Journal of Soils and Sediments ( IF 3.6 ) Pub Date : 2021-03-17 , DOI: 10.1007/s11368-021-02919-w Lara Reinbacher , Sven Bacher , Eva Praprotnik , Giselher Grabenweger
Purpose
The successful implementation of a plant protection product depends on its effectiveness against a target species and its safety for the environment. Risk assessment schemes have therefore been devised to facilitate classification and regulation. These guidelines, however, are directed towards chemical substances and are in many cases less suitable for the assessment of products employing microorganisms.
Methods
In this study, we developed a protocol for non-target testing of soil-applied entomopathogenic fungi for the biocontrol of insect pests. Using the predatory mite Gaeolaelaps (Hypoaspis) aculeifer as a non-target model organism, our protocol evaluates the lethal and sublethal effects of the fungus in recommended and ten-fold field concentrations.
Results
The proposed protocol considers fungal biology when setting test duration, endpoints, and quality control measures. To assess its practicability, we performed a trial with Metarhizium brunneum ART2825 as a representative entomopathogenic fungus. The biocontrol agent was able to infect a susceptible host and reproduce, showing that potential hazards can be detected using our approach. No hazard was detected for the non-target species, with no statistically significant differences in 5-week survival and reproductive output between treated and untreated groups.
Conclusion
Based on our results, the protocol is deemed appropriate for the detection of non-target effects. Subject to further validation, our approach could thus provide the basis for standardized protocols for the evaluation of the environmental safety of biocontrol organisms.
中文翻译:
用于植物保护产品风险评估的标准非目标测试不适用于昆虫病原真菌-一种新方案的建议
目的
植物保护产品的成功实施取决于其对目标物种的有效性及其对环境的安全性。因此,已经设计了风险评估方案以促进分类和监管。但是,这些指南仅针对化学物质,在许多情况下不适合评估使用微生物的产品。
方法
在这项研究中,我们开发了一种针对土壤应用的昆虫病原真菌进行生物防治的非目标测试方案。使用捕食性螨Gaeolaelaps(Hypoaspis)aculeifer作为非目标模型生物,我们的协议在推荐浓度和十倍田间浓度下评估了真菌的致死和亚致死作用。
结果
在设置测试持续时间,终点和质量控制措施时,建议的协议考虑了真菌生物学。为了评估其实用性,我们进行了以Metrhizium brunneum ART2825作为代表性昆虫病原真菌的试验。该生物防治剂能够感染易感宿主并繁殖,表明使用我们的方法可以检测到潜在的危害。未检测到非目标物种的危害,治疗组和未治疗组之间的5周存活率和生殖产量没有统计学上的显着差异。
结论
根据我们的结果,该协议被认为适合检测非目标效应。待进一步验证之后,我们的方法可以为评估生物防治生物的环境安全性的标准化规程提供基础。