A degenerate primer allows amplification of part of the 3 '-terminus of three distinct carlavirus species

Sequences of the coat protein amino acids of definitive and tentative species of carlaviruses deposited in GenBank were aligned and a region of seven amino acids (GLGVPTE) was found to be conserved. The corresponding nucleotides were aligned, allowing the design of a degenerate primer that together with an oligo dT anti-sense primer, was effective for the detection of three distinct carlavirus species, two transmitted by aphids and one by whitefly. These primers have the advantage that about 940 nt from the 3'-terminus, comprising part of the CP gene (about 60%), the 11 K gene, and the terminal untranslated region can be amplified for sequencing. The fact that this amino acid sequence is conserved in almost all of the sequenced carlaviruses, allows the prediction that this primer pair will be useful as a diagnostic tool for carlavirus species. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detection and partial characterization of a carlavirus causing stem necrosis of soybean in Brazil

No ano agrícola de 2000/2001, ocorreu um surto de nanismo e necrose da haste em soja (Glycine max) plantada em duas áreas do Brasil Central e na safra seguinte, esta anomalia foi constatada em outras regiões produtoras, mesmo distantes mais de 2.000 km de onde fora inicialmente constatada. Estudos envolvendo ensaios de transmissão (enxertia, mecânica e insetos vetores), microscopia eletrônica, purificação, sorologia e ensaios moleculares indicaram que a enfermidade foi causada por um carlavirus transmitido por mosca branca, possivelmente relacionado ao Cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV).

Ocorrência de moscas brancas (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) e do predador Delphastus pusillus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) em mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) sob cultivo em ambiente protegido

Em fevereiro e outubro de 1998, na área experimental da Fazenda de Ensino e Pesquisa da UNESP no município de Selvíria-MS (latitude 20° 22' S, longitude 51° 22' W, altitude 335 m), foi constatada a presença de mosca branca em mamoeiro cultivar Baixinho de Santa Amália, plantado no interior de um telado com malha de 2 x 2 mm. Essa área fazia parte de um experimento visando determinar o efeito do cultivo em ambiente protegido sobre o desenvolvimento das plantas, a produção de frutos e a ocorrência do mosaico do mamoeiro. Nas duas ocasiões os insetos foram enviados ao Centro de Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (CENARGEN) da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) para identificação. Na primeira infestação o material foi identificado como Trialeurodes sp. e na infestação de outubro como Bemisia tabaci biótipo B . Nos dois casos havia grande quantidade de ninfas nas folhas maduras e de adultos nas folhas novas. Para Trialeurodes sp. foi realizada uma contagem de ninfas em dezoito folhas, em cinco áreas de 1 cm² por folha, distribuídas ao acaso, encontrando-se a média de 7,6 ninfas por cm². Como conseqüência da presença das duas espécies, o único dano observado foi um intenso desenvolvimento de fumagina recobrindo completamente a superfície das folhas, que acabaram por secar e cair. A infestação de B. tabaci biótipo B foi controlada pela presença de larvas e adultos do coccinelídeo Delphastus pusillus (LeConte) que alimentavam-se vorazmente das ninfas presentes.

Efeito do cultivo do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) em ambiente protegido sobre a ocorrência de ácaros fitófagos e moscas-brancas

O efeito do cultivo do mamoeiro em ambiente protegido foi estudado em três condições: sem cobertura e em dois telados construídos com tela de propileno branca, com malhas de 2 x 2 mm e 2 x 1 mm. Nessa área foram feitas avaliações na cultivar Baixinho de Santa Amália, contando-se o número de plantas com sintomas de ataque recente, para o ácaro branco Polyphagotarsonemus latus, com sintomas e presença de ácaros, para o ácaro rajado Tetranychus urticae e com presença de adultos ou ninfas nas folhas, no caso das moscas-brancas Trialeurodes sp., Bemisia tabaci biótipo B e uma terceira espécie não identificada. Para moscas-brancas, também foram realizadas contagens de ninfas e exúvias em laboratório. O cultivo em ambiente protegido favoreceu a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento populacional das espécies estudadas, sendo que algumas possíveis causas são discutidas no texto. Considerando-se que o cultivo protegido pode ser uma boa alternativa para o controle de viroses, como o mosaico do mamoeiro, problema limitante para a cultura, estratégias de manejo de pragas nesses ambientes devem ser desenvolvidas, para viabilizar o seu uso.

Oviposition preference of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) for bean genotypes containing arcelin in the seeds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antibiosis effects of wild bean lines containing arcelin on Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

A biologia de Bemisia tabaci biótipo B (Genn.) foi avaliada em genótipos de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) que contêm arcelina em suas sementes. Foi também realizada análise bioquímica de proteínas, em sementes e em folhas dos genótipos de feijoeiro, a fim de verificar se haveria traços de arcelina nas folhas dos materiais a serem avaliados. Os testes foram conduzidos em condições de casa de vegetação, nas épocas das águas e da seca, em dois anos consecutivos, com os seguintes genótipos: ARC 3s, ARC 5s (genótipos selvagens portadores de arcelina); ARC 1, ARC 2, ARC 3, ARC 4 (linhagens quase-isogênicas portadoras de arcelina - Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA)), Porrillo 70, Bolinha e IAPAR MD 808 (genótipos sem arcelina). Os genótipos selvagens, ARC 3s e ARC 5s, apresentaram altos níveis de antibiose, com ênfase para o ARC 5s (as ninfas tiveram alta mortalidade, em torno de 90%). O prolongamento do ciclo de desenvolvimento dos insetos provenientes do genótipo ARC 5s podem sugerir uma resistência do tipo antibiose e/ou não-preferência para alimentação. A resistência dos genótipos selvagens não está relacionada com a presença de arcelina nas sementes, já que nenhum traço dessa proteína foi encontrado nas folhas destes.

Host specificity of Metriona elatior, a potential biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum, in the USA

The leaf beetle Metriona elatior from Brazil-Argentina was screened in the Florida (USA) State quarantine facility as a potential biological control agent of tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum, a recently arrived weed species. Multiple-choice host-specificity tests were conducted in small cages (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm) using 95 plant species in 29 families. Adults fed heavily on the main target weed (S. viarum), and on turkeyberry, Solanum torvum (noxious weed of Asiatic origin); fed moderately on red soda apple, Solanum capsicoides (weed of South American origin), and eggplant, Solanum melongena (economic crop); and fed lightly on aquatic soda apple, Solanum tampicense (weed of Mexican-Caribbean-Central American origin), and on silverleaf nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium (native weed widely distributed). M. elatior adults laid 84 to 97% of their egg masses on S. viarum, and 3 to 16% on S. melongena. Non-choice host-specificity tests were also conducted in quarantine in which M. elatior adults and neonate larvae were exposed to 17 and 19 plant species, respectively. Tests with the neonates indicate that this insect was able to complete its development on S. viarum, S. torvum, S. melongena, and S. capsicoides. Although some adult feeding and oviposition occurred on S. melongena in quarantine on potted plants in small cages, no feeding or oviposition by M. elatior was observed in field experiments conducted in Brazil. Surveys in unsprayed S. melongena fields in Argentina and Brazil indicated that M. elatior is not a pest of S. melongena in South America. The evidence obtained from the South-American field surveys, Brazil open-field experiments, and Florida quarantine host specificity tests indicate that M. elatior causes significant feeding damage to S. viarum, and does not represent a threat to S. melongena crops in the USA. Therefore an application for permission to release M. elatior against S. viarum in the USA was submitted in October 1998.

Efeitos dos inseticidas utilizados no controle de Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B e sua seletividade aos inimigos naturais na cultura da soja

In recent crop seasons, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype B has become a serious pest in soybean crops due to high infestations and its control difficulties. Therefore, it is important to search control alternatives in the integrated pest management approach. Thus, it was evaluated in this study the efficacy of the whitefly control using different insecticides in greenhouse conditions and their selectivity to the parasitoids Encarsia formosa, Trichogramma pretiosum and Telenomus remus. Buprofezin 150 g.a.i. ha(-1) + mineral oil 0.2% v/v and pyriproxyfen 100 g.a.i. ha(-1) were considered the best options for the whitefly management due to combine good pest control efficacy with higher selectivity to the parasitoids except Encarsia formosa for which no treatment was classified as harmless. Betacyflutrin 9.375 + imidacloprid 75 g.i.a. ha(-1) was efficient on controlling whiteflies nymphs but was not harmless to the studied natural enemies. In general, the treatments including pyretroids compounds (betacyflutrin 9.375 + imidacloprid 75 + spiromesifen 60, betacyflutrin 9.375 + imidacloprid 75 and lambda-cyhalothrin 26.5 + thiametoxan 35.25 g.a.i. ha(-1)) were the most harmful to the evaluated parasitoids and therefore it use should be avoid whenever possible.

Biologia comparada de Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West.) (Hemiptera - Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) em soja e cinco cultivares de feijão

With the development of greenhouse grown crops, the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (West.) has become an important pest. Aiming at verifying the effect of host on the development of this species, the biology of the whitefly was studied on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars IAC-Carioca Pyatã, IAPAR-57, Jalo Precoce, IAC-Bico de Ouro, IAC-Maravilha and on soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivar Cristalina. The study was conducted at the Laboratório de Entomologia Agrícola - FCA-UNESP, at 25 ± 3°C temperature, 80 ± 10% RH and 14h photophase. The biological parameters assessed were duration, viability and number of nymphal instars; male and female longevity, oviposition period, number of eggs per female and sex ratio; egg viability and incubation period and the life cycle duration. Based on data obtained, fertility life tables were constructed to allow a comparative analysis of the effect of cultivars on the biological development and consequent population growth of this species. The bean cultivars IAC-Maravilha and Jalo Precoce negatively influenced T. vaporariorum development, whereas, the other bean cultivars studied, as well as the soybean cultivar Cristalina, provided good conditions for development of this pest.

Fatores que afetam a oviposição de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) na cultura algodoeira

The objective of this work was to evaluate the oviposition behavior of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B in relation to leaf position, plant age, and adult density on cotton plants. The genotype IAC 22 was used to do the tests. In free-choice tests, 20, 30 and 40 day-old plants were used to evaluate age efects and 40 day-old plants to study egg distribution in the plant and on the leaf surface. In a no-choice test, 20 day-old plants were used to evaluate densities of 50, 100 and 150 adults per plant. The lobe areas on the leaf surface and apical leaves were preferred for whitefly egg laying and therefore more suitable for egg sampling in cotton plants. The 20 day-old plants were preferred for oviposition, and the densities of 100 and 150 adults per plant ensured the number of eggs enough to discriminate cotton genotypes with different whitefly resistance degrees.

Capacidade predatória de chrysoperla externa sobre bemisia tabaci biótipo b expostas ao fungo metarhizium anisopliae

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of Metarhizium anisopliae on the predatory capacity and functional response of Chrysoperla externa fed Bemisia tabaci B biotype rearing cotton. The stock rearings of B. tabaci B biotype and C. externa were maintained in cages according to preexisting methodologies. Upon hatching, predator larvae were fed on eggs of Ephestia küehniella until their 3rd instar and then fed on whitefly nymphs in density exceeding their intake capacity (150 nymphs/individual). The nymphs were offered on cotton leaf disks (5 cm diameter), 24 hours after the treatments application following: T1: Control (water); T2: M. anisopliae at the concentration of 105 conidia cm-3; T3: 10 8 conidia cm-3 origined from Metharril® formulation of the 109 viable conidia cm-3 M. anisopliae active principle. The predatory capacity was obtained by the difference between the numbers of nymphs supplied and nymphs left. Five different nymphal densities (130, 160, 190, 220, and 250) were selected for the functional response study. The number of nymphs preyed was recorded after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The M. anisopliae entomopathogenic fungi did not influence predatory capacity of C. externa which ranged from 70.6 individuals at the highest concentration to 87.1 in the control. Conclued that the C. externa predatory capacity was not affected by fungi M. anisopliae concentrations. The predator showed a type-II functional response after 24 hours, and a type-I response after 48, 72s, and 96 hours independent from fungi concentrations.

At least two indigenous species of the Bemisia tabaci complex are present in Brazil

Bemisia tabaci is one of the most important global agricultural insect pests, being a vector of emerging plant viruses such as begomoviruses and criniviruses that cause serious problems in many countries. Although knowledge of the genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations is important for controlling this pest and understanding viral epidemics, limited information is available on this pest in Brazil. A survey was conducted in different locations of São Paulo and Mato Grosso states, and the phylogenetic relationships of B. tabaci individuals from 43 populations sampled from different hosts were analysed based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (mtCOI) sequences. According to the recently proposed classification of the B. tabaci complex, which employs the 3.5% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold for species demarcation, most of the specimens collected were found to belong to the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 species, which includes the invasive populations of the commonly known B biotype, within the Africa/Middle East/Asia Minor high-level group. Three specimens collected from Solanun gilo and Ipomoea sp. were grouped together and could be classified in the New World species that includes the commonly known A biotype. However, six specimens collected from Euphorbia heterophylla, Xanthium cavanillesii and Glycine maxima could not be classified into any of the 28 previously proposed species, although according to the 11% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold, they belong to the New World high-level group. These specimens were classified into a new recently proposed species named New World 2 that includes populations from Argentina. Middle East-Asia Minor 1, New World and New World 2 were differentiated by RFLP analysis of the mtCOI gene using TaqI enzyme. Taq I analysis in silico also differentiates these from Mediterranean species, thus making this method a convenient tool to determine population dynamics, especially critical for monitoring the presence of this exotic pest in Brazil. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH.

Resistência de genótipos de feijoeiro ao ataque de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) Biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) e Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito de éster de sacarose sobre Bemisia tabaci biótipo B, sobre seu predador Chrysoperla externa e sobre o desenvolvimento de plantas de tomateiro e melão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Infestação e parasitismo natural de ninfas de Bemisia tabaci biótipo b (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) em soja-hortaliça e elaboração de chave de identificação de Encarsia spp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV