Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana commercial isolate with botanical insecticides utilized in organic crops in southern Brazil

Products based on botanical insecticides and entomopathogenic fungi have been widely used in organic farming, especially in southern Brazil. Thus, this study investigated, in vitro, the effect of aqueous extracts and commercial formulations of plants with insecticidal activity on Beauveria bassiana. The treatments comprised the botanical insecticides Neempro (azadiractin +3-tigloylazadirachtol), at the concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% (v/v), and DalNeem (neem oil emulsifiable), at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0% (v/v) (both commercial formulations of Azadirachta indica (neem)), and the aqueous extracts, at the concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% (w/v), of neem seeds, tobacco powder (Nicotiana tabacum), and catigua leaves (Trichilia clausenii). In potato, dextrose, and agar culture medium, the effects of each product on the mycelial growth and the production and viability of conidia of B. bassiana were estimated. According to the adopted compatibility index, the aqueous extracts of neem seeds and leaves catigua, depending on the concentration used, and the botanical insecticide Neempro, were classified as compatible with the entomopathogen, becoming important alternatives to integrate programmes of integrated pest management, especially in organic farming systems.

Trichogramma pretiosum parasitism of Pseudoplusia includens and Anticarsia gemmatalis eggs at different temperatures

Egg parasitism of Trichogramma pretiosum strain RV when presented with eggs of Anticarsia gemmatalis and Pseudoplusia includens was investigated at 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30 and 32 degrees C. The number of eggs parasitized per day decreased for both hosts as a function of the age of parasitoids, reaching 80% of lifetime parasitism more rapidly as temperature increased; on the 4th day at 32 degrees C and on the 12th day at 18 degrees C. The lifetime number of parasitized P. includens eggs achieved by the parasitoid maintained at 20 degrees C (44.95 +/- 3.94) differed from the results recorded at 32 degrees C (28.5 +/- 1.33). Differently, the lifetime number of A. gemmatalis parasitized eggs did not differ among the temperatures. When T. pretiosum reached 100% of lifetime parasitism, each adult female had parasitized from 28.5 +/- 1.33 to 44.95 +/- 3.94 and from 29.58 +/- 2.80 to 45.36 +/- 4.50 P. includens and A. gemmatalis eggs, respectively. Also, the longevity of these adult T. pretiosum females, for which P. includens or A. gemmatalis eggs were offered, was inversely correlated with temperature. Not only were the survival curves of those adult T. pretiosum females of type I when they were presented with eggs of A. gemmatalis but also with eggs of P. includens, i.e., there was an increase in the mortality rate with time as the temperature increased. In conclusion, T. pretiosum strain RV parasitism was impacted by temperature when on both host eggs; however, the parasitoid still exhibited high survival and, more importantly, high number of parasitized A. gemmatalis and P. includens eggs even at the extremes tested temperatures of 18 and 32 degrees C. Those results indicate that T. pretiosum strain RV might be well adapted to this studied temperature range and, thus, be potentially suitable for use in biological control programs of P. includens and A. gemmatalis in different geographical areas that fits in this range. It is important to emphasize the results here presented are from laboratory studies and, therefore, field trials still need to be carried out in the future with this strain in order to support the full development of the technology intend to use this egg parasitoid in soybean fields worldwide. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Susceptibility to deltamethrin in the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) populations in protected ornamental crops in Brazil

Knowledge of inter and intra-specific variation in the susceptibility of natural enemies to pesticides could help to better design integrated pest management strategies. The objective of this research was to evaluate the susceptibility to deltamethrin in populations of the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) populations collected from protected ornamental crops in Brazil. The susceptibility to deltamethrin was characterized against immature and adult stages of both species. The impact of this insecticide was also measured by estimating the intrinsic rate of increase (r (i)). The immature and adult stages of N. californicus were approximately 3,600 and 3,000-fold more tolerant to deltamethrin than those of P. macropilis. However, high variability in the susceptibility to this insecticide was detected among P. macropilis populations, with resistance ratios of up to 3,500-fold. The selection of deltamethrin-resistant strains of P. macropilis could be exploited in applied biological control programs.

ASSESSING Bemisia tabaci (GENN.) BIOTYPE B RESISTANCE IN SOYBEAN GENOTYPES: ANTIXENOSIS AND ANTIBIOSIS

Since it was first reported in Brazil in the 1990s, the B biotype of silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci [Genn.], Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has been recognized as an important pest in soybeans (Glycine max L.), reducing the productivity of this legume species in some areas of the country. As an alternative to chemical control, the use of resistant genotypes represents an important tool for integrated pest management (IPM). This study evaluated the performance of 10 soybean genotypes prior to whitefly infestation, by testing attractiveness and preference for oviposition in the greenhouse and antibiosis in the laboratory. In a multiple-choice test, 'IAC-17' was the least attractive to insects. In a no-choice test, 'IAC-17' was the least attractive for, egg deposition, indicating the occurrence of non-preference for oviposition on this genotype. Trichome density was positively correlated with the oviposition site and may be associated with the resistance of 'IAC-17' to infestation. The genotypes 'IAC-PL1', 'IAC-19', 'Conquista', 'IAC-24' and 'IAC-17' extended the insect's life cycle, indicating the occurrence of a small degree of antibiosis and/or non-preference for feeding.

Expression and accumulation of the two-domain odorant-binding protein AaegOBP45 in the ovaries of blood-fed Aedes aegypti

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vectors of dengue viruses. Despite global efforts to reduce the prevalence of dengue using integrated vector management strategies, innovative alternatives are necessary to help prevent virus transmission. Detailed characterizations of Ae. aegypti genes and their products provide information about the biology of mosquitoes and may serve as foundations for the design of new vector control methods. FINDINGS: We studied the Ae. aegypti gene, AAEL010714, that encodes a two-domain odorant-binding protein, AaegOBP45. The predicted gene structure and sequence were validated, although single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed. Transcriptional and translational products accumulate in the ovaries of blood fed females and are not detected or are at low abundance in other tissues. CONCLUSIONS: We validated the Ae. aegypti AAEL010714 gene sequence and characterized the expression profile of a two-domain OBP expressed in ovaries. We propose that AaegOBP45 function as a component of the mosquito eggshell.

Teaching of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness strategy in undergraduate nursing programs

Objective: To describe and analyze the teaching of the Integrated Management of hildhood Illness (IMCI) strategy on Brazilian undergraduate nursing programs. Method: Integrating an international multicentric study, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May and October 2010 with 571 undergraduate nursing programs in Brazil Results: Responses were received from 142 programs, 75% private and 25% public. 64% of them included the IMCI strategy in the theoretical content, and 50% of the programs included IMCI as part of the students’ practical experience. The locations most used for practical teaching were primary health care units. The ‘treatment’ module was taught by the fewest number of programs, and few programs had access to the IMCI instructional manuals. All programs used exams for evaluation, and private institutions were more likely to include class participation as part of the evaluation. Teaching staff in public institutions were more likely to have received training in teaching IMCI. Conclusion: In spite of the relevance of the IMCI strategy in care of the child, its content is not addressed in all undergraduate programs in Brazil, and many programs do not have access to the IMCI teaching manuals and have not provide training in IMCI to their teaching staff.