Colonization of rice and Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae by genetically modified endophytic Methylobacterium mesophilicum

The colonization of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith larvae and rice seedlings by genetically modified endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium mesophilicum, and also the possible transfer of this bacterium to inside the larva's body during seedlings consumption were studied. The data obtained by bacterial reisolation and fluorescence microscopy showed that the bacterium colonized the rice seedlings, the larva's body and that the endophytic bacteria present in seedlings could be acquired by the larvae. In that way, the transference of endophytic bacterium from plants to insect can be a new and important strategy to insect control using engineered microorganisms.

Histopatologia da interação de Bacillus thuringiensis e extratos vegetais no intestino médio de Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) / Histopathology of the interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis and plant extracts in the midgut of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Plantas são fontes naturais de substâncias inseticidas, já que podem ser produzidas pelo vegetal em resposta a ataques de insetos podendo representar uma alternativa no manejo de insetos-praga, como Spodoptera frugiperda. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho objetivou a análise histopatológica do intestino médio de lagartas de S. frugiperda, após a ingestão dos extratos obtidos por maceração e infusão de Petiveria alliacea. Zingiber officinale. Cymbopogon citratus. Malva silvestris. Baccharis genistelloides e Ruta graveolens, assim como a associação desses extratos com Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai. As lagartas foram tratadas in vivo com cada extrato e a bactéria, mais a associação desses extratos com B. thuringiensis e após, uma reação de cinética entre 3 e 27 horas, foram fixadas para o preparo de cortes histológicos, os quais foram corados e analisados comparativamente às testemunhas em microscopia óptica. Os resultados mostraram mudanças na histologia do intestino médio das lagartas de S. frugiperda, 3 horas após a aplicação dos tratamentos à base de alliacea. Z. officinale. C. citratus e M. silvestris, enquanto que para B. genistelloides e R. graveolens só foram observados alterações após 6h. Na interação dos extratos com B. thuringiensis observou-se alterações nas microvilosidades, desorganização do intestino médio e a hipertrofia das células epiteliais que projetaram-se para o lúmen. Os resultados desse trabalho mostram que o efeito histopatológico de Z. officinale. M. silvestris. R. graveolens e B. genistelloides, foram mais ativos quando comparados aos extratos de P. alliacea e C. citratus, os quais apresentaram uma interação positiva com B. thuringiensis.

The natural insecticidal substances produced by plants in response to insect attack may represent an alternative for the management of pest insects such as Spodoptera frugiperda. This study was therefore aimed to histopathologically analyze the midgut of larvae of S. frugiperda, after ingestion of extracts obtained by maceration and infusion of Petiveria alliacea. Zingiber officinale. Cymbopogon citratus. Malva silvestris. Baccharis genistelloides and Ruta graveolens, and the association of these extracts with Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai. The larvae were treated in vivo with each extract, B. thuringiensis, and the combination of these extracts with the bacteria, and after a reaction kinetics of between 3 to 27 hours they were fixed for the preparation of histological sections, which were stained and analyzed in comparison to the controls with light microscopy. The results showed changes in the histology of the midgut of the larvae of S. frugiperda, 3 hours after application of treatments based on P. alliacea. Z. officinale. C. citratus and M. silvestris, while for B. genistelloides and R. graveolens changes were observed only after 6h. In the interaction of extracts with B. thuringiensis the analysis revealed changes in microvilli, disorganization of the midgut and hypertrophy of epithelial cells that projected into the lumen. The findings show that the histopathological effects of Z. officinale. M. silvestris. R. graveolens and B. genistelloides were more active when compared to extracts of P. alliacea and C. citratus, which showed a positive interaction with B. thuringiensis.