 20 tratamentos, com cinco repetições de 200 insetos, por 10 dias. Os tratamentos que apresentaram maior eficiência foram TD 1,5 por cento e Bb 0,08 por cento + TD 1,5 por cento, com 60,2 e 57,8 por cento de mortalidade, respectivamente. Protesyl e Rocksil, nas três concentrações, e TD 0,5 por cento não diferiram da testemunha. Na interação entre os agentes de controle, ocorreu efeito aditivo para Bb + TD e Bb + Rocksil, nas três concentrações, e para Bb + Protesyl a 1,5 por cento. A eficiência do fungo foi reduzida na associação com Protesyl, com efeito não aditivo antagônico nas concentrações de 0,5 e 1,0 por cento. A terra diatomácea, isolada ou associada à B. bassiana, apresenta-se como boa alternativa para controle de A. diaperinus. Já os pós de rocha Protesyl e Rocksil não foram eficientes para o controle da praga.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) of diatomaceous earth (TD) and the dust of rock Protesyl and Rocksil, alone or in combinations, for Alphitobius diaperinus to control. The control agents were applied in dried by mixing with the poultry liter. The concentration of Bb conidia was 0.08 percent on the weight of the substrate, and for the dust inert were 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 percent. Twenty treatments with five repetitions of 200 insects were tested for 10 days. The treatments with highest efficiency were TD 1.5 percent and Bb 0.08 percent + TD 1.5 percent, with 60.2 and 57.8 percent, respectively. Protesyl and Rocksil in the three concentrations and TD 0.5 percent did not differ from control. For the interaction between control agents no advantage was observed for the association. Additive effect occurred for Bb + TD and Bb + Rocksil at the three concentrations and for Bb + Protesyl at 1.5 percent. The action of the fungus was reduced in association with Protesyl with antagonistic non-additive effect in 0.5 and 1.0 percent. Diatomaceous earth, isolated our in association with B. bassiana its a good alternative for A. diaperinus control. Just rock dust Protesyl and Rochsil were not efficient for insect control.