Research Trends, Biases, and Gaps in Phytochemicals as Insecticides: Literature Survey and Meta-Analysis.

A 76-year literature survey and meta-analyses were carried out to recognize the trends, biases, and knowledge gaps of studies focusing on major groups of compounds of botanical origin, or phytochemicals, as insecticides. The survey found that the main phytochemicals prospected as insecticides belong to the following major chemical groups: terpenoids, terpenes, and carbonyl, all of which were tested, mainly against beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars (i.e., larvae of Lepidoptera), and mosquitoes and other flies (i.e., Diptera). These studies are burgeoning at an exponential rate, with an evident focus on mortality endpoint estimates, but they are also neglecting sublethal assessments. China and India in Asia, as well as Brazil in the Americas, were responsible for most studies. The majority of the papers used stored grain insects as experimental models, which limits the applicability and representativeness of the findings. As a result, the main modes of exposure tested were fumigation and contact, which leads to the prevalence of estimates of lethal concentration in these studies. Therefore, a broader range of insect species deserves testing, with suitable modes of exposure identifying and characterizing the main molecules responsible for the insecticidal activity, which is seldom performed. Attention to these needs will circumvent current biases and allow the recognition of the main patterns of association between the origin and structure of phytochemicals and their insecticidal effects.

Whitefly-tolerant transgenic common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) line.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a staple food in Brazil with both nutritional and socioeconomic importance. As an orphan crop, it has not received as much research attention as the commodity crops. Crop losses are strongly related to virus diseases transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, one of the most important agricultural pests in the world. The main method of managing whitefly-transmitted viruses has been the application of insecticides to reduce vector populations. Compared to chemical vector control, a more sustainable strategy for managing insect-borne viruses is the development of resistant/tolerant cultivars. RNA interference has been applied to develop plant lines resistant to the whitefly in other species, such as tomato, lettuce and tobacco. Still, no whitefly-resistant plant has been made commercially available to date. Common bean is a recalcitrant species to in vitro regeneration; therefore, stable genetic transformation of this plant has been achieved only at low frequencies (<1%) using particle bombardment. In the present work, two transgenic common bean lines were obtained with an intron-hairpin construct to induce post-transcriptional gene silencing against the B. tabaci vATPase (Bt-vATPase) gene, with stable expression of siRNA. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of bands of expected size for siRNA in leaf samples of the line Bt-22.5, while in the other line (11.5), the amount of siRNA produced was significantly smaller. Bioassays were conducted with both lines, but only the line Bt-22.5 was associated with significant mortality of adult insects (97% when insects were fed on detached leaves and 59% on the whole plant). The expression of the Bt-vATPase gene was 50% lower (p < 0.05) in insects that fed on the transgenic line Bt-22.5, when compared to non-transgenic controls. The transgenic line did not affect the virus transmission ability of the insects. Moreover, no effect was observed on the reproduction of non-target organisms, such as the black aphid Aphis craccivora, the leafminer Liriomyza sp. and the whitefly parasitoid Encarsia formosa. The results presented here serve as a basis for the development of whitefly-tolerant transgenic elite common bean cultivars, with potential to contribute to the management of the whitefly and virus diseases.

Rethinking biorational insecticides for pest management: unintended effects and consequences.

Biorational insecticides are composed of natural products, including animals, plants, microbes, and minerals, or are their derivates. The use of biorational products for the management of insect pests has grown intensively in recent years, which has increased their popularity and share on the insecticide global market. Much of these recent increases in the use of biorational insecticides has been derived from the generalized perception that conventional insecticides have undesirable ecological and human health impacts. However, the idea of simply replacing synthetic compounds with biorational insecticides without considering their potential unintended effects can mislead their use and reduce the market life of such pest management tools. A systematic literature survey encompassing over 15 000 scientific manuscripts published between 1945 and 2019 reinforces the bias of focusing on studying the targeted effects while overlooking the potential detrimental effects of biorational products on human health and the environment (e.g. death and negative sublethal effects on pollinators and beneficial arthropods such as parasitoids and predators). Thus, the risks associated with biorational compounds (e.g. control failures, the evolution of resistance, shift in dominance, and outbreaks of secondary or primary pests) need to be revisited and the outcomes of such inquiry could be decisive for their future use in pest management programs. The shortcomings of regulatory processes, knowledge gaps, and the outlook for the use of the biorational products in pest management are discussed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Silica Nanoparticles for Insect Pest Control.

To date, control strategies used against insect pest species are based on synthetic insecticide applications. In addition, the efficacy of these treatments could be decreased due to insecticide resistance in insect populations. Also, the irrational use of chemical control strategies has negative consequences of non-target organisms and threatening human health. Designing nanomaterial for pest insect control is a promising alternative to traditional insecticide formulations. In particular, it has been proven that silica nanoparticles have the potential for molecules delivery, release control improvement and also their toxicity as insecticide alone. In this work, we summarized the state of knowledge on silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) used in pest insect management. Besides, aspects of their synthesis, mode of action, and toxic effects on non-target organisms and environment are reviewed.

Seasonal dynamics and management of whitefly ( Bemesia tabaci Genn.) in tomato ( Solanum esculentum Mill.)

ABSTRACT Studies on seasonal dynamics of white fly (Bemesia tabaci) on tomato (Solanum esculentum var. Pusa Ruby) revealed that it appeared first during the 13th and reached maximum during 21st standard meteorological week. A positive correlation between adult population and abiotic factors viz. temperature (maximum and minimum) and sunshine hours was observed, whereas humidity (maximum and minimum) and rainfall showed a negative correlation with it. Taken together, the key weather parameters studied, caused 89.00 per cent variation in whitefly population (R2 value). Combination of carbofuran (soil application) + imidacloprid (seed treatment ) + imidacloprid (foliar application) proved significantly superior and caused maximum reduction in whitefly population followed by imidacloprid (seed treatment) + thiomethoxam (spray), imidacloprid (seed treatment) + imidacloprid (spray), imidacloprid (seed treatment) + dimetheoate (spray), carbofuran (soil application) + malathion (spray), and imidacloprid (seed treatment) + yellow sticky traps. The highest cost benefit ratio of 1:25.04 was recorded in case of carbofuran (soil application) + imidacloprid (seed treatment ) + imidacloprid (foliar application) followed by 1:22.38 for imidacloprid (seed treatment) + thiomethoxam (spray) ; 1:21.81 for imidacloprid (seed treatment) + imidacloprid (spray); 1:19.27 imidacloprid (seed treatment) + dimetheoate (spray); 1:19.48 carbofuran (soil application) + malathion (spray), and 1:8.33 for imidacloprid (seed treatment) + yellow sticky traps. The soil application of carbofuran + seed treatment with imidacloprid and three foliar sprays of imidacloprid at fortnight interval starting 40 days after transplanting is found effective and is advised for whitefly management in susceptible tomato cultivars.

Tetracycline-suppressible female lethality and sterility in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens.

The sterile insect technique (SIT) involves the mass release of sterile males to suppress insect pest populations. SIT has been improved for larval pests by the development of strains for female-specific tetracycline-suppressible (Tet-off) embryonic lethal systems for male-only populations. Here we describe the extension of this approach to the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, using a Tet-off driver construct with the Tet-transactivator (tTA) under embryo-specific Anastrepha suspensa serendipity α (As-sry-α) promoter regulation. In the absence of tetracycline, tTA acts upon a Tet-response element linked to the pro-apoptotic cell death gene lethal effector, head involuation defective (hid), from A. ludens (Alhid(Ala2) ) that contains a sex-specific intron splicing cassette, resulting in female-specific expression of the lethal effector. Parental adults double-homozygous for the driver/effector vectors were expected to yield male-only progeny when reared on Tet-free diet, but a complete lack of oviposited eggs resulted for each of the three strains tested. Ovary dissection revealed nonvitellogenic oocytes in all strains that was reversible by feeding females tetracycline for 5 days after eclosion, resulting in male-only adults in one strain. Presumably the sry-α promoter exhibits prezygotic maternal expression as well as zygotic embryonic expression in A. ludens, resulting in a Tet-off sterility effect in addition to female-specific lethality.

Bioactivity of six plant extracts on adults of Demotispa neivai (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Demotispa neivai Bondar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) damage oil palm fruits, which makes it necessary to develop products to control this insect. The mortality, repellency, and antifeeding effects on adults of D. neivai of six plant extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Sapindales: Meliaceae), Ricinus communis (L.) (Malpighiaes: Euphorbiaceae), Citrus sinensis Oesbek (Sapindales: Rutaceae), Nicotiana tabacum (L.) (Slanales: Solanaceae), Capsicum annuum (L.) (Solanales: Solanaceae), and Artemisia absinthium (L.) (Asterales: Asteraceae) were determined: 1) the lethal concentration LC50-90, lethal time of D. neivai was evaluated after spraying the fruits of oil palm; 2) repellent effects of each ingredient were evaluated by calculating the index of repellency; 3) antifeeding effects with the rate of inhibition calculated between doses of 20 and 24 g/liter. The mortality of D. neivai was higher with the extracts Ci. sinensis, R. communis, N. tabacum, and Ca. annuum. The mortality of D. neivai increased in the first 72 hr in all treatments. The extracts of N. tabacum, Ca. annuum, and A. indica were more repellent to D. neivai that those of Ci. sinensis, Ar. Absinthium, and R. communis. Antifeeding effect was higher with Ci. sinensis and R. communis. The increased mortality of D. neivai by Ci. sinensis can be explained by the effect of this compound on the respiratory system of insects. Extracts of Ci. sinensis, R. communis, N. tabacum, and Ca. annuum repelled and caused mortality of D. neivai and, thus, can be used in integrate pest management programs of this pest in oil palm plantations.

Use of by-products rich in carbon and nitrogen as a nutrient source to produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner)-based biopesticide / Produção de biopesticida à base de Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) usando meios alternativos ricos em carbono e nitrogênio como fontes de nutrientes

The amount and sources of carbon and nitrogen used to produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner)-based biopesticide may infl uence the quality of the fi nal product. The objective of this research was to test different levels of carbon and nitrogen: medium 1 - 1.5% maize glucose + 0.5% soy fl our,medium 2 - 3.0% maize glucose + 1.0% soy fl our, medium 3 - 1.0% maize glucose + 3.0% soy fl our and medium 4 - Luria Bertani (LB) + salts (FeSO4, ZnSO4, MnSO4, MgSO4). The seed culture was produced in LB medium plus salt, under agitation (200 rpm) for 18h at 30oC. The strain 344 of Bt wasused (B. thuringiensis var tolworthi – belonging to the Embrapa´s Bt Bank). The pH was measured at regular intervals. and After culturing for 96h, the pH of the four tested media was basifi ed (6.91 and 8.15), the number of spores yielded 4.39 x 109 spores/ml in medium 3, where the amount of proteinis high. The dry biomass weight accumulated in media 3 was 39.3 g/l. Mortality of 2-day-old larvae Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) was 100% when using Bt produced in media 3 and 4. CL50 for medium 3 was 8.4 x 106 spores/ml. All tested media were satisfactory to Bt growth, and medium 3wass the most promising to be used on a large scale Bt-based biopesticide production.

A quantidade de carbono e nitrogênio usados para produzir biopesticidas à base de Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) pode infl uenciar a qualidade fi nal do produto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar meios com diferentes níveis de carbono e nitrogênio: meio 1 - glicose de milho a 1.5% + farinha de soja a 0,5%, meio 2 - glicose de milho a 3,0% + farinha de soja a 1,0%, meio 3 - glicose de milho a 1,0% + farinha de soja a 3,0% e meio 4 - Luria Bertani (LB) + sais (FeSO4, ZnSO4, MnSO4 e MgSO4). O inóculo semente foi produzido usando 150 ml de meio LB mais sais incubados por 18h a 30oC, sob agitação de 200 rpm. A cepa utilizada foi 344 (B. thuringiensis var tolworthi – pertencente ao Banco de Microorganismos da Embrapa). O pH foi medido a intervalos regulares. Após 96h de cultivo, o pH de todos os meios testados tenderam ao básico (entre 6,91 e 8,15), o maior número de esporos foi de 4,39 x 109 sporos/ml no meio 3, onde o teor de proteína usado foi o mais alto. A produção de massa celular foi maior no meio 3, com total acumulado de 39,3 g/l. A mortalidade de larvas de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) de dois dias de idade nos meios 3 e 4 foi de 100%. A CL50 para o meio 3 foi de 8,4 x 106 esporos/ml. Os meios alternativos usados promoveram crescimento satisfatório de Bt, sendo o meio 3 o mais promissor para ser usadona produção de biopesticida à base de Bt.

Ação de produtos fitossanitários utilizados em cafeeiros sobre pupas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

It was evaluated the action of the pesticides endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, betacyfluthrin, sulphur, azocyclotin and copper oxychloride to pupae and adults of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen)(Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The bioassays were carried out in the Entomology Department of the Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, MG, Brazil. The treatments in g i.a.L-1 of water, were: 1 - endosulfan (Thiodan 350 CE - 1.75), 2 - chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 480 CE - 1.2), 3 - betacyfluthrin (Turbo 50 CE - 0.013), 4 - sulphur (Kumulus 800 PM - 4.0), 5 - azocyclotin (Peropal 250 PM - 0.31), 6 - copper oxychloride (Cuprogarb 500 PM - 5.0) and 7 - control (water). The sprayings were accomplished directly on pupae and adults of green lacewing, using a Potter's tower. The pupae were placed in glass tubes and the adults in PVC cages and maintained in climatic chambers at 25 ± 2°C, RH of 70 ± 10% and 12-hour photophase. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven treatments and ten replicates. Each plot was made up by either four pupae or one couple of C. externa. The pesticides were classified according recommendations of the IOBC. Chlorpyrifos was classified in the class 2 = slightly harmful (30£E£79%) for pupae, and the all the other products were selective and classified in the class 1 = harmless (E 30%). To adults, chlorpyrifos was toxic, being classified in class 4 = harmful (E>99%) and betacyfluthrin in class 3 = moderately harmful (80£E£99%). Endosulfan, sulphur, azocyclotin and copper oxychloride were harmless to adults, being classified in class 1. The pesticides endosulfan, azocyclotin, sulphur and copper oxychloride can be recommended in coffee pest management programs in association with C. externa, based in the reduced toxicity presented in these products for this predator.

Avaliou-se a ação de produtos fitossanitários usados em cafeeiros sobre pupas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Os bioensaios foram conduzidos no Departamento de Entomologia da Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil. Os tratamentos avaliados, em g i.a.L-1 de água, foram: 1- endosulfan (Thiodan 350 CE - 1,75), 2- chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 480 CE -1,2), 3- betacyfluthrin (Turbo 50 CE - 0,013), 4- enxofre (Kumulus 800 PM - 4,0), 5- azocyclotin (Peropal 250 PM - 0,31), 6- oxicloreto de cobre (Cuprogarb 500 PM - 5,0) e 7- Testemunha (água). As pulverizações foram realizadas diretamente sobre pupas e adultos do crisopídeo por meio de torre de Potter. As pupas foram colocadas em tubos de vidro e os adultos em gaiolas de PVC, e mantidos em sala climatizada a 25 ± 2°C, UR de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 12 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com sete tratamentos e dez repetições, sendo cada parcela formada por quatro pupas ou um casal de C. externa. Os produtos foram distribuídos nas quatro classes de toxicidade conforme escala estabelecida pela IOBC. O chlorpyrifos mostrou-se levemente nocivo para pupas (classe 2, 30£E£79%), e os demais produtos foram inócuos (classe 1, E 30%). O endosulfan, enxofre, azocyclotin e oxicloreto de cobre foram inócuos em adultos, enquanto o betacyfluthrin foi moderadamente nocivo (classe 3, 80£E£99%) e o chlorpyrifos foi nocivo (classe 4, E>99%). Os produtos testados à base de endosulfan, enxofre, azocyclotin e oxicloreto de cobre podem ser recomendados em programas de manejo de pragas do cafeeiro em associação com C. externa, em função da baixa toxidade apresentada por esses compostos ao predador.

Ação de produtos fitossanitários utilizados em cafeeiros sobre pupas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

It was evaluated the action of the pesticides endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, betacyfluthrin, sulphur, azocyclotin and copper oxychloride to pupae and adults of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen)(Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The bioassays were carried out in the Entomology Department of the Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, MG, Brazil. The treatments in g i.a.L-1 of water, were: 1 - endosulfan (Thiodan 350 CE - 1.75), 2 - chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 480 CE - 1.2), 3 - betacyfluthrin (Turbo 50 CE - 0.013), 4 - sulphur (Kumulus 800 PM - 4.0), 5 - azocyclotin (Peropal 250 PM - 0.31), 6 - copper oxychloride (Cuprogarb 500 PM - 5.0) and 7 - control (water). The sprayings were accomplished directly on pupae and adults of green lacewing, using a Potter's tower. The pupae were placed in glass tubes and the adults in PVC cages and maintained in climatic chambers at 25 ± 2°C, RH of 70 ± 10% and 12-hour photophase. The experimental design was completely randomized, with seven treatments and ten replicates. Each plot was made up by either four pupae or one couple of C. externa. The pesticides were classified according recommendations of the IOBC. Chlorpyrifos was classified in the class 2 = slightly harmful (30£E£79%) for pupae, and the all the other products were selective and classified in the class 1 = harmless (E 30%). To adults, chlorpyrifos was toxic, being classified in class 4 = harmful (E>99%) and betacyfluthrin in class 3 = moderately harmful (80£E£99%). Endosulfan, sulphur, azocyclotin and copper oxychloride were harmless to adults, being classified in class 1. The pesticides endosulfan, azocyclotin, sulphur and copper oxychloride can be recommended in coffee pest management programs in association with C. externa, based in the reduced toxicity presented in these products for this predator.

Avaliou-se a ação de produtos fitossanitários usados em cafeeiros sobre pupas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Os bioensaios foram conduzidos no Departamento de Entomologia da Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, MG, Brasil. Os tratamentos avaliados, em g i.a.L-1 de água, foram: 1- endosulfan (Thiodan 350 CE - 1,75), 2- chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 480 CE -1,2), 3- betacyfluthrin (Turbo 50 CE - 0,013), 4- enxofre (Kumulus 800 PM - 4,0), 5- azocyclotin (Peropal 250 PM - 0,31), 6- oxicloreto de cobre (Cuprogarb 500 PM - 5,0) e 7- Testemunha (água). As pulverizações foram realizadas diretamente sobre pupas e adultos do crisopídeo por meio de torre de Potter. As pupas foram colocadas em tubos de vidro e os adultos em gaiolas de PVC, e mantidos em sala climatizada a 25 ± 2°C, UR de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 12 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com sete tratamentos e dez repetições, sendo cada parcela formada por quatro pupas ou um casal de C. externa. Os produtos foram distribuídos nas quatro classes de toxicidade conforme escala estabelecida pela IOBC. O chlorpyrifos mostrou-se levemente nocivo para pupas (classe 2, 30£E£79%), e os demais produtos foram inócuos (classe 1, E 30%). O endosulfan, enxofre, azocyclotin e oxicloreto de cobre foram inócuos em adultos, enquanto o betacyfluthrin foi moderadamente nocivo (classe 3, 80£E£99%) e o chlorpyrifos foi nocivo (classe 4, E>99%). Os produtos testados à base de endosulfan, enxofre, azocyclotin e oxicloreto de cobre podem ser recomendados em programas de manejo de pragas do cafeeiro em associação com C. externa, em função da baixa toxidade apresentada por esses compostos ao predador.