Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Suppressive effects of Levilactobacillus brevis on Fusarium-plant disease and its potential contribution to environmentally friendly agriculture","authors":"Yoshiko Nakashima ,&nbsp;Norihito Yamauchi ,&nbsp;Hirotatsu Murano","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To harmonize with sustainable practices, chemical pesticide use is being reduced globally, and more farmers are adopting environmentally friendly agricultural methods. In this context, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have garnered increasing attention as potential biocontrol agents, biostimulants, and biofertilizers; however, the mechanisms underlying their effects remain unclear. <em>Levilactobacillus brevis</em> KB290, a heterofermentative bacterium that produces acetic and lactic acids, and <em>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</em> KB182-SBR1202, a homofermentative bacterium that produces only lactic acid via which it suppresses <em>Fusarium</em> growth, both <em>in vitro</em> and in natural soil, are being explored for their inhibitory mechanisms. At concentrations of 10¹ and 10⁶ CFU<!--> <!-->mL⁻¹, <em>L. brevis</em> reduced <em>Fusarium</em> growth by 36 % and 100 %, respectively, whereas at concentrations of 10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ <em>L. paracasei</em> only reduced <em>Fusarium</em> growth by 14 %. To understand the inhibitory mechanism, LAB were cultured in liquid media and organic acid concentrations were measured. <em>L. paracasei</em> produced only lactic acid, whereas <em>L. brevis</em> produced lactic and acetic acids. The IC₅₀s for lactic and acetic acids were 18.4 mM and 9.72 mM, respectively. Acetic acid completely inhibited <em>Fusarium</em> growth, whereas lactic acid did not achieve complete inhibition at 100 mM. This suggests that acetic acid production is a key factor in <em>Fusarium</em> suppression. Application of <em>L. brevis</em> to <em>Fusarium</em>-contaminated soil suppressed <em>Fusarium</em> disease in Japanese mustard spinach (Komatsuna) for up to 14 days. Collectively, these findings suggest that <em>L. brevis</em> has the potential to effectively suppress <em>Fusarium</em> disease without the need for chemical pesticides, thereby supporting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105758"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143777659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential interactions of larval and pupal drosophila parasitoids and their implications for biological control of Drosophila suzukii","authors":"Fabrizio Lisi ,&nbsp;D. Valle Rogers ,&nbsp;Emily E. Henry ,&nbsp;Brian N. Hogg ,&nbsp;Antonio Biondi ,&nbsp;Xingeng Wang ,&nbsp;Kent M. Daane","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The parasitoid guilds attacking <em>Drosophila</em> spp. consist primarily of larval and pupal parasitoids. Most larval parasitoids are koinobiont and do not kill their hosts until they form pupae within puparia. Thus, a host parasitized by a larval parasitoid could be attacked subsequently by a pupal parasitoid via multi-parasitism or hyperparasitism. <em>Ganaspis kimorum</em> is a key larval parasitoid that has recently been introduced into Europe and the US as a classical biological control agent against <em>Drosophila suzukii</em>. <em>Pachycrepoideus vindemiae</em> and <em>Trichopria drosophilae</em> are two cosmopolitan pupal drosophila parasitoids that may affect the performance of <em>G. kimorum</em>. This study investigated potential interactions of <em>P. vindemiae</em> and <em>T. drosophilae</em> with <em>G. kimorum</em> in <em>D. suzukii</em> puparia and with <em>Leptopilina heterotoma</em> (a common larval parasitoid of <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>) in <em>D. melanogaster</em> puparia. Both no-choice and choice tests were conducted to determine the pupal parasitoids’ preference to attack unparasitized or parasitized puparia containing a third instar larva of the larval parasitoid, which becomes ectoparasitic and can be easily recognized via puparium. No-choice tests demonstrated that both pupal parasitoids could parasitize puparia previously parasitized by either larval parasitoid, but only <em>P. vindemiae</em> successfully developed from multiparasitized puparia, with a significant reduction in female offspring. In choice tests, both pupal parasitoids preferred unparasitized over parasitized puparia, although no differences in the progeny sex-ratio were observed. Stereomicroscopic observations of multiparasitized <em>D. suzukii</em> puparia suggest that <em>P. vindemiae</em> would outcompete the ectoparasitic <em>G. kimorum</em> through physiological host suppression. These findings provide new insights into the potential interactions between larval and pupal drosophila parasitoids and their implications for biological control of <em>D. suzukii.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105756"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting the potential distribution of the invasive weed Mikania micrantha and its biological control agent Puccinia spegazzinii under climate change scenarios in China","authors":"Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Qing Huang ,&nbsp;Yingzhi Kuang ,&nbsp;David Roy Clements ,&nbsp;Gaofeng Xu ,&nbsp;Fudou Zhang ,&nbsp;Shicai Shen ,&nbsp;Lun Yin ,&nbsp;Michael Denny Day","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on the potential distribution of invasive plants and their biological control agents under climate change is critical for informing strategies in invasive species management. The rust fungus <em>Puccinia spegazzinii</em> shows significant potential as a biological control agent for the invasive weed <em>Mikania micrantha</em>. The MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) model was used to simulate the distribution of <em>M. micrantha</em> and <em>P. spegazzinii</em> under current and future climate scenarios. The models achieved excellent prediction performance, with <em>M. micrantha</em> and <em>P. spegazzinii</em> having area under the curve values of 0.921 and 0.978 respectively, and true skill statistics values of 0.886 and 0.902 respectively. Precipitation is the primary factor influencing the distributions of <em>M. micrantha</em>, while <em>P. spegazzinii</em> is determined by both temperature and precipitation. The suitable areas for the two species are concentrated in southern China, with <em>M. micrantha</em> exhibiting broader adaptability compared to <em>P. spegazzinii</em>. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable areas for <em>M. micrantha</em> in China will expand northward, with a maximum projected growth rate of 84.6 % in the 2070 s, whereas <em>P. spegazzinii</em> exhibits a contracting trend (with a projected reduction of 40.8 % in the 2050 s). Under the current climate scenario, the overlapping suitable areas between the two species account for 25.2 % of the total suitable area for <em>M. micrantha</em> and 100 % of that for <em>P. spegazzinii</em> and both remain relatively stable under future climate scenarios. This work can provide guidance for the application of biological control, and serves as a valuable reference for developing early warning and management response strategies for invasive species in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105754"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An overview of biological control of plant disease in Afghanistan","authors":"Fazel Rab Aria ,&nbsp;Fraidoon Karimi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Yousuf Fakoor ,&nbsp;Ghulam Rasul Faizi ,&nbsp;Xianchao Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Afghanistan, there exists an urgent necessity for efficacious, environmentally sustainable plant disease management strategies, as chemical pesticides and conventional methods have long been prevalent in the country. Biological control utilizing agents such as <em>Trichoderma species</em> and viral biopesticides is emerging as a promising alternative. Agriculture, a primary source of income in rural areas, would benefit substantially from the adoption of sustainable methods. Recent initiatives, including the National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP), have established laboratories and production facilities to promote the utilization of biocontrol agents. These agents offer a more benign alternative to chemical pesticides, mitigating health risks. However, challenges persist in the large-scale production, storage, and distribution of biocontrol agents. To ensure the successful integration of biological control, collaboration among researchers, extension agencies, and agriculturalists is essential. Ongoing research, infrastructure enhancements, and education are crucial for overcoming these challenges and fostering the widespread adoption of biological control techniques. By addressing these barriers, Afghanistan can progress towards more sustainable agricultural practices, employing biological control as a responsible method for managing plant diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105753"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of soil on the efficacy of a nematode-based biopesticide of slugs","authors":"Kerry McDonald-Howard ,&nbsp;Christopher D. Williams ,&nbsp;Hayley Jones ,&nbsp;Robbie Rae","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several slug species are serious pests of agriculture and are difficult to control. One popular control method is the nematode <em>Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita,</em> which has been used in slug control for &gt; 25 years. However, there are reports of it failing to reduce slug numbers and damage in the field for unknown reasons. This may be due to lack of knowledge about how <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> performs when applied to different soils<em>.</em> We therefore assessed the survival, movement and pathogenicity of <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> infective juveniles (IJs) when added to six different soils (compost with and without peat, clay loam, loam, sandy loam and sandy soil). The soils were either frozen or autoclaved before use to eradicate resident nematodes prior to the experiment. <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> survived best in autoclaved compost without peat and in experiments with frozen soils, compost with and without peat was best. Survival of <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> was similar in other soils. Interestingly, in peat-free compost <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> reproduced prolifically, which may affect the long-term success of the nematode in the field as other life stages, apart from the IJ stage, cannot infect slugs. In infection experiments we found <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> added to compost with peat killed slugs faster than nematodes added to a sandy clay loam or sandy soil. In movement experiments, the nematodes remained within 3 cm of the application point in each soil. In summary, soil type severely affects <em>P. hermaphrodita</em> survival<em>,</em> and the ability to kill slugs; therefore it should be assessed by farmers and gardeners before use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105751"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species distribution models reveal restricted areas for biological control of Bactrocera carambolae by its parasitoid Fopius arisanus in Brazil","authors":"Fábio Luis Galvão-Silva ,&nbsp;Jesús Hernando Gómez Llano ,&nbsp;Adilson Lopes Lima ,&nbsp;Cristiane Ramos de Jesus ,&nbsp;Ricardo Adaime ,&nbsp;Dori Edson Nava","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105752","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105752","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Fopius arisanus</em> (Sonan) is an exotic parasitoid used to control <em>Bactrocera</em> spp. In Brazil, it is suggested as a control agent for <em>Bactrocera carambolae</em> Drew &amp; Hancock. The pest is currently restricted to the northern territory of Brazil; however, temperature changes may lead to an increase in its distribution. Species distribution models (SDMs) can predict a species’ potential geographic range in a particular climate change scenario. We aimed to predict the susceptible areas for expanding and establishing <em>B. carambolae</em> and its parasitoid, <em>F. arisanus</em> in Brazil, particularly, in the Amazon region. Climate layers were extracted from bioclimatic variables, and Random Forest was used to predict the SMDs for both Brazilian species under two climatic scenarios (intermediary and extreme). Our predictions showed a larger suitability area for <em>B. carambolae</em> establishment than for its parasitoids. Although <em>B. carambolae</em> is widespread, especially in the North and Midwest, <em>F. arisanus</em> has a limited area from west of Ceará State to North and East of Amapá State. <em>Fopius arisanus</em> had a low chance of increasing its geographical area under both climatic scenarios. The parasitoids and their hosts were similarly influenced by bioclimatic variables [precipitation seasonality (BIO15) and annual precipitation (BIO12)]. Our results revealed a limited compatibility area for both <em>B. carambolae</em> and <em>F. arisanus</em> in the Brazilian territory, with potential expansion of the pest compared with its parasitoid. In this context, the country’s northern regions face a “red alert flag” for implementing strategies to prevent the spread of pests by releasing parasitoids.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105752"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managing thrips in strawberries: How effective are insecticide-free options? A meta-analysis","authors":"Lucien Schneeberger ,&nbsp;Louis Sutter ,&nbsp;Noëlle Valérie Schenk ,&nbsp;Lindsey Norgrove","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thrips are major pests in strawberry crops, with control becoming complex due to increasing temperatures, the banning of certain pesticides and growing insecticide resistance. As a global synthesis is lacking, we aimed to: list the interventions tested on strawberries; compare their effectiveness; and identify promising new strategies and research gaps. We conducted a systematic literature review, using Web of Science on October 18, 2024. We included studies monitoring thrips population or damage in strawberries with management interventions. Fifty-nine papers met our criteria, thirty-six of which included a negative control and were included in a <em>meta</em>-analysis. <em>Frankliniella occidentalis</em> (n = 30) and <em>Scirtothrips dorsalis</em> (n = 10) were the most studied species. Biocontrol agents and insecticides were the most common interventions, each assessed in 39 % and 47 % of studies, respectively. Predators were the most promising alternative to insecticides and the effects of 19 such species were observed. <em>Neoseiulus cucumeris</em>, <em>Orius laevigatus</em> and <em>Transeius montdorensis</em> were the most extensively studied. Across studies, predators reduced thrips populations by 51 % to 78 %, compared with 56 % to 79 % using insecticides. Variability between study sites was more significant than between treatments highlighting the importance of other factors, such as climate, not considered in this analysis in the method’s effectiveness. Using tolerant varieties and mass trapping reduced thrips populations by an average of 65 % and 68 %, respectively. However further research is needed. Recent studies also highlighted the importance of early-season population dynamics and surrounding flora on thrips management. Despite progress, more research is required to optimize these strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105744"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Control effect of Phlebia acerina MY51 on blueberry gray mold and its impact on interfoliar microorganisms","authors":"Qian Yan,&nbsp;Rui Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105742","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105742","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Blueberry gray mold is caused mainly by <em>Botrytis cinerea.</em> We isolated a strain of <em>Phlebia acerina</em> MY51 from blueberry fungi, which showed a potent inhibitory effect on <em>B. cinerea</em>. Our study revealed that MY51 wrapped <em>B. cinerea</em> hyphae, causing deformation and exhibiting strong broad-spectrum antifungal effects. The mycelium of <em>B. cinerea</em> was significantly inhibited by volatiles, broth metabolites and the dual culture combined with the MY51 strain, with inhibitory rates of 47.67%, 39.33% and 46.10%, respectively. Twelve known antibacterial metabolites were detected in the methanol extract of its fermentation broth. In the pot experiment, MY51 significantly enhanced disease resistance, achieving an efficacy of 73.42%, against blueberry gray mold in addition to its capacity to stimulate growth. In the control experiment, different inoculation sequence treatments resulted in remarkable control effects of 76.96% and 70.89%, respectively. Upon MY51 inoculation, the activities of CAT, SOD, POD, PPO, and PAL significantly decreased in comparison with those in the CK. With the first and subsequent MY51 injection, the enzyme activity increased by 1.66%, 136.90%, 23.87%, 38.95%, and 96.61% and 15.69%, 32.50%, 20.00%, 196.25%, and 84.29%, respectively. Significant alterations in the blueberry interfoliar microbial community were caused by MY51 inoculation. Reference databases were used, and taxonomy annotation was conducted. The main microbial phyla identified were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Most of the bacteria and fungi present are considered beneficial, such as <em>Trichoderma</em>, <em>Aureobasidium</em>, <em>Vishniacozyma</em>, <em>Alcaligenaceae</em>, <em>Bacillu</em>s, and <em>Pseudomonas</em>. In conclusion, MY51 can considerably reduce blueberry gray mold outbreaks and offers fresh approaches for field management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105742"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selection, application, and pathogenicity of naturally occurring Beauveria bassiana strains against Ips duplicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)","authors":"Jozef Vakula ,&nbsp;Christo Nikolov ,&nbsp;Michal Lalík ,&nbsp;Miriam Kádasi Horáková ,&nbsp;Slavomír Rell ,&nbsp;Juraj Galko ,&nbsp;Andrej Gubka ,&nbsp;Milan Zúbrik ,&nbsp;Andrej Kunca ,&nbsp;Marek Barta","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Norway spruce (<em>Picea abies</em>) stands in Central Europe are increasingly threatened by the northern bark beetle, <em>Ips duplicatus</em>, which is a pest whose distribution and impact have expanded significantly in recent decades. The reduced efficacy of traditional pest control methods against this species underscores the need for innovation management strategies. This study investigates a novel approach that combines modified pheromone traps with the biological control agent <em>Beauveria bassiana</em>, an entomopathogenic fungus. A total of 48 <em>B. bassiana</em> strains were obtained from natural populations of <em>I. duplicatus</em>. Following laboratory testing, two strains (NRID11 and NRID43) were selected for field trials. Carriers of the living organism were inoculated with these strains and then placed in applicators as part of the pheromone traps. The study evaluated the effects of selected strains and different carrier exposure periods on beetle mortality rates. The NRID11 strain showed some percentages exceeding 90 % after 21 days of exposure. However, efficacy decreased to less than 60 % when the carriers remained in the traps for more than 30 days. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing exposure duration and confirm the potential of carriers inoculated with <em>B. bassiana</em> in modified pheromone traps as a promising biological control strategy against <em>I. duplicatus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105740"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143644116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host range, biology, and thermal tolerance of Lygomusotima stria, a potential biological control agent of Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) in the USA","authors":"G.S. Wheeler ,&nbsp;E.C. Lake ,&nbsp;E.Mattison Frank ,&nbsp;P.D. Pratt ,&nbsp;G.F. Sutton","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Old World climbing fern, <em>Lygodium microphyllum</em> (Cav.) R. Br., is one of the worst environmental weeds of southern and central Florida. The weed climbs over other plants, forming thick mats that block sunlight to native shrubs and trees. In the introduced range, Old World climbing fern invades much of the southern peninsula of Florida where cost-effective, sustainable control methods are needed. A potential biological control agent, the defoliating moth <em>Lygomusotima stria</em> Solis &amp; Yen, was collected in Thailand and Singapore and examined to determine if it was safe for release. A series of no-choice tests was conducted on neonate and third instars. The results indicated that <em>L. stria</em> could only feed and complete development on three congeners: the target weed; <em>L. microphyllum</em>; another invasive exotic; <em>L. japonicum</em>; and the native <em>L. palmatum</em>. Oviposition tests indicated that adults laid eggs broadly across many taxa but primarily on members of the <em>Lygodium</em> genus. Multigeneration studies indicated that <em>L. stria</em> could sustain a population on <em>L. microphyllum, L. japonicum</em>, and <em>L. palmatum</em> for at least four generations. However, the results of lower lethal temperature studies indicated that the LLT50 for <em>L. stria</em> immatures ranged from −2.8 to 1.6 °C, indicating <em>L. stria</em> will not persist in areas where the more temperate <em>L. palmatum</em> grows. Thus, <em>L. stria</em> has a very narrow host range and we predict it will not pose a threat to <em>L. palmatum</em> as it has a low tolerance for the colder temperatures where this plant grows naturally. The release of <em>L. stria</em> is expected to safely assist in the effort to manage the invasive weed Old World climbing fern.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"204 ","pages":"Article 105741"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143610546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}