Pressurização da calda de pulverização na viabilidade de microrganismos entomopatogênicos

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

Evaluation of Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as parasitoid of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae).

Lepidopteran pests have occurred in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil since 1948, reaching high population levels, reducing tree growth and causing considerable losses in wood production. The control of defoliating caterpillars in eucalyptus forests is complex, mainly due to the large extent of forest plantations and tree height, necessitating the aerial application of chemical or biological insecticides. Due to this complexity, alternative control methods have been proposed, for instance biological control through the use of parasitoids. Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 is a gregarious pupal parasitoid that preferentially attacks species of the order Lepidoptera. This is the first report of T. diatraeae parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus Hewitson in Brazil. This parasitoid offers new perspectives for the biological control programmes of this species in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.

New record of Trichospilus diatraeae Margabandhu & Cherian, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Brazil

This is the first report of Trichospilus diatracae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) found in the field, parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliating Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Brazil. This offers a new perspectives for the use of this parasitoid in biological control programs against caterpillars of forestry importance.

Novo registro de Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), como parasitóide de Spodoptera cosmioides Walker, 1858 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) no Brasil

Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)é uma espécie polífaga e alimenta-se de grande número de plantas cultivadas e espontâneas. No Brasil, as culturas do abacaxi, algodoeiro, arroz, berinjela, cebola, eucalipto, pimentão e tomateiro, entre outras hortaliças, são consideradas hospedeiras da praga. Entretanto, apesar da ampla gama de hospedeiros, sua ocorrência como praga é relatada relacionada a desequilíbrios provocados pelo uso excessivo de inseticidas de amplo espectro, o que vem causando a resistência da praga a inseticidas. Devido a essa complexidade, métodos alternativos de controle têm sido propostos, por exemplo, o controle biológico através da utilização de parasitóides. Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenptera: Eulophidae) é um parasitóide gregário pupal preferencialmente de espécies da ordem Lepidoptera. Este é o primeiro relato de T. diatraeae parasitando pupas de S. cosmioides, parasitóide que oferece novas perspectivas para os programas de controle biológico.

Controle da pinta preta dos frutos cítricos em cultivo orgânico com agentes de biocontrole e produtos alternativos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Trichospilus Diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), un nuevo parasitoide de Hypsipyla Grandella (Zeller, 1848) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Primer reporte de Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitando pupas de lagarta Hypsipyla grandella, principal plaga forestal en América Latina y el Caribe, abriendo nuevas perspectivas para la utilización de este parasitoide en programas de control biológico de lagartas de importancia forestal.

Differences in the number of hemocytes in the snail host Biomphalaria tenagophila, resistant and susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hirsch's index: a case study conducted at the Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo

An analysis of scientific bibliographic productivity using the Hirsch h-index, information from the Institute of Scientific Information database and the Curriculum Lattes (CNPq, Brazil) was performed at the Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP) that has four departments in natural, biological and social sciences. Bibliometric evaluations of undergraduate programs showed a better performance of the departments of Chemistry (P < 0.001) and Biology (P < 0.001) when compared to the departments of Physics and Mathematics and Psychology and Education. We also analyzed the scientific output of the six graduate programs of FFCLRP: Psychology, Psychobiology, Chemistry, Physics Applied to Medicine and Biology, Comparative Biology, and Entomology. The graduate program in Psychology presented a lower h-index (P < 0.001) and had fewer papers indexed by the ISI web of science (P < 0.001) when compared to the other graduate programs. The poorer performance of the Psychology program may be associated with the limited coverage by the Thompson Institute of Scientific Information database.

Composição da artropodofauna entomófoga associada a diferentes genótipos de sorgo granífero no cerrado do Sudeste do Brasil

Espécies de artrópodos entomófagos foram coletadas e identificadas nos genótipos sorgo AF-28, IAC-83/75-5-1-6, TX-2536, BR-300, IPA-201 e SAR, no Município de Selvíria, MS. Foram conduzidos três experimentos em campo, com os genótipos sendo semeados em 03/1988, 10/1988 e 02/1989, respectivamente. Para contagem dos artrópodos entomófagos, no início do florescimento foram marcadas 560 panículas por genótipo. Após esse momento, diariamente e durante 14 dias seguidos, foram coletadas 40 panículas por genótipo (10 por parcela). Nas coletas foram utilizados sacos plásticos com 10 litros de capacidade para envolver as panículas e capturar os artrópodos presentes. As panículas coletadas foram levadas para o Laboratório de Entomologia da Faculdade de Engenharia/UNESP, Campus de Ilha Solteira, SP, para separação, contagem e identificação dos artrópodos. Nas panículas provenientes da semeadura da seca coletou-se, em média, maior número de artrópodos entomófagos em relação à semeadura das águas. Dos artrópodos entomófagos coletados, as aranhas apresentaram maior número de espécies e, desses, a tecelã Alpaida veniliae (Keys.), a aranha corredora noturna Cheiracanthium inclusum (Blackwall), e a caçadora de emboscada, Misumenops pallidus (Keys.), foram as mais abundantes. O genótipo de sorgo IPA-201 comportou-se como o mais atrativo ao percevejo Orius sp. e à tesourinha Doru lineare (Eschs.), enquanto que o IAC-83/75-5-1-6 foi medianamente atrativo a D. lineare. As aranhas foram coletadas em maior número nos genótipos BR-300 e SART.

Estratégias de Produção in vitro de Bioinseticida Viral: influências do Isolado, da Cinética e do Modo de operação

Societal concerns about environmental sustainability has lead to the development of ecologically-friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides for crop protection. One such alternative is biological pest control. In particular, baculoviruses are well suited as insect biopesticides due to their narrow host specificity and relative ease of propagation. In Brazil, the baculovirus Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is the main biological control agent employed for the soybean pest, Anticarsia gemmatalis. This baculovirus biopesticide is currently produced using caterpillars, but increasing market demand for the product has encouraged the development of an in vitro manufacturing process, which can be scaled up to much higher virus productivities. In this study, three wild-type AgMNPV isolates (AgMNPV-2D, AgMNPV-MP2 and AgMNPV-MP5) and a recombinant form (vAgEGT-LacZ) were characterised in terms of occlusion body (OB) production and infection kinetics, to enable future optimisation of the in vitro production process. These viruses were propagated using a Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF21) insect cell line grown in shaker-flask batch cultures. Among the virus isolates tested, AgMNPV-MP5 was found to be the best producer, yielding (5.3±0.85)x108 OB/mL after 8 days post infection. The characterisation of vAgEGT-LacZ propagation in suspension cell cultures has not been previously reported in the literature; hence it became the main focus for this thesis. In particular, it was carried out a study on the effect of the multiplicity of infection (MOI) on OB production. Five successive batches were performed getting a final production (8.9±1.42)x1014 occlusion bodies, considering that production is related for a bioreactor with final volume of 10m3. A low MOI associated with a fed-batch process for vAgEGT-LacZ production was found to support a 3-fold higher OB yield when compared to the default batch process (1.8x107 and 5.3x107 OB/mL, respectively). This yield is competitive with regards to the production process.

ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY of STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE APPLIED TO AEDES AEGYPTI

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

Possible causes of spatial variability in Diatraea saccharalis Fabr. (Lep., Crambidae) and its parasitoid populations in sugarcane fields in Brazil

Based on the large data set stored in some sugarcane mills regarding the biological control programme of Diatraea saccharalis using the parasitoids Cotesia flavipes and tachinid flies, the aim of the present study was to determine whether sugarcane varieties, number of cuts and plant ages are major determinants in promoting spatial variability in D. saccharalis, C. flavipes and tachinid fly populations in sugarcane fields in the state of São Paulo (Brazil). The data set used to support this study was provided by the Sao Joao and Barra sugarcane mills. Coefficient of variation was adopted as a measure of the spatial variability of population density. Spatial variability was estimated for the total density of D. saecharalis (parasitized + unparasitized larvae), and also for D. saccharalis larvae parasitized by tachinids and by C. flavipes. Statistical analysis revealed that the spatial variation in D. saccharalis populations was influenced by the number of cuts and by plant ages in the Barra and Sao Joao Mills, respectively. Similar results were obtained for D. saccharalis larvae parasitized by tachinids; however, in the Sao Joao Mill, the spatial variability of these populations was also influenced by the different number of varieties. Finally, considering D. saccharalis larvae parasitized by C. flavipes, no significant regressions with any of the three categories were observed for both sugarcane mills. The multitrophic implications for this agricultural system are also discussed.

Efficacy of Duddingtonia flagrans and Arthrobotrys robusta in controlling sheep parasitic gastroenteritis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Capacidade reprodutiva de fêmeas de Apanteles galleriae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) em lagartas de Galleria mellonella e Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) criadas com dietas diferentes

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

Thermal requirements for the embryonic development of Periplaneta americana (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) with potential application in mass-rearing of egg parasitoids

The embryonic development of oothecae of Periplaneta americana was evaluated under four different constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees C and also at different exposure times at <5 degrees C. Their suitability as hosts after the treatment for the parasitoids Evania appendigaster and Aprostocetus hagenowii was also assessed. Temperatures of 5, 10, 15, and 35 degrees C adversely affected the development of the cockroaches, and exposure times to <5 degrees C longer than 5 days sufficed to kill all the embryos in the oothecae. The lower thermal threshold for complete development of P. americana was estimated to be 6.8 degrees C, with a required total amount of 900.9 degree-days. Cold-killed oothecae were still fit for the development of parasitoids. Parasitism rates of A hagenowii were higher than those of E appendigaster, although with lower emergence rates. Our results can be useful in aiding mass-rearing of these parasitoids for biological control programmes of A americana, and may help forecast the time of emergence of nymphs of American cockroaches in infested areas. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.