Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Benefits of remating of a hyperparasitoid acting as a biocontrol agent","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Encarsia sophia</em> is the dominant parasitoid of invasive whitefly pest such as <em>Bemisia tabaci</em>. This heteronomous hyperparasitoid species lays fertilised diploid eggs in whitefly nymphs, which serve as primary hosts. Larvae develop as female progeny by consuming whitefly hosts, providing direct biocontrol benefits. However, male progeny originate from unfertilised eggs laid on secondary hosts (primary parasitoids within whitefly nymphs) and develop by consuming primary parasitoid larvae rather than whitefly hosts<em>.</em> Therefore, it is crucial for indoor rearing and field release of the hyperparasitoid to determine whether a female with single-mating experience can parasitise primary hosts and produce female progeny for a whole lifetime and, if not, whether it is remating events and prolong the period of female production, thereby increasing the amount of parasitism on whiteflies. Our fecundity experiments of females with single-mating experience, equally provided with primary and secondary hosts, showed that single mating was insufficient for <em>E. sophia</em> females to lay fertilised eggs in whitefly nymphs for their whole lifetime. In multiple mating experiments, 76.7 % of male adults completed their second mating 2 h after the first, whereas female adults accepted the second mating only if primary hosts were available thereafter. Remating was beneficial for female adults as it prolonged the ovipositional period of fertilised eggs (from 13.3 ± 0.6 days for single to 17.1 ± 0.7 days for twice mating) and increased parasitism on <em>B. tabaci</em> primary host (from 53.1 ± 3.8 for single to 76.4 ± 5.9 for twice mating respectively). The mating experience of males increased their copulation success, whereas that of females decreased it. In conclusion, recommendations are provided for large-scale indoor rearing and field release of <em>E. sophia</em>. Firstly, sufficient time for providing males can be shortened to within 2 h, and a single male can engage in 2–3 mating sessions. Following the 15-day peak oviposition period, the addition of newly emerged males is advised. Secondly, for field release of adult parasitoids, it is recommended to concentrate on releasing females after completing mating indoors. For the release of pupae cards, ensure a balanced ratio of males and females on each card to facilitate mating upon emergence. Additionally, release extra males and females 2 weeks after the initial batch of releases.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001713/pdfft?md5=a0347bd7e2578be51cfca8e7564ad2b3&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001713-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142130122","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":"Does alternative food for predatory arthropods improve biological pest control? A meta-analysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The use of alternative food for arthropod predators in augmentative and conservation biological pest control has increased considerably during the last two decades. Dozens of studies on this topic have been published, showing mixed effects. There are theoretical arguments to expect positive as well as negative effects of alternative food on pest control. In this review, we first discuss these arguments, resulting in a list of factors that potentially affect augmentative and conservation biocontrol with alternative food. We subsequently perform a meta-analysis of selected literature, which is mainly on control of various species of spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and chrysomelids, but also includes some studies on aphids, psyllids and mealybugs. The analysis reveals three factors that have significant effects on the way alternative food affects pest control. First, supplying alternative food should result in increases in the predator densities. Hence, there should be sufficient time for the predators to produce future generations during the cropping season. In the absence of such a numerical response, supplying alternative food can result in lower predation due to satiation of the predators, resulting in decreased pest control. Second, biocontrol is better when predators are released and provided with alternative food before pest invasion, allowing them to build up a population of predators that protects the crop. Third, when the alternative food consists of prey, it should not be of higher quality than the pest, otherwise predators may preferentially feed on the alternative prey, releasing the pest from predation. We furthermore analysed data on biocontrol of thrips, spider mite pests, whiteflies and chrysomelids for which enough data were available to disentangle effects of the various factors mentioned above. These analyses confirmed general results, from which guidelines for improvement of biocontrol of these specific pest groups can be derived. We also argue that the effects of alternative food on biocontrol should be studied by repeatedly assessing densities of pests and predators through time, preferably throughout a growing season.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001701/pdfft?md5=e5747675e0c9f42f42c1e35a25364fda&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001701-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142158165","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":"Phylogenetic systematics and integrative taxonomy contribute to weed biological control","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Taxonomy and systematics are at the base of any biological research, providing the scientific names and evolutionary context to access the biological information needed. The biological control of weeds (BCW), like many other fields, often suffers from the “taxonomic impediment” generated by incomplete taxonomic knowledge or lack of available taxonomic experts on the particular taxa involved (i.e., weed plants and their potential biocontrol agents). Further, most groups with described species require revision by specialists using modern taxonomic methods. Systematists in the different taxonomic groups have the knowledge and experience to perform the accurate identification of the species involved in the study, to recognize if they are non-native species, or if they are new to science. Their expertise is crucial for identifying the organisms involved in BCW, including hybrids or cryptic species. The practice of phylogenetic systematics allows the discovery of evolutionary relationships and natural taxa that are valuable in making host range predictions. This contribution emphasizes the crucial role played by phylogenetic systematics and integrative taxonomy in weed biological control.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001646/pdfft?md5=5f07e6f901c0cdfb5e703291ded51abd&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001646-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142021302","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":"Trichoderma for managing Lepidopteran insect pests: Current understanding and future directions","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Globally, Lepidopteran insect pests inflict substantial agricultural burdens, causing billions of dollars in losses annually. Synthetic pesticides are commonly employed to mitigate these losses. However, their use is associated with known environmental impacts, including the development of resistance in Lepidopteran pests. In response to this challenge, biological control methods utilizing the fungal genus <em>Trichoderma</em> have emerged as a promising eco-friendly alternative. Studies on the mechanisms underlying <em>Trichoderma</em>-mediated pest control have raised questions about its comparability to other entomopathogenic fungi. Our review reveals that <em>Trichoderma</em> not only uses traditional parasitism mechanisms or insect mummification but also relies on secondary metabolites it produces without parasitizing a host. This unique strategy positions <em>Trichoderma</em> as a highly promising tool in agriculture due to its multifunctional nature. This review highlights the potential of <em>Trichoderma</em> as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for managing Lepidopteran insect pests.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001695/pdfft?md5=8f0f05f333e6f384b5db8dd3606a7727&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001695-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142002329","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 MiTGA1 stimulates MiPR1 expression and H2O2 production to enhance mango disease resistance in response to Bacillus siamensis treatment","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Postharvest disease caused by fungi is a major issue that leads to quality decline and economic losses in mango fruit during storage and distribution. TGA transcription factors and pathogenesis-related proteins (PR) play crucial roles in modulating plant tolerance to pathogens. However, the roles of TGAs in the disease resistance of mango fruit remain unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of applying the antagonist <em>Bacillus siamensis</em> (N-1) on disease occurrence and the expression levels of <em>MiTGA1</em> and <em>MiPR1</em> genes in “Tainong No. 1” mango. We also explored the molecular mechanism of MiTGA1 interaction with <em>MiPR1</em> gene. Results demonstrated that N-1 treatment significantly increased the level of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and effectively suppressed disease expansion during mango storage at 25 °C. Analyses of transcriptome data and qRT-PCR revealed the obvious up-regulation of <em>MiTGA1</em> and <em>MiPR1</em> genes in response to the N-1 treatment. Further subcellular localization identified the MiTGA1 protein as being located in the nucleus. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays confirmed that MiTGA1 could bind to the <em>MiPR1</em> promoter and activate its transcription. Furthermore, transient over-expression of <em>MiTGA1</em> in mango was found to enhance the accumulation of disease-resistant substances such as H₂O₂ by modulating <em>MiPR1</em> expression, thereby bolstering the disease resistance of mango fruit. Our study suggests that MiTGA1 is a promising target gene and its interaction with <em>MiPR1</em> may contribute to disease resistance induction and decay mitigation in postharvest mango fruit.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001671/pdfft?md5=0c660006cd53e7f06193cbf6bff41b5a&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001671-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141997805","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":"Effective biocontrol efficacy of Bacillus subtilis CV21 against cherry leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria phytopathogens and growth promotion of flowering cherry (Prunus sargentii Rehder) seedlings","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cherry leaf spot (CLS) disease is one of the most common and deleterious disease of flowering cherry seedlings which lowers frost tolerance, growth, and biomass production during the season, and reduces flower production in following season. This study isolated two phytopathogens, <em>Alternaria alternata</em> CH3 and <em>Alternaria alternata</em> CH10, and confirmed their pathogenicity of CLS disease in flowering cherry seedlings, causing brownish spots and necrotic lesions on the leaves. We also isolated a plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> strain CV21, and investigated its antifungal and plant growth-promoting properties. The bacterium produced cell wall-degrading enzymes such as chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, and protease and effectively antagonized both <em>A. alternata</em> CH3 and <em>A. alternata</em> CH10 and the crude enzyme fraction (100 µl/mL) of <em>B. subtilis</em> CV21 inhibited spore germination by 40.1 % and 25.1 % and reduced mycelial growth by 29.1 % and 42.5 % against <em>A. alternata</em> CH3 and <em>A. alternata</em> CH10. The crude enzyme fraction degraded the cell walls of both phytopathogens in a concentration-dependent manner, causing swelling with bulbous structures in the hyphal cell, and cell wall lysis with severe perforations, loss of shape and aggregation of spores compared to control. Treatment with the bacterial culture broth on flowering cherry seedlings reduced CLS disease by 1.3-fold and 3.4-fold compared to the chemical treatment and the control group, respectively. In addition, <em>B. subtilis</em> CV21 also demonstrated plant growth-promoting properties such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production up to a maximum concentration of 3.5 µg/mL during the experimental period and exhibited potential for phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation. The inoculation of nursery seedlings with <em>B. subtilis</em> CV21 culture broth improved the chlorophyll content, and increased seedling growth and biomass production compared to chemical treatment and the control group. The results demonstrate that the <em>B. subtilis</em> CV21 could be effectively applied as a bio-fungicide to control CLS and as bio-stimulant/bio-fertilizer to enhance the growth of flowering cherry seedlings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001683/pdfft?md5=a0b8805b3e0a789fd9837e5a5c71fa9c&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001683-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141979594","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":"Phenological alignment of a galling insect used as biocontrol agent for an invasive tree following hemisphere translocation","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Acacia longifolia</em> is one of the most widespread invasive alien plant species along coastal areas in Portugal. In South Africa, this species is also invasive and has been controlled for over 40 years by the Australian gall wasp <em>Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae</em>. This biological control agent was introduced in Portugal in 2015, being released immediately after import, i.e., without a laboratory rearing period to adjust the life cycle, and is now established in many locations along the coast. When released in the northern hemisphere, the agent came from the austral spring, with the host-plants having tiny buds, and faced boreal winter with host-plants having large buds. As such it had to synchronize its life cycle with the seasons and phenology of the host-plant in this new location. Both locations have mild summer Mediterranean climates. The present work aims to better understand the life cycle of <em>T. acaciaelongifoliae</em> in the northern hemisphere and how it has aligned its phenology to these new conditions, namely different host-plant phenology and seasons. Two sites were selected (Pataias and São Jacinto), and monitored monthly, from November 2021 to October 2022, to: i) describe the early stages of the life cycle, since oviposition, by collecting and dissecting <em>A. longifolia</em> buds of 5 branches/five trees/site; ii) characterize the stages of the life cycle of <em>T. acaciaelongifoliae</em> inside the developing galls, by collecting and analysing 50 galls/site; and iii) monitoring the development of galls on 10 <em>A. longifolia</em> marked branches/ five trees<em>,</em> in the field. The results suggest that <em>T. acaciaelongifoliae</em> in the northern hemisphere has a univoltine life cycle, but the generations are not completely synchronized at the two sites and even within each site. It is not excluded that two generations may occur throughout the year, i.e., a bivoltine cycle, in some individuals. The alignment of the life cycle may not yet be stabilized. The life cycle seems to be more advanced in the site located further south, Pataias, where adults emerged earlier. Reproductive galls dominated in almost all months, as in South Africa. The present work advances the knowledge on the life cycle of <em>T. acaciaelongifoliae</em>, especially in the northern hemisphere, providing details about the timings and duration of each life cycle stage in this new location. These results are relevant for the management of <em>A. longifolia</em>, stressing the plasticity of the agent life cycle which can facilitate the planning of the biocontrol agent releases in new locations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001634/pdfft?md5=ca9fa36ac01f3e0a64e3169d174a8786&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001634-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142039777","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":"Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Risks for Slovenian agriculture and feasibility of conducting pre-emptive risk assessment for some of its natural enemies","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The invasive species <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em> (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), also known as fall armyworm (FAW), has emerged as a significant threat to agriculture globally, causing considerable economic losses and ecological disruptions. This paper examines the potential risk that FAW poses to Slovenian maize production. Using the maximum entropy algorithm, the climate suitability of Slovenia for FAW as well as for four of its parasitoids is calculated. The data used for the model calculations include species occurrence data, past climate data and regional climate projections for the 21st century. The climate suitability assessments in this study indicate an increasing risk of FAW occurrence in Slovenia in the 21st century, especially in regions with extensive maize cultivation. Projections under different climate change scenarios show that, the likelihood of FAW parasitoids thriving in Slovenia is particularly high, especially for <em>Telenomus remus</em> and <em>Trichogramma pretiosum</em> and overlaps with the regions with the largest areas of maize cultivation. In this context, pre-emptive biological control presents a promising approach. However, consideration of the full impacts associated with the introduction of non-native natural enemies is crucial, highlighting the need for further research and collaboration between stakeholders. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for evidence-based decision making and emphasises the importance of integrated pest management strategies tailored to the Slovenian agricultural landscape.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104996442400166X/pdfft?md5=da5a8871e9741120f61ea84e4fbcff35&pid=1-s2.0-S104996442400166X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141979595","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":"Population dynamics of mushroom casing over the course of Agaricus bisporus cultivation in the presence of Bacillus velezensis QST 713 and Bacillus velezensis Kos biocontrol agents","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The globally cultivated white button mushroom (<em>Agaricus bisporus</em>) is grown commercially at an industrial scale. Numerous pathogens pose a significant economic threat to its cultivation. Due to the emergence of resistance towards fungicide treatments, the future of mushroom disease treatment will need to move towards integrated pest management including the use of biological control agents (BCAs). In this study, we investigated the impact of the BCAs, <em>B. velezensis</em> QST 713 and Kos on the population dynamics of the microbiota of mushroom casing. Amplicon sequencing revealed that four Bacterial phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota dominated at casing and the end of the crop cycle. The most dominant fungal genus detected at casing was <em>Agaricus</em> and after 7 days accounted for the vast majority of fungal species detected. The application of BCAs, <em>B. velezensis</em> QST 713 and <em>B. velezensis</em> Kos did not have a significant impact on the microbiota across the crop cycle and comparisons between control plots and plots treated with BCA showed no significant differences in their microbiome composition. This research contributes novel insights into the dynamics, composition, and structure of microbial communities within <em>A. bisporus</em> mushroom casing with and without the application of two BCAs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001658/pdfft?md5=aac7291ae39d1d814d83446d97ee1f19&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001658-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141984820","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":"Galling by Trichilogaster sp. suppresses the growth of Acacia auriculiformis saplings","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pre-release efficacy assessments (PREAs) are used in weed biological control to predict the potential impact of prospective agents. These assessments enable the most damaging agents to be prioritised for host testing and release. Further, the inclusion of this information in release applications enables regulators to consider the benefits of an agent alongside any risks. We conducted a PREA to evaluate the efficacy of <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp., a galling wasp that is being considered for release in Florida to control invasive earleaf acacia, <em>Acacia auriculiformis</em>. This species is multivoltine and primarily galls vegetative buds. We performed a glasshouse trial exposing <em>A. auriculiformis</em> saplings to one generation of the gall wasp to determine the effect of galling on plant performance. We monitored the growth parameters and development of exposed and unexposed saplings every three weeks for twelve weeks. Above-ground and below-ground biomass were measured at the completion of the trial. One generation of galling reduced sapling height by 37.44 % (±5.57), above-ground biomass by 32.19 % (±4.00), and below-ground biomass by 38.26 % (±7.47). Galling also significantly reduced the other key growth parameters of stem weight, leaf weight, total branch length, and the number of nodes, shoot tips, and leaves. This <em>Trichilogaster</em> species significantly damages juvenile <em>A. auriculiformis</em> plants and could be an effective classical biological control agent if released in Florida, especially if it is not limited by a specialist third trophic level.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964424001555/pdfft?md5=c9139a7e24c4d833ae54cb5297bafa1f&pid=1-s2.0-S1049964424001555-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141932539","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}