Distribuição espacial e plano de amostragem sequencial para Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood, 1837) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) na cultura de soja transgênica RR®

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Avaliação de resistência de cultivares de amendoim de hábito de crescimento rasteiro a Enneothrips flavens Moulton (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

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

Anotação de 500 ESTs da saúva Atta laevigata

Leaf-cutting ants belonging to the genus Atta occur from the tropical to subtropical regions of the Americas. These insects are considered pests because they cause serious damage in agricultural areas. Among these, stands out Atta laevigata, species which the colony requires a huge amount of leaves to grow its symbiotic fungus which is the main food source of the nest. Thus, the study of the transcriptome of these ants becomes a useful tool, because it is possible to identify proteins potentially involved with their skills as insect pests and also those related to differences between the varieties present in the nests. In the present study we described results of the partial analysis of the transcriptome of the leaf-cutting ant pest A. laevigata, from cDNA sequences previously generated in the Laboratory of Evolution and Molecular (LEM). The results may also be used for molecular, ecological, metabolic and evolutionary studies about ants, and heterologous expression of important proteins as molecular targets for the control of some leafcutting agricultural pests.

Insecticidal Effect of Extracts from Native Plants of Mato Grosso do Sul State on Sitophilus zeamais Mots (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise econômica da produção de soja rr2 pro e soja rr1: estudo de caso no Estado de Mato Grosso

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Distribuição espacial e dinâmica populacional de Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Chitin-degrading enzymes from an actinomycete ectosymbiont of Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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

Transposition burst of mariner-like elements in the sequenced genome of Rhodnius prolixus

Transposable elements (TEs) are widespread in insect´s genomes. However, there are wide differences in the proportion of the total DNA content occupied by these repetitive sequences in different species. We have analyzed the TEs present in R. prolixus (vector of the Chagas disease) and showed that 3.0% of this genome is occupied by Class II TEs, belonging mainly to the Tc1-mariner superfamily (1.65%) and MITEs (1.84%). Interestingly, most of this genomic content is due to the expansion of two subfamilies belonging to: irritans himar, a well characterized subfamily of mariners, and prolixus1, one of the two novel subfamilies here described. The high amount of sequences in these subfamilies suggests that bursts of transposition occurred during the life cycle of this family. In an attempt to characterize these elements, we performed an in silico analysis of the sequences corresponding to the DDD/E domain of the transposase gene. We performed an evolutionary analysis including network and Bayesian coalescent-based methods in order to infer the dynamics of the amplification, as well as to estimate the time of the bursts identified in these subfamilies. Given our data, we hypothesized that the TE expansions occurred around the time of speciation of R. prolixus around 1.4 mya. This suggestion lays on the Transposon Model of TE evolution, in which the members of a TE population that are replicative active are present at multiple loci in the genome, but their replicative potential varies, and of the Life Cycle Model that states that when present-day TEs have been involved in amplification bursts, they share an ancestral copy that dates back to this initial amplification.

Arranjo de semeadura da soja sobre o rendimento da cultura e da tecnologia de aplicação de produtos fitossanitários

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Novas técnicas de arranjos de semeadura na cultura da soja

Several factors induce soybean growers to seek new alternatives to increase productivity, in order to always surpass the previous harvest. In an attempt to meet this need in order to become more competitive, new technologies emerge. Currently, for example, the plantation system crossover, double row and dense, gaining media coverage and among researchers, aroused interest in research institutions. To date, there are still few studies with a scientific concrete, quantifies the real benefit of these cropping systems. The technique consists of sowing planting crossed the same area twice at right angles, forming checkerboard. In the planting row and the denser planting increases the number of plants per hectare, but the way they are arranged is what differentiates. Apparently these systems imply some issues, such as the use of inputs that the principle would double, as the plant population in the area will be changed, so possibly the incidence of insect pests and pathogens increase in these cropping systems. The purpose of this literature review is to provide updated information on technology, benefit from it, as it is being used and the research being conducted to provide scientific basis for soybean producer.

EC28-36 Spraying Tree Fruits (Revised March 1932)

The production of sound, clean fruit is unquestionably one of the major problems facing the modern fruit grower. Culture may be neglected and pruning delayed for a time but the omission of sprays for even a single season demonstrates their absolute necessity. This applies equally to the commercial grower and to the farmer or gardener who has only a few trees. Spray materials, equipment, management, schedules, insect pests and orchard diseases are discussed in this 1928 extension circular.

Um novo protocolo in silico para a predição de complexos flexíveis entre proteínas: estudo de caso para inibidores plasmáticos de fosfolipase A2 de serpentes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Feasibility of Using a Caribbean Screwworm for SIT Campaigns in Brazil

The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), remains one of the most damaging parasites of livestock in South America, causing millions of dollars in annual losses to producers. Recently, South American countries demonstrated interest in controlling this pest using the Sterile Insect Technique, and a pilot-project was conducted near the Brazil-Uruguay border in 2009. Since molecular studies have suggested the existence of C. hominivorax regional groups, crossing tests were conducted to evaluate mating competitiveness, mating preference and reproductive compatibility between a C. hominivorax strain from the Caribbean (Jamaica-06) and one from Brazil. Mating rates between Jamaican males and Brazilian females ranged between 82 and 100%, and each male inseminated from 3.3 to 3.95 females. Sterile males, regardless of the strain, competed equally against the fertile males for Brazilian females. Jamaican sterile males and Brazilian fertile males mated randomly with fertile or sterile females. No evidence of genetic incompatibility or hybrid dysgenesis was found in the hybridization crosses. Mating barriers should not compromise the use of Jamaican sterile males for Sterile Insect Technique campaigns in Brazil.

A dysflagellar mutant of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolated from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient

Background: Parasites of the Leishmania genus alternate between the flagellated extracellular promastigote stage and intracellular amastigotes. Here we report the characterization of a Leishmania isolate, obtained from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient, which presents peculiar morphological features. Methods: The parasite was cultured in vitro and characterized morphologically using optical and electron microscopy. Identification was performed based on monoclonal antibodies and internal ribosomal spacer typing. In vitro macrophage cultures, murine experimental models and sand fly infections were used to evaluate infectivity in vitro and in vivo. Results: The isolate was identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. In the atypical promastigotes grown in culture, a short flagellum surrounded or interrupted by a protuberance of disorganized material was observed. A normal axoneme was present close to the basal body but without elongation much further outside the flagellar pocket. A disorganized swelling at the precocious end of the axoneme coincided with the lack of a paraflagellar rod structure. The isolate was able to infect macrophages in vitro, induce lesions in BALB/c mice and infect Lutzomyia longipalpis. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the lack of an extracellular flagellum, this isolate infects macrophages in vitro and produces lesions when inoculated into mice. Moreover, it is able to colonize phlebotomine sand flies. Considering the importance attributed to the flagellum in the successful infection and survival of Leishmania in the insect midgut and in the invasion of macrophages, these findings may bring new light into the infectious mechanisms of L. (V.) braziliensis.

It is a matter of taste: chemical signals mediate nuptial gift acceptance in a neotropical spider

Nuptial gift offering is a courtship trait found among several insect orders and some spider families. Recent studies indicate that this gift-giving behavior in spiders represents the male mating effort acting on female receptivity through a mechanism of foraging motivation. However, little attention has been given to the sensory channels that are influencing female acceptance. To understand the role of these sensory channels in female perception of a nuptial gift, we focused on the nuptial gift of the neotropical spider Paratrechalea ornata (Araneae, Trechaleidae). The nuptial gift of this species is composed of a prey item wrapped in silk, and previous works suggest that visual and/or chemical cues may be involved in inducing female grasping behavior. We isolated sensory channels using mimetic nuptial gifts (artificial items) or by manipulating real nuptial gifts. Isolated visual signals were not responsible for female acceptance, whereas chemical signals found within the nuptial gift silk layer induced female acceptance. Our findings clearly indicate that a chemical signal located in the silk of the nuptial gift is the main attractant channel, and we formulated 2 hypotheses to explain the mechanisms of action in the female sensory system. We also discuss the consequences of such signaling over female acceptance.