ABSTRACT Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri) is a devastating disease of citrus. In a previous experiment, bacterial strain GN223, an endophyte with the potential to serve as a biocontrol agent against citrus canker disease, was screened. In this study, strain GN223 was identified as Kosakonia cowanii by observing its morphological features, determining its physiological

ABSTRACT Anagyrus fusciventris (Girault) is a parasitoid of both Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell) and P. longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti), two economically important mealybug pests in New Zealand. A male-biased sex ratio was often observed in a laboratory colony of A. fusciventris. We investigated the effect of mating status on female A. fusciventris longevity, fecundity, progeny sex ratio and the

ABSTRACT In Colombia, the Tetranychus urticae mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most challenging phytosanitary issues faced by flower cultivators. The control of this mite has been commonly done through the use of chemical insecticides. But the mites have generated resistance to these substances over time, making their handling more difficult. Some sustainable alternatives based on the use

ABSTRACT Reproductive biology, abundance and control potential of Paramecops farinosus Wiedemann, (Aak weevil) a prospective biological control agent for Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, (Calotrope) were studied under field conditions in Lahore, Pakistan, from spring to winter season. Newly emerged adult pairs were introduced inside insect-proof pouches with calotrope fruits, and the life cycle

ABSTRACT The host-searching capacity of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was evaluated in field cages with Anastrepha ludens (Loew)-infested mangoes. The main objective was to determine whether the data collected from these evaluations could be analysed to obtain useful quality indicators of mass reared adult parasitoids. Landing and oviposition activities

ABSTRACT Penicillium sp. 44M-3, previously isolated from soil samples in Sanmenxia City (Henan Province, China), was identified as Penicillium aurantiogriseum Dierckx based on sequence analysis of ITS-rDNA, β-tubulin, and calmodulin. In co-culture assays against 14 pathogenic fungi, the inhibition ratios achieved by isolate 44M-3 ranged from 42.90% to 66.0%. Optimising the culture medium conditions

ABSTRACT The antifungal activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 10 Streptomyces isolates was tested using the double-dish chamber method. The VOCs-producing strain S97 exhibited the highest inhibitory effect against Botrytis cinerea mycelium growth. This isolate was identified as Streptomyces sp. with high similarity with Streptomyces lydicus based on morphological and physiological properties

ABSTRACT Meloidogyne incognita, one of the most important root-knot nematodes of crops, is still mainly controlled with synthetic agrochemicals. Toward finding eco-friendly alternative controls such as biocontrol fungi or fungal extracts, here fungi were screened in vitro for nematicidal potential, then evaluated for efficacy against M. incognita in greenhouse tomato plants. Forty fungal extracts were

ABSTRACT Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum), first detected in Australia in 2010, is a weed of agricultural significance as it reduces cattle stocking rates and limits stock movement. Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an approved biological control agent for S. viarum in the United States of America (USA). Although the host specificity of G. boliviana has been extensively tested in

ABSTRACT Green shield bug (GSB) Palomena prasina (L.) causes significant yield and quality losses in hazelnut production of Turkey. Alive and dead adults of GSB were collected from the main hazelnut cultivation areas of Turkey during 2018 and 2019. The entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) were isolated from GSB individuals and identified by DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA. Phylogenetic

ABSTRACT The co-culture of microbial strains is able to activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters, leading to the production or improved production of natural compounds that do not occur under laboratory conditions. In this study, a new facultatively halophilic/psychrophilic Streptomyces sp. AC117 was initially isolated from the Sea of Oman. Then, three types of consortia were designed, using Streptomyces

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study the phospholipase A (PLA) enzyme activity of extracts from Trichoderma harzianum 1A and Trichoderma atroviride αCp8 culture media. Fermentation on submerged culture was performed and PLA activity of extracts was evaluated as a function of culture time. A turbidimetric method for continuous analysis of phospholipase activity was applied. By this, vesicles rather

ABSTRACT Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was released in South Africa in 2008 to curb the spread of the invasive alien weed Solanum mauritianum Scopoli (Solanaceae) and is widely established in warmer regions. In KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN), where S. mauritianum populations are particularly abundant, weevil populations display seasonal peaks in autumn, thrive at coastal

ABSTRACT Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae), an annual species native to Eurasia and northern Africa, is among the most widely distributed plant species on Earth. In Australia, S. oleraceus, is a common weed in disturbed areas such as crop fields, pastures, gardens and roadsides. In agricultural settings, it can dominate fallows and cultivated fields where it uses stored soil moisture and reduces crop

ABSTRACT Non-consumptive effects (NCEs) of predators include non-lethal changes in prey altering their behaviour and physiology with increased oxidative stress under predation-risk. Although prey species may exhibit a complex of antioxidant mechanisms, these may be inadequate to result in a reduction of adverse biological consequences in the prey. Reduced prey fitness may result and could contribute

ABSTRACT Biological control is widely utilised for the management of invasive alien plants (IAP). With the ever-increasing number of IAPs, it is important to prioritise targets for biocontrol in order to maximise the use of resources and the chances of success. This paper reviewed 12 previous systems developed to prioritise plant targets for biocontrol. The review underpins the selection of attributes

ABSTRACT Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in South Africa and are often associated with negative socio-economic and human health consequences. Biocontrol is seen as an effective strategy for managing IAPs however it can realistically only be considered for a subset of such plants given the limited funding resources available. Some plants are also

ABSTRACT Biological control is an effective and sustainable method for management of invasive alien plants (IAPs), and has been implemented on 68 of the 367 plant species that are listed as legally requiring management strategies under South Africa’s National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004): Alien and Invasive Species Regulations. With limited resources and funding available, it

ABSTRACT Dactylopius opuntiae ‘stricta’ lineage was released more than 20 years ago in South Africa where it has successfully controlled Opuntia stricta. However, its host preference had not been tested against all invasive cacti in South Africa. Therefore, the possibility exists that it might successfully control other invasive cacti. We compared the performance of the ‘stricta’ lineage on Opuntia

ABSTRACT Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is an ornamental shrub from South America that is invasive in Florida, California, Hawaii and Texas, USA and has become a global invader. Exploratory surveys were conducted in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to discover natural enemies as possible biological control agents. One of the insects collected was subsequently identified

ABSTRACT Slugs and snails are agricultural pests usually controlled by chemical bait pellets however an alternative method is the commercially produced malacopathogenic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, which is sold across northern Europe. P. hermaphrodita can kill several slug species but is unable to affect larger pestiferous snails. Therefore, we examined whether the closely related species

ABSTRACT Megaselia halterata (Wood) (Diptera: Phoridae) is a major pest of cultivated white button mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus (J.E.Lange) Emil J. Imbach (Agaricales: Agaricaceae), in the United States. The incidence and severity of M. halterata have been increasing in recent years, possibly due to the removal of certain chemical pesticides from tolerance by the EPA. Farmers’ demand for alternative

ABSTRACT There is a critical need to develop effective, high-quality, fungal-based biopesticides for use against ticks. Dermacentor albipictus, the winter tick, is a one-host species that can cause mortality in large ungulates, particularly moose (Alces alces). The larval stage of this species aggregates on the ground in a prolonged, quiescent state during the summer and then quests for hosts in autumn

ABSTRACT Invasive ambrosia beetles and their symbiotic fungi are responsible for destructive diseases like Laurel Wilt and Fusarium Dieback. Some biological treatments and chemical pesticides (e.g. malathion) have been proposed as alternatives to control these pests, however, to date there are no effective treatments. Here we evaluated the susceptibility of the ambrosia beetle Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff

ABSTRACT Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Schreb. ex Muhl.) arrived into North America from Eurasia with immigrants as promising grain and forage crops, but they have become troublesome invasive weeds in cropland and turfgrass. Twenty-three foliar pathogens were isolated from crabgrass near Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada and evaluated

ABSTRACT Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a fungus responsible for the plant disease called anthracnose, which causes harvest losses. Although pesticides are widely used to control this disease, they tend to lose effectiveness as the phytopathogen develops pesticide resistance. Bacteria with antifungal activity are an alternative in the development of biocontrol agents. Among other biocontrol mechanisms

ABSTRACT Ten Steinernema abbasi isolates were obtained during a soil survey in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. The nematode isolates were characterised using morpho-taxometrical and molecular approaches, and their biopesticide properties against two lepidopteran pests (i.e. Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura) were assessed. In addition, their Xenorhabdus bacterial symbionts were isolated, and

ABSTRACT The direct and indirect modulating effects of two citrus soil bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus subtilis, on the activity of two nematophagous fungi, Arthrobotrys conoides and Dactylellina gephyropaga, have been studied. Growth rates of A. conoides and D. gephyropaga, effect of D. gephyropaga on mycelial growth and conidial germination of A. conoides, antifungal activity of B.

ABSTRACT The mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi, is a significant agricultural pest, responsible for yield losses in several vegetable crops. A desire to reduce insecticide applications in green house vegetable production systems has led to increasing use of entomopathogenic fungi to manage pests, including aphids. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana

ABSTRACT The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer) is a serious pest of cucurbit crops. The egg parasitoid, Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), is the primary parasitoid of the squash bug and has been considered as a biological control agent. In the present study, we conducted both laboratory and greenhouse bioassays to determine the effects of kairomones emitted by A. tristis on the host searching behaviour

ABSTRACT The current study assessed the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) biopesticides against adult and larval stages of houseflies, Musca domestica L. under laboratory conditions. Six commercial EPF biopesticides were selected for virulence tests; three strains of Beauveria bassiana (HF23 in the product balEnce™, GHA in the product Botanigard ES and ATCC 74040 in the product Naturalis-L)

ABSTRACT Take-all, caused by the fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) is an important root disease of cereals and grasses. An increasing occurrence of very light seeds in some New Zealand perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed crops may have been associated with Ggt, but any Ggt effects on grass seed yield were unknown. A glasshouse experiment, using prairie grass (Bromus

ABSTRACT The antagonistic activity of four Philippine EPN isolates of Steinernema abbasi Elawad et al. (SaMBLB) and Heterorhabditis indica Poinar et al., (HiPBCB, HiBSDS, and HiMAP) was investigated against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood. Fourteen days after inoculation, it was demonstrated that concomitant application of 1,000 live infective juveniles (IJ) of each EPN species and

ABSTRACT Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of any country with pests, such as plant pathogens, weeds, insects, nematodes and animal, imposing a major threat to the overall productivity. Approximately 25% of the total crop production worldwide is damaged due to these weeds, animal and microbial pest attacks and thus application of agrochemicals

ABSTRACT Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a threat to biodiversity and the economy of the countries they invade. In South Africa, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Natural Resources Management Programmes, previously The Working for Water Programme (WfW) is tasked with controlling IAPs in a way that protects the environment, as well as producing maximum return to society through

ABSTRACT Parthenium hysterophorus L. is an aggressive weed found in over 40 countries including Ethiopia. One of its natural enemies is the winter rust fungus Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola. There was an outbreak of the winter rust fungus on parthenium in Ethiopia in 2020. A survey at six locations in central Ethiopia indicated a mean per cent score of winter rust fungus infection ranging from

ABSTRACT We evaluated the predatory bug, Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus as biocontrol agent of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, by analysing its predatory capacity, development to adult stage when fed on this pest, and the effect of predation on T. urticae population. T. cucurbitaceus was capable of killing spider mites although failed to fully develop when fed on them. A negative effect

ABSTRACT Early blight is a common challenge to tomato production all over the world. Microbial antagonists, unlike synthetic chemicals, are friendly to the environment and human health. In this study, five microbial antagonists were evaluated for their effectiveness in managing the early blight of tomatoes under greenhouse and field conditions. Microbial antagonists included two Trichoderma isolates

ABSTRACT Biological control in the open field often involves simultaneous infestations of different pest species. In brassica crops, aphids and diamondback moth are major pest species worldwide. The aphidophagous Coccinellinae Eriopis connexa (Germar) is a common predator in crop ecosystems including brassicas. We hypothesised that the performance of E. connexa would be improved if it were fed a mixed

ABSTRACT Biological control methods may provide efficient and environmentally sustainable methods for curbing invasive weeds. Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) is an invasive weed of forest ecosystems on oceanic islands and one of the most invasive alien species. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and assess the population dynamics of herbivorous insects that feed on M. calvescens

ABSTRACT The tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura is a key insect pest affecting the crop stand and yield of a wide range of crops, mainly castor. Entomopathogens are known to play a vital role in eco-friendly management of insect pests. The present study was undertaken with the objective of developing a freely flowable WDG formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) containing a high percentage of

ABSTRACT Effects of Beauveria bassiana on non-target arthropods were assessed following field application on rangeland and alfalfa agroecosystems in Canada. Densities and prevalence of B. bassiana within non-target arthropods were measured by two methods, surface sanitation of non-target cadavers followed by homogenisation and plating on selective medium, or incubation in a high humidity environment

ABSTRACT Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is a valuable biological control agent for insects. B. bassiana efficacy can be influenced by plant interactions, including secondary metabolites, but the range of interactions with maize are not well understood. B. bassiana-treated sweet corn leaf tissue that had been fed on by fall armyworms, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), caused a significantly

ABSTRACT Fusarium wilt is a widespread disease causing serious production losses in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). Accordingly, control agents to manage this disease should be developed to ensure the sustainability of watermelon cultivation. In this study, inactivated Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) mycelia were used as a decoy inoculation agent, and the effects of this treatment on Fusarium

ABSTRACT The yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) has become a major insect pest in Huang-Huai-Hai summer corn region of China in recent years. Larvae directly threatens the yield and quality of corn by boring into corn ear and feeding. Currently, there are few studies to use the parasitoids, Trichogramma, to control the pest C. punctiferalis, so this study firstly evaluated the parasitism

ABSTRACT Maize is an important cereal crop worldwide. In Mexico, both hybrid and native genotypes are grown. Insect herbivory, mainly by the larvae of Spodoptera frugierda L, impose significant yield losses. Developing pest control strategies using natural enemies in an agroecological approach offers an environmentally sound alternative to minimise the input of pesticides in maize agroecosystems. Campoletis

ABSTRACT Restrictions on the use of synthetic molluscicides highlight the importance of developing alternative control methods. Nevertheless, biocontrol agents can be costlier and less effective than synthetic counterparts. One means of increasing the efficacy of population suppression is to combine inundative biological control with habitat management to reduce population growth of target pests. Vineyards

ABSTRACT Dioscorea bulbifera has invaded, smothered, and disrupted ecological functions of native plant communities in Florida. Vines senesce in late fall, then overwinter as tubers and aerial bulbils which sprout in spring and repeat the growth cycle. A foliage-feeding beetle Lilioceris cheni, introduced from Asia as a biocontrol agent has established throughout D. bulbifera's range in Florida. Synchronies

ABSTRACT Maize is an important crop worldwide having vital nutritional, medicinal, and economic significance. It is vulnerable to a broad spectrum of emerging infections and diseases caused by Fusarium species which are collectively termed fusariosis. The negative consequences of fusariosis can stimulate a considerable economic loss in the food chain. With this context, this study evaluated the biological

ABSTRACT This study investigated the egg maturation rates and the effect of feeding and starvation on the egg load dynamics of Diachasmimorpha kraussii (Fullaway), a parasitoid of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt). Three day old unfed parasitoids had significantly more mature eggs than 3-d old fed wasps. No egg resorption was observed in these parasitoids. When exposed to a physiologically

ABSTRACT Predatory ants are crucial biological control agents in agroecosystems, but such activity may vary during dry and wet seasons. In this study, we investigated whether the mortality caused by predatory ants to the larvae of Ascia monuste orseis (Godart) varies due to the effects of dry and wet seasons. We performed a field experiment repeated eight times for two years. In each period, we established

ABSTRACT The utilisation of plant allelopathy is an important tool in a diversified weed management strategy. Allelochemicals are released by some plants, such as sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), to inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants. This species was tested for use as an allelopathic plant for weed control in cropping systems. The allelopathic properties of sunn hemp were tested under field

ABSTRACT The effects of three different pest control regimes in three pear orchards (two with integrated pest management regimes and one with an organic farming regime) on communities of arthropods were studied in a two-year experiment. Insects were collected in three stages by beating the lower branches of trees. The number of species and other taxa of natural enemies increased with the reduction

ABSTRACT The utilisation of plant allelopathy is an important tool in a diversified weed management strategy. Allelochemicals are released by some plants, such as sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), to inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants. This species was tested for use as an allelopathic plant for weed control in cropping systems. The allelopathic properties of sunn hemp were tested under field

ABSTRACT The effects of three different pest control regimes in three pear orchards (two with integrated pest management regimes and one with an organic farming regime) on communities of arthropods were studied in a two-year experiment. Insects were collected in three stages by beating the lower branches of trees. The number of species and other taxa of natural enemies increased with the reduction

ABSTRACT Trichogramma egg parasitoids are successfully used for biological control of a wide range of lepidopteran pests worldwide. However, the field success depends upon their performance that could be influenced by the conditions of laboratory mass rearing. Hence, reviewing all scientific information on the most suitable mass rearing techniques of Trichogramma parasitoids is of utmost importance

ABSTRACT Laboratory studies that evaluated lethal and sublethal effects of a commercial biopesticide containing Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV: Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus) infecting different larval ages of soybean looper (SBL), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are presented. Larvae were infected with different concentrations of ChinNPV by droplet

ABSTRACT Sublethal effects of a spirotetramat insecticide on life history traits and population growth of two local Serbian populations (Bujanovac and Negotin) and one commercial Dutch population (the Dutch strain) of Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymen.: Aphelinidae) were evaluated in laboratory bioassays. Median lethal concentrations of spirotetramat estimated in the acute toxicity bioassay with adults

(2021). Editorial. Biocontrol Science and Technology: Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 602-603.

ABSTRACT The whitefly Aleurodicus cocois is one of the main pests of cashew, Anacardium occidentale L. in Brazil. The use of essential oils and their constituents is an alternative means of controlling pests with low risk to natural enemies. In the present study, the chemical profile and toxicity of a mixture of the essential oils of Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) and Cymbopogon winterianum Jowitt