scholarly journals Molecular Approach for Improving the Stability of Insecticidal Nematodes

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy Gaugler ◽  
Itamar Glazer ◽  
Daniel Segal ◽  
Sarwar Hashmi
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Gene Group ◽  
Stress Genes ◽  
Overwhelming Evidence ◽  
Field Efficacy ◽  
Improved Stability ◽  
Partial Desiccation ◽  
The Stability

Our overall goal is to improve insecticidal nematodes by genetically engineering strains capable of entering an enhanced state of dormancy that provides improved stability. Objectives: 1. Clone and sequence tps-l homologue from Steinernema carpocapsae. (Revised: A failure to isolate the tps gene group from Steinernema precipitated a redirection to identifying other genes involved in insecticidal nematode desiccation process.) 2. Incorporate cloned tps-l gene into S. carpocapsae to obtain overexpression, thereby, enhancing desiccation tolerance. (Revised: Other stress genes in addition to tps-l genes were cloned and efforts at expression in S. carpocapsae were conducted) 3. Characterize the transgenic strains. No other biological control agent offers more impressive attributes than insecticidal nematodes. However, their potential is limited by the bane of nearly all biological control agents: poor stability. This leads to inadequate shelf-life and ultimately reduced field efficacy. Nematode storage is based on desiccation, yet insecticidal species are only capable of partial desiccation termed quiescent anhydrobiosis. Overwhelming evidence has shown that when the disaccharide compound trehalose is elevated in anhydrobiotic organisms such as yeast, plants, and nematodes it enables these organisms the ability to survive environmental stresses i.e., desiccation. Armed with this information our goal was to improve insecticidal nematodes stability by engineering trehalose overexpression.

scholarly journals Kairomone Response, Pesticide Tolerance and Field Efficacy of the Predatory Mite, Neosieulus collegae (De Leon)

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell F. Mizell ◽  
Daniel E. Schiffhauer
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Lima Bean ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Unknown Species ◽  
Field Efficacy ◽  
Tetranychus Urticae Koch ◽  
Bean Leaves

Abstract Neosieulus (Cydnodromus) collegae (De Leon) (Acari:Phytoseiidae) is a heretofore relatively unknown species of predatory mite. In an olfactometer, female predators were attracted to kairomones produced by Tetranychus urticae Koch, Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor), O. ununguis (Jacobi), Eotetranychus hicoriae (McGregor), and E. sexmaculatus (Riley). Predators were repelled by odors emanating from lima bean leaves treated with Mavrik (fluvalinate) and Ammo (cypermethrin), but unresponsive to those treated with Tame (fenpropathrin) and Talstar (bifenthrin). This predator species was tolerant of residues of Vendex (hexakis), Omite (propargite), Pentac (dienochlor) and Avid (abamectin) but not to residues of Tame (fenpropathrin) and Kelthane (dicofol). Eggs of T. urticae treated with Tame (fenpropathrin) were toxic to the predator when consumed. Female N. collegae would not consume eggs treated with Avid (abamectin); starvation reduced fecundity. Prey eggs treated with Vendex (hexakis) and Omite CR (propargite) were consumed without affecting predator fecundity or mortality. Eggs treated with Pentac (dienochlor) or Kethane (dicofol) were consumed, but significantly reduced predator fecundity. Predators released into plots in a commercial nursery during winter in north Florida reduced field populations of T. urticae within 20–30 days, if released in high numbers. Neosieulus collegae may have significant potential as a biological control agent in nursery crops for control of mite pests.

The potential of Mecysolobus erro (Curculionidae) as a biological control agent for Buddleia

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 433-433
Author(s):  
B.A. Gresham ◽  
M.K. Kay ◽  
W. Faulds ◽  
T.M. Withers
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent

scholarly journals Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymasticus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazila Yousuf ◽  
Peter A. Follett ◽  
Conrad P. D. T. Gillett ◽  
David Honsberger ◽  
Lourdes Chamorro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Hypothenemus Hampei ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Limited Host Range ◽  
Parasitoid Development

AbstractPhymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) is an adult endoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against H. hampei and environmental safety for release in Hawaii, we investigated the host selection and parasitism response of adult females to 43 different species of Coleoptera, including 23 Scolytinae (six Hypothenemus species and 17 others), and four additional Curculionidae. Non-target testing included Hawaiian endemic, exotic and beneficial coleopteran species. Using a no-choice laboratory bioassay, we demonstrated that P. coffea was only able to parasitize the target host H. hampei and four other adventive species of Hypothenemus: H. obscurus, H. seriatus, H. birmanus and H. crudiae. Hypothenemus hampei had the highest parasitism rate and shortest parasitoid development time of the five parasitized Hypothenemus spp. Parasitism and parasitoid emergence decreased with decreasing phylogenetic relatedness of the Hypothenemus spp. to H. hampei, and the most distantly related species, H. eruditus, was not parasitized. These results suggest that the risk of harmful non-target impacts is low because there are no native species of Hypothenemus in Hawaii, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of H. hampei in Hawaii.

scholarly journals Pathogenicity of Pakistani isolates of Steinernema bifurcatum and S. affine (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in management of stored grain pests Lasioderma serricorne and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae, Tenebrionidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabassum Ara Khanum ◽  
Salma Javed
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Tribolium Castaneum ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Lasioderma Serricorne ◽  
Stored Grain ◽  
Insect Infestations ◽  
Stored Grain Pests

Abstract Background Stored grain products suffer a considerable economic loss due to insect infestations. The resistance of pests to insecticide, and residues on crops are produced by the application of insecticide. Nowadays, incremental necessity has been occurred to find out alternatives to chemicals. As biological control agents, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) attract attention increasingly in the research area recently. Results The aim of the study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Pakistani isolates Steinernema bifurcatum and S. affine against the stored grain pests, Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne, under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of nematodes were applied at 4 different concentrations 0, 50, 100, and 200 IJs/ml and 3 variable temperatures 15, 30, and 45°C. Pathogenicity rate was recorded after 48 h of application. The larval stage is found more susceptible than the adult. At 200 IJs, S. bifurcatum showed high mortality of L. serricorne larva (92%) and T. castaneum larva (93%), whereas S. affine showed 90 and 95% mortality of L. serricorne and T. castaneum larva, respectively, at 200 IJs. The results revealed that both species of EPN were able to control and reproduce on L. serricorne and T. castaneum. Maximum mortality was recorded at 45 °C from S. bifurcatum whereas S. affine at 15 °C. Conclusions Therefore, S. bifurcatum and S. affine could be suggested as a biological control agent for hot and cold climatic zones, respectively.

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