Multiple biological control agents have been developed and released to increase control and reduce treatment costs of Pontederia (Eichhornia) crassipes in Florida. Although two species of weevil (Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi) and the planthopper (Megamelus scutellaris) utilise P. crassipes for feeding and reproduction, little is known about their interactions including any negative

Pepper wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is an important disease of pepper in many regions of the world. A phosphate solubilising Trichoderma strain MHT1134 was selected from 76 isolates from the pepper rhizosphere as a potential biological control agent against wilt disease caused by F. oxysporum. The inhibitory rate of MHT1134 against F. oxysporum was 81.80%. MHT1134 was identified as Trichoderma

In this work, we report the entomopathogenic potential of Akanthomyces muscarius LY72.14, a fungus isolated from a soil sample collected in the Southernmost sector of Las Yungas (Tucumán, Argentina) subtropical rainforest. The isolated fungus exhibited both pathogenicity and virulence in larvae, pupae and adults of the pestiferous fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus, ability that could then be applicable

Natural isolates coming from chemically untreated environmental samples can be a source of new nematocidal bacterial strains. Little is known about the abundance of such isolates; the diversity of nematocidal proteins that they produce, or how their nematocidal activity changes in a growth phase-dependent manner. In this study, a collection of 17 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) natural isolates was screened

Outbreaks of stem and root rot disease of sweet potato caused by Dickeya dadantii recently occurred in major sweet potato planting areas in China. This study aimed to screen effective Bacillus strains in biocontrol of the bacterial soft rot pathogen. We screened plant-associated Bacillus strains capable of inhibiting D. dadantii using an in vitro overlay culture assay and an in vivo tuber slice assay

Phlyctinus callosus (Schönherr) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), or the banded fruit weevil (BFW), causes damage to the fruits, leaves and roots of deciduous fruits and grapevines in the Western Cape province. The control of the BFW can be improved by means of combining entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The combination of commercial isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bb1)

Postharvest loss of sweet pepper and other fresh produce is a major challenge throughout the world. The control of the loss of these valuable farm produce is primarily based on the use of synthetic fungicides. Nevertheless, there are concerns based on the impact of these chemicals on the environment and human health. Hence, call for a much safer and environmentally friendly alternative. Among the various

This study isolated and determined the functional characteristics of bacterial flora associated with mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) and their application as a bio-control agent. Second and fourth nymphal instars of the papaya mealybug were used for the isolation of the bacteria. These isolates were assessed for chitinolytic, protease, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities as well as mealybug

Parasitoids of Muscidifurax spp. are of great value in the biological control of Musca domestica, a harmful pest. In this study, the life tables of two newly discovered parasitoid wasps, M. similadanacus and M. sinesensilla (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), were constructed using pupae of M. domestica as the host at 25°C in the laboratory. The parameters of the life tables were calculated and analysed.

Two Arundo donax biological control agents, Tetramesa romana, the arundo wasp, and Rhizaspidiotus donacis, the arundo scale, have been established in Texas, USA and Morelos, Mexico for ten years. A survey was conducted in these areas to determine if there was any use of non-target plant species, especially where the biological control agents occurred at high densities. We found no non-target use in

Parthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed that poses significant threats to crop production, biodiversity, human and animal health. Few experiments have been carried out to test the effectiveness of biological control agents such as the beetle Zygogramma bicolorata against this invasive. We released Z. bicolorata beetles as bio-agent to control P. hysterophorus at the Tropical Pesticides Research

The South Africa forestry industry, covering ∼1.3 million hectares, is dependent on exotic pine and Eucalyptus species. Nursery seedlings are not inoculated with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi or other beneficial microbes. Fusarium circinatum is an economically important pathogen affecting seedling survival. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculation

The biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes of animals using nematophagous fungi is considered a promising approach. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Arthrobotrys cladodes (CG 719) isolates in vitro and after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of sheep. In experiment 1, the in vitro predatory capacity of A. cladodes against gastrointestinal nematodes

Aedes aegypti, is a major vector of several human diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. Multiple strategies are adopted for its control including eradication of mosquito breeding sites by improving water storage and solid waste disposal as well as treating breeding sites with chemical insecticides. However, continuous use of insecticides has resulted in development of insecticide

Mosquito pesticides effectively control vectors of human disease but have numerous unintended consequences. These may include adversely affecting non-target species such as weed biological control agents. Acute toxicity of two mosquito pesticides, naled and permethrin, was studied on three biological control agents released against invasive weeds in south Florida. These were the biological control

Highly polyphagous rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) invaded India during 2016. Pathogenicity of two strains (ICAR-NBAIR Pfu-1 & Pfu-5) of entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea Wize were evaluated against RSW, however, only Pfu-5 showed virulence. Further dose mortality studies were carried out with re-isolated Pfu-5 strain with five

Potato common scab (CS) is caused by several saprophytic bacteria of the genus Streptomyces, including Streptomyces scabies. Various methods have been investigated to control CS, but their efficiency is usually low. Biopesticide formulations, including bacteria from the Bacillus spp., are increasingly used to control soil pathogens. Two Bacillus-based products, Double Nickel 55TM and Microflora PROTM

Maize pre-cultivation was hypothesised to alleviate soil deterioration in replanted apple orchard, and this would be expected to be reflected in the nematode community in the soil. To test this hypothesis, soil parameters and nematode population composition were measured. Compared with replanted apple treatment, soil pH, soil organic matter, ammonium nitrogen and the available P and K content of the

Biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes is an alternative to chemical parasitic treatments. Nematophagous fungi can be developed as biological control products for gastrointestinal nematodes due to their capacity to produce traps that capture nematodes. Nevertheless, the lack of knowledge regarding the mass production of chlamydospores limits the production of biological products as alternatives

In the present work, the microencapsulation conditions by spray drying of the biocontrol agent Meyerozyma guilliermondii using the multi-response surface methodology (MRSM) were optimised. The concentration of sodium alginate and soy protein isolate, encapsulating agents, and the dryer inlet air temperature were evaluated on the percentage of yeast viability, release rate, and percentage of mycelial

ABSTRACT Deroceras reticulatum also known as the Grey Field Slug is a serious agricultural and horticultural pest. Integrated pest management of D. reticulatum and other pest molluscs includes the use of chemical mollusicides, crop management practices and biological control. Research into the biology and control of D. reticulatum requires animals for experiments; however, collection of wild animals

A collection of 500 Aspergillus flavus isolates from four sesame varieties (S-34, S-35, S-38, and S-39) that were planted in field plots in the Mississippi Delta and in the Florida Panhandle were investigated because of low-level aflatoxin contamination detected in sesame seeds. A rapid molecular fingerprinting method was developed to assess the influence of prior applications of the atoxigenic Afla-Guard®

Melaleuca quinquenervia (hereafter melaleuca) was until recently one of the worst ecological invaders in Florida. Introduced for horticulture and levee stabilisation during the early twentieth century, melaleuca spread to cover vast areas of the largest freshwater wetlands ecosystem in North America, The Everglades. From 1997 until 2008, four insects and an associated nematode were approved and released

Otiorhynchus sulcatus, known as the vine weevil, is a polyphagous pest that causes economically important damage to horticultural crops worldwide. The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum is widely used to control this pest. Little research has investigated variation in susceptibility to this pathogen between vine weevil populations at different locations. This study addresses this knowledge

Halyomorpha halys is an invasive, polyphagous stink bug from Asia, first reported attacking hazelnut orchards in the Republic of Georgia in 2015. A microsporidian pathogen discovered in Georgian H. halys has been identified as Nosema maddoxi by sequencing the ribosomal small subunit gene. Nosema maddoxi is native to North America and has also been found in China and South Korea; in North America it

A survey of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was conducted in Morocco during 2015 and 2016 in three regions with varying topography, climate and vegetation (Meknès-El Hajeb, Ifrane and Tafilalet). EPN were isolated from 14 of 169 soil samples (8%). Molecular and morphological techniques were used for species determination. Nine samples contained heterorhabditids and five samples contained steinernematids

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of native antagonistic bacteria from compost and to evaluate their ability to suppress Pythium and Fusarium-induced damping-off of cucumber. Seven bacterial strains isolated from compost were screened for their in vitro antagonism against Pythium aphanidermatum and Fusarium solani. Out of these, two strains designated as ISO1 and ISO2 showed significant

Powdery mildew is a detrimental foliar disease of sweet cherry trees. The disease is predominantly managed by spraying synthetic fungicides throughout the growing season. The emergence of resistant powdery mildew populations, to some commonly used synthetic fungicides, highlights the need for research into alternative control methods. Between 2012 and 2015, the efficacy of two different biofungicides

The nematicidal effect of Purpureocillium lilacinum strain 251 and a formulated product containing chitosan was recorded against second stage juveniles (J2s) and eggs of Meloidogyne javanica. There was a significant gradual decrease in the number of J2s survival as the chitosan concentration increased. The survival of J2s and hatching of eggs of Meloidogyne javanica were influenced by the presence

In this study, the biocontrol ability of bacterial antagonists of fungal pathogens, B. thuringiensis KYC and B. velezensis CE 100 was investigated for the inhibition of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and subsequent growth promotion of tomato. Based on the results of dual-culture assay, both Bacillus strains showed antagonistic activities against six different phytopathogenic fungi. The

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the powdered formulation with the nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep under three feeding systems in Northern China. Each animal in the treatment group received approximately 5×105 spores/kg live weight at twice a week for 6 months. The control group received an equal amount of feeds without fungus

Life history and damage potential of the fruit fly, Dacus persicus Hendel, a prospective biological control agent for calotrope, Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, are described. The duration of life cycle of D. persicus (egg to the adult) was 42.2 ± 0.38 days (range 38–50 days). Oviposition commenced 5.1 ± 0.2 days after emergence and each female infested 4.5 ± 0.2 fruits during its lifespan.

The host range of the thrips Liothrips ludwigi was investigated using single- and multi-generational no-choice nymphal development and oviposition tests. Development, oviposition, and egg viability were quantified when L. ludwigi were fed three exotic Ludwigia species and seven USA native plant species. Liothrips ludwigi completed development and oviposited viable eggs on sympatric native Ludwigia

The effects of entomopathogenic nematodes EPN (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) and fungi EPF (Beauveria bassiana) strains were evaluated in laboratory assays against larvae of four xylophagous pests: the Asparagus moth Parahypopta caestrum, the European goat moth Cossus cossus, the pine longhorn Arhopalus syriacus and the black Buprestid Capnodis tenebrionis. Due to their biology and ethology

Three parental strains of Lecanicillium spp. and eleven hybrid strains previously obtained by protoplast fusion were evaluated for their virulence to different life stages of Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Egg treatment yielded no statistically significant difference on the hatching rate of eggs as opposed to the mortality of subsequent hatched larvae which was over 80% by 4 hybrid strains and the commercial

Aenasius bambawalei is one of the most important parasitoids attacking Phenacoccus solenopsis. Studies were conducted to measure and compare its developmental rate, and parasitism using A. bambawalei feeding on 4 species of Malvaceae. Maximum parasitism and shortest developmental rate were measured on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Implications of our results for rearing this parasitoid are discussed.

The potential of native entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys was evaluated in experimental trials in Georgia. Two Georgian strains of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HRB, GEO) and Steinernema borjomiense and two Italian strains of H. bacteriophora (HRB, IT) and S. apuliae were used in laboratory assays (22°C and 80% RH) at concentrations of 1000

Leafcutter ants are a serious pest for forestry plantations and crops in Latin America. They have been traditionally controlled using chemical synthetic pesticides, which are known to have many negative effects to non-target organisms and the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative strategies of control, among which the biological control using fungal pathogens

We determined the release density, dispersal capacity, and optimal storage conditions for the parasitoid Telenomus remus Nixon to control Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Each of eighty plants within an 829-m2 plot were artificially infested with one S. frugiperda egg mass in a maize field. These plants were distributed evenly along four concentric squares which allowed for 14 different distances

Delairea odorata Lemaire, Cape ivy (Asteraceae: Senecioneae), is native to South Africa but invasive in several countries. The plant is a target for biological control in the USA (California and Hawaii) and Australia, where its aggressive smothering tendencies threaten native ecosystems. The beetle Ageniosa cf. badenii (Vogel) (Chrysomelidae) was investigated in South Africa as a potential agent for

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is one of the most serious and economically damaging insects worldwide, affecting the quality and quantity of both olive oil and table olives. Third instar larvae and pupae of several Tephritidae flies were reported to be susceptible to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), but few studies have been carried out on the olive fruit fly. Laboratory assays were conducted

The NTU-LY-1 cell line is a Lymantria xylina cell line; however, during cell passage, obvious cytopathic effects (CPEs) were observed under light microscopy. Round inclusion body (IB)-like particles and a few irregular larger IB-like particles were found in the cytoplasm of NTU-LY-1 cells. To further investigate the CPEs in NTU-LY-1 cells, reverse transcription–PCR screening of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner 1915 (Bt) is an entomopathogenic bacterium used to control insect pest worldwide. During its life cycle, Bt produces different insecticidal proteins, among which Vegetative Insecticidal Proteins (Vip) and Crystal proteins (Cry) are the most commercially used. Although large number of Bt toxins have been reported, only few of them (such as Cry1Ca and Vip3Aa) showed toxicity

Parthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed that poses significant threats to crop production, biodiversity, human and animal health. Few experiments have been carried out to test the effectiveness of biological control agents such as the beetle Zygogramma bicolorata against this invasive. We released Z. bicolorata beetles as bio-agent to control P. hysterophorus at the Tropical Pesticides Research

Two Arundo donax biological control agents, Tetramesa romana, the arundo wasp, and Rhizaspidiotus donacis, the arundo scale, have been established in Texas, USA and Morelos, Mexico for ten years. A survey was conducted in these areas to determine if there was any use of non-target plant species, especially where the biological control agents occurred at high densities. We found no non-target use in

The false carmine cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae has been originally used as biological control agent of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia ficus-indica Miller, considered as an exotic invasive species in many countries including Spain. However, the extremely high level of infestation has resulted in great inconvenience to the population of local residents and a serious threat to wipe out a plant that

Traditionally, the soil has been considered the main reservoir of entomopathogenic mitosporic ascomycetes (AMEs) together with the insect populations that they regulate, whereas mostly during the XXI century, the association of AMEs with the plants playing additional ecological roles, in the rhizosphere, in phylloplane, and as plant endophytes has been highlighted. The endophytic behaviour of AMEs

The success of biological control of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella, with commercial products based on C. pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) isolates relies both on the ingestion of a sufficient amount of occlusion bodies (OBs) between their hatching from the egg and the penetration inside the fruits, and the correct replication of the virus in the insect larvae. Larvae resistant to one isolate, CpGV-M

An in vitro study was conducted to screen for the inhibitory potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from fermented food matrices, against the honeybee American Foulbrood agent Paenibacillus larvae. Various strains of Lactobacillus plantarum showed significant antagonism associated with their cell-free culture supernatant (CFS). The characterisation of this inhibition was based on assays

Efficient prey or host search mechanisms are crucial for natural enemies’ survival and reproduction, and arthropod natural enemies may use chemical, visual, contact, and vibratory stimuli either in single or multiple sensory modes to find appropriate habitat or food source. Visual cues are more precise and are perceived at longer range than other modalities and thus are used by various predators and

The pathogenicity of fifteen isolates of Beauveria bassiana against German cockroach (Blattella germanica, Linnaeus, 1767) at three instars was tested and analysed in order to find the best fungal isolate available for the mortality of cockroaches. For the bioassay, three groups of instars were inoculated with a spore suspension, and the subsequent mortality recorded, the response variable was the

Considering the importance of natural enemies in the integrated management programme of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), in the current study we evaluated the biocontrol potential of two predatory beetles Delphastus catalinae Horn and D. pallidus LeConte against Middle Eastern Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1 or biotype B) and Mediterranean (MED or biotype Q) whiteflies, the two most notorious representatives of the

An augmentative biological control strategy against Ceratitis capitata (= medfly) in fruit-producing irrigated-valleys of San Juan, central-western Argentina, has been recently implemented by the San Juan Fruit Fly Control and Eradication Program. The Asian-native parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata is currently reared at the San Juan Medfly and Parasitoids Mass Rearing Facility for this purpose

Gall inducers are widely used as biocontrol agents to suppress the vegetative and reproductive growth of invasive weeds. Procecidochares utilis Stone (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a gall forming fly that was released as a biocontrol agent against the noxious invasive weed Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) R. King and H. Robinson (Asterales: Asteraceae). However, the effectiveness of P. utilis in controlling

Invasion from giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell, Salviniaceae) blocks sunlight entering waterbodies, reducing submerged aquatic macrophytes, thus lowering dissolved oxygen and stressing aquatic organisms. Due to its rapid growth and ease of dispersal through fragmentation, giant salvinia can quickly become problematic and difficult to eradicate. Since invasion of giant salvinia is persistent

The light brown apple moth (LBAM) was first detected in Alameda County, California, USA, in fall of 2006, triggering a major government response aimed at containment and eradication. The augmentative release of resident egg parasitoids was highlighted among several control methods to prevent the spread of LBAM in California. Egg parasitoids in the genus Trichogramma are utilised worldwide for the control

Although the scientific literature is replete with reports that host and plant volatiles elicit behavioural responses in Trichogramma, most do not compare the relative importance of olfaction, vision, or their interaction; this may be an oversight. We conducted experiments to evaluate whether vision, odour, or their interaction mediated host location by T. ostriniae over small spatial scales. T. ostriniae

When searching for hosts, parasitoids may experience competition between adults exploiting the same host (extrinsic), or between larvae developing inside the host (intrinsic competition). Differences in competitive abilities like host location and resource utilisation promote coexistence. In this sense, extrinsically superior parasitoids better locate hosts, and intrinsically superior ones can have

The soil is the most important environmental reservoir for nucleopolyhedrovirus occlusion bodies (OBs). We employed a diet + soil bioassay technique to demonstrate that the earthworm Amynthas gracilus was capable of vertical transport of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV) occlusion bodies (OBs) under field conditions. Incubation of OBs with earthworms in sand did not adversely

Diatraea species are considered the most important insect pests in sugarcane crops in Colombia and other South America countries. Previous research demonstrated Beauveria bassiana isolate Bv062 to be pathogenic to larvae of Diatraea species under laboratory conditions. However, virulence of the isolate was variable, possibly affected by inoculum quality. The aim of this research was to select an appropriate