Potential of controlling insect pests of corn using entomopathogenic nematodes

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Riga ◽  
J. Whistlecraft ◽  
J. Potter

A series of experiments was performed in the laboratory and in the greenhouse to assess the efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema glaseri or S. feltiae in decreasing the numbers of European corn borer, fall armyworm, western corn rootworm and the seedcorn maggot in corn. Both nematode species effectively controlled the four insect pest species. During greenhouse experiments, the number of plants protected with entomopathogenic nematodes against these insect pests was significantly higher than in the untreated controls. Similar results were obtained in a microplot study of corn infected with the European corn borer, the western corn rootworm and the seedcorn maggot. The application of a single nematode species against several insect pests has economic advantages. In addition, both S. glaseri and S. feltiae overwintered and survived in the field until the next growing season. Key words: Entomopathogenic nematodes, sweet corn, European corn borer, fall armyworm, seedcorn maggot, western corn rootworm

2017 ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Dávid Horváth

Mycotoxin contamination in harvested maize has increased in the last decades, which can be unequivocally back to the plant health troubles caused by global warming. The increasing of wounds in maize crops was occurred by climate change both on direct (hailstorm) and indirect(newly appeared pests) ways. In additional, the settling phytopathogenic microfungi on these plant wounds inflict serious human and animal health problems.The changing of Hungarian arthropod pests assemblages stand in the background of this dangerous nuisance complex. The spreading of European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) bivoltine ecotype as well as the newly appeared adventive species [cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hbn.), western corn rootworm (Diabrotica v. virgifera LeConte), fourspotted-sapbeetle (Glischrochilus quadrisignatus Say)] in Hungary can be responsible for this situation. In total, all technological elements, which obstruct the damage of these chewing mouthparts pests, as well as moderate the mechanical damage of maize, can be contribute to the reduction of both these phytopathogens injuries and mycotoxin contaminations.


2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 956-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Fang ◽  
Xiaoli Xu ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Jian-Zhou Zhao ◽  
Anthony M. Shelton ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip) are potential alternatives for B. thuringiensis endotoxins that are currently utilized in commercial transgenic insect-resistant crops. Screening a large number of B. thuringiensis isolates resulted in the cloning of vip3Ac1. Vip3Ac1 showed high insecticidal activity against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda and the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa zea but very low activity against the silkworm Bombyx mori. The host specificity of this Vip3 toxin was altered by sequence swapping with a previously identified toxin, Vip3Aa1. While both Vip3Aa1 and Vip3Ac1 showed no detectable toxicity against the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis, the chimeric protein Vip3AcAa, consisting of the N-terminal region of Vip3Ac1 and the C-terminal region of Vip3Aa1, became insecticidal to the European corn borer. In addition, the chimeric Vip3AcAa had increased toxicity to the fall armyworm. Furthermore, both Vip3Ac1 and Vip3AcAa are highly insecticidal to a strain of cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) that is highly resistant to the B. thuringiensis endotoxin Cry1Ac, thus experimentally showing for the first time the lack of cross-resistance between B. thuringiensis Cry1A proteins and Vip3A toxins. The results in this study demonstrated that vip3Ac1 and its chimeric vip3 genes can be excellent candidates for engineering a new generation of transgenic plants for insect pest control.


1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
R. C. Seymour ◽  
J. B. Campbell ◽  
R. J. Wright

Abstract Insecticides were applied by fixed wing airplane to field corn in the pollen shed stage on 1 Aug. All treatments were applied in water with 1.5 oz/acre Dynamic surfactant. Capture was applied at 0.08 lb Al/acre in total volumes of 1 gpa, 3 gpa and 5 gpa. Penncap-M was applied at 0.625 lb Al/acre in a total volume of 1 gpa. The plots were 120 ft wide and field length. Each treatment was replicated two times and arranged in a RCB design. Corn rootworm (CRW) beetles were counted on five plants in one row, each plant separated by four plants. Five leaves, on each of three plants, were evaluated for the presence of naturally occurring twospotted spider mites (TSM). Four plants in each plot were artificially infested with TSM 14 DAT. Five leaves on each of these plants were rated for mite colonies 21 and 28 DAT. European corn borer (ECB) damage was evaluated 86 DAT by splitting from root to tassel ten plants from each plot. Yield was determined by hand harvesting and shelling all ears from 40 ft of row.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Špela Modic ◽  
Primož Žigon ◽  
Aleš Kolmanič ◽  
Stanislav Trdan ◽  
Jaka Razinger

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), is an important insect pest of maize in North America and Central and Eastern Europe. In Central Europe, the larvae emerge in May and its three instars feed intensively on maize roots in June, causing plant lodging that leads to a loss of economic yield. A three-year field experiment (2016–2018) was conducted to compare the effectiveness i) of soil-applied granular insecticide based on the active ingredient tefluthrin, ii) of maize seeds dressed with thiacloprid, and iii) entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, product Dianem) against WCR larvae. An additional treatment with alcohol ethoxylate (i.e., soil conditioner) mixed with entomopathogenic nematodes was performed in 2017 and 2018 to check for any increase of entomopathogenic nematodes’ effectiveness. Field tests were carried out in two fields infested naturally with a WCR pest population, one in Bučečovci (Eastern Slovenia) and the other in Šmartno pri Cerkljah (northern Slovenia), exhibiting dissimilar pedo-climatic conditions and soil pest densities. The treatments were performed in five replicates per experiment in each year. The efficacy of the treatments was very similar at both locations, despite the approximately five-fold lower WCR soil pest densities in northern than in eastern Slovenia, as well as being constant over time. The largest number of WCR beetles was observed in the negative control, followed by that of beetles subjected to thiacloprid treatment (insignificant decrease taking into account the entire three-year dataset). Treatments with tefluthrin (44.1 ± 11.7%), H. bacteriophora (46.2 ± 7.4%), and H. bacteriophora + alcohol ethoxylate (49.2 ± 1.8%) significantly decreased the numbers of emerging beetles. Treatments of thiacloprid, H. bacteriophora, and H. bacteriophora + alcohol ethoxylate additionally led to significantly increased maize plant weights. Furthermore, entomopathogenic nematodes were able to persist in maize fields for almost five months at both experimental locations in silty and sandy loam soils. It was concluded that the control of WCR larvae in maize using the entomopathogenic nematode H. bacteriophora is as effective as a tefluthrin treatment, and could thus offer a sustainable Diabrotica v. virgifera biological control management option in Europe.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitanjali Devi ◽  
Dhrubajyoti Nath

Biological control agents have become increasingly important component in integrated pest management programme. Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective biological control agents for many important insect pests of vegetable crops. Therefore entomopathogenic nematodes are gaining attention in the field of biocontrol research worldwide. With the development and improvement of isolation and identification technique many novel species and strains have been utilized for management of several insect pests. This review aims to explore the potentiality of entomopathogenic nematode species against economically important insect pest of vegetables in India as well as in other countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
MP Ali ◽  
B Nessa ◽  
MT Khatun ◽  
MU Salam ◽  
MS Kabir

The damage caused by insect pest is the continual factor for the reduction of rice production. To date, 232 rice insect pest species are identified in Bangladesh and more than 100 species of insects are considered pests in rice production systems globally, but only about 20 - 33 species can cause significant economic loss. The major goal of this study is to explore all the possible ways of developed and proposed technologies for rice insect pests management and minimize economic losses. Insect pests cause 20% average yield loss in Asia where more than 90% of the world's rice is produced. In Bangladesh, outbreak of several insects such as rice hispa, leafroller, gallmidge, stem borers and brown planthopper (BPH) occurs as severe forms. Based on previous reports, yield loss can reach upto 62% in an outbreak situation due to hispa infestation. However, BPH can cause 44% yield loss in severe infestested field. To overcome the outbreaks in odd years and to keep the loss upto 5%, it is necessary to take some preventive measures such as planting of resistant or tolerant variety, stop insecticide spraying at early establishment of rice, establish early warning and forecasting system, avoid cultivation of susceptible variety and following crop rotation. Subsequent quick management options such as insecticidal treatment for specific insect pest should also be broadcasted through variety of information systems. Advanced genomic tool can be used to develop genetically modified insect and plants for sustainable pest management. In addition, to stipulate farmers not use insecticides at early crop stgae and minimize general annualized loss, some interventions including training rice farmers, regular field monitoring, digitalization in correct insect pests identification and their management (example; BRRI rice doctor mobile app), and demonstration in farmers field. Each technology itself solely or combination of two or more or all the packages can combat the insect pests, save natural enemies, harvest expected yield and contribute to safe food production in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rice J. 25 (1) : 1-22, 2021


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huyen Bui ◽  
Robert Greenhalgh ◽  
Gunbharpur S. Gill ◽  
Meiyuan Ji ◽  
Andre H. Kurlovs ◽  
...  

AbstractMaize (Zea mays subsp. mays) yield loss from arthropod herbivory is substantial. While the basis of resistance to major insect herbivores has been comparatively well-studied in maize, less is known about resistance to spider mite herbivores, which are distantly related to insects and feed by a different mechanism. Two spider mites, the generalist Tetranychus urticae, and the grass-specialist Oligonychus pratensis, are notable pests of maize, especially during drought conditions. We assessed the resistance to both mite species of 38 highly diverse maize lines, including several previously reported to be resistant to one or the other mite species. We found that line B96, as well as its derivatives B49 and B75, were highly resistant to T. urticae. In contrast, neither these three lines, nor any others included in our study, were notably resistant to O. pratensis. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping with F2 populations from crosses of B49, B75, and B96 to susceptible B73 identified a large-effect QTL on chromosome 6 as underlying T. urticae resistance in each line, with an additional QTL on chromosome 1 in B96. Genome sequencing and haplotype analyses identified B96 as the apparent sole source of resistance haplotypes. Our study identifies loci for use in maize breeding programs for T. urticae resistance, as well as to assess if the molecular-genetic basis of spider mite resistance is shared with insect pests of maize, as B96 is also among the most resistant known maize lines to several insects, including the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis.Key message Maize(Zea mays subsp. mays) inbred lines B49, B75, and B96 harbor large-effect loci for resistance to the generalist spider mite Tetranychus urticae, but not the specialist Oligonychus pratensis.


1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Casey Sclar ◽  
Whitney S. Cranshaw

Abstract Use of systemic insecticides that can be injected either into the root system or trunk of woody plants provides several potential advantages, notably in control of drift during application. Recently, new classes of insecticides with systemic activity have been developed, which may supplant the organophosphate and carbamate systemic insecticides that have previously been available. To evaluate their potential to control insects affecting shade trees, studies were conducted using imidacloprid and abamectin on elm. Soil injections of imidacloprid appeared particularly effective, controlling all three of the target pest species in this study (elm leaf beetle, European elm scale, elm leaf aphid). Both imidacloprid and abamectin also were effective against at least some elm insects when injected into trunks. Persistence of irnidacloprid was unusually long, providing second season control of all elm insect pests, although root uptake following soil injections was slow.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lise Pingault ◽  
Saumik Basu ◽  
Prince Zogli ◽  
W. Paul Williams ◽  
Nathan Palmer ◽  
...  

The European corn borer (ECB; Ostrinia nubilalis) is an economically damaging insect pest of maize (Zea mays L.), an important cereal crop widely grown globally. Among inbred lines, the maize genotype Mp708 has shown resistance to diverse herbivorous insects, although several aspects of the defense mechanisms of Mp708 plants are yet to be explored. Here, the changes in root physiology arising from short-term feeding by ECB on the shoot tissues of Mp708 plants was evaluated directly using transcriptomics, and indirectly by monitoring changes in growth of western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) larvae. Mp708 defense responses negatively impacted both ECB and WCR larval weights, providing evidence for changes in root physiology in response to ECB feeding on shoot tissues. There was a significant downregulation of genes in the root tissues following short-term ECB feeding, including genes needed for direct defense (e.g., proteinase inhibitors and chitinases). Our transcriptomic analysis also revealed specific regulation of the genes involved in hormonal and metabolite pathways in the roots of Mp708 plants subjected to ECB herbivory. These data provide support for the long-distance signaling-mediated defense in Mp708 plants and suggest that altered metabolite profiles of roots in response to ECB feeding of shoots likely negatively impacted WCR growth.


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