Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Soybean domestication and lead stress on plant–herbivore–parasitoid interactions","authors":"Yating Liu ,&nbsp;Luhan Li ,&nbsp;Shangyang Li ,&nbsp;Jiahao Xu ,&nbsp;Zhaoyi Feng ,&nbsp;Zhe Wang ,&nbsp;Liya Zeng ,&nbsp;Xiaohong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105770","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105770","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant domestication and soil heavy metal pollution alter plant–insect interactions and influence bottom-up and top-down effects. However, their combined effect on plants, herbivores, and parasitoids remains unclear. Here, we selected three soybean genotypes, namely wild N23312, landrace N28386, and cultivated Xiangdou 33, from the same region and examined the combined effects of soybean genotype and lead (Pb) on soybeans, the herbivore <em>Spodoptera litura</em>, and its parasitoid <em>Meteorus pulchricornis</em>. The effects of soybean genotype, Pb, and their combination significantly affected soybean nutrition and defense compounds, as well as the fitness of <em>S. litura</em> and <em>M. pulchricornis</em>, along with parasitoid host selection. Pb stress decreased soybean soluble protein and sugar contents, increased trypsin inhibitor and leaf Pb contents, and extended the developmental period of <em>S. litura</em> while simultaneously reducing its survival and body weight. Pb stress reduced <em>M. pulchricornis</em> cocoon weight, adult longevity, hind tibial length, and offspring fecundity and extended the parasitoid developmental period. Pb stress primed soybean plant defenses and the effects varied significantly among soybean genotypes. The wild genotype was affected the most, followed by the landrace and cultivated genotypes, which negatively affected <em>S. litura</em> and <em>M. pulchricornis</em>. <em>Meteorus pulchricornis</em> exhibited a preference for <em>S. litura</em> larvae in Pb-stressed soybeans, with preference ranking from wild to landrace to cultivated genotypes. The findings enhance our understanding of the ecological mechanisms underlying plant–insect interactions under domestication and environmental stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105770"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143833116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical nymphal stages of Orius laevigatus for suboptimal feeding with pollen: Regulated deficit feeding","authors":"María del Carmen Reche ,&nbsp;Amador Rodríguez-Gómez ,&nbsp;Virginia Balanza ,&nbsp;Ana Belén Abelaira ,&nbsp;Pablo Bielza","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Augmentative biological control has proven to be highly effective in numerous greenhouse crops, largely due to the use of omnivorous predators. <em>Orius laevigatus</em> (Fieber) is a key natural enemy against thrips, and for practical application, this predator is mass-reared in biofactories, where the optimal artificial diet consists of <em>Ephestia kuehniella</em> eggs, a costly resource. However, <em>Orius</em> is known to complete its development on pollen, although the quality of the individuals produced is generally lower. This led us to question whether there are less critical developmental stages which feeding could be reduced without negatively impacting performance, naming it as “regulated deficit feeding”. To test this, we examined how partially substituting <em>Ephestia</em> eggs with pollen at specific developmental stages would affect insect development and rearing cost. Additionally, we investigated whether supplementing suboptimal amounts of <em>Ephestia</em> eggs with pollen throughout the entire nymphal period could improve overall development. Moreover, we carried out this study comparing two standard commercial populations of <em>O. laevigatus</em> with two genetically improved strains for better performance feeding on pollen. Two periods were established for nymphal development: from N1 to N3 and from N4 to N5. The period from N1 to N3 was the most critical for suboptimal feeding, leading to reduced survival, body size and female fecundity. Feeding with <em>Ephestia</em> eggs in this critical period (N1-N3) but with pollen in the less critical (N4-N5) reduced the cost of rearing to 30–70% of that of the optimal diet, without impacting biological parameters except body size, especially in the artificially selected populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105767"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143826397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced efficacy of pheromone-treated entomopathogenic nematodes against whiteflies in foliar applications with a gel adjuvant","authors":"Jermaine D. Perier ,&nbsp;Fatma Kaplan ,&nbsp;Steven Hobbs ,&nbsp;Edwin E. Lewis ,&nbsp;Alvin M. Simmons ,&nbsp;Michael D. Toews ,&nbsp;David I. Shapiro-Ilan","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The whitefly, <em>Bemisia tabaci,</em> has a diverse host range that includes many economically important crops. Plant damage and crop loss resulting from infestations of this insect pest averages &gt;$140 million (USD) annually in the southeast U.S. and requires different management approaches. Entomopathogenic nematodes are biological control agents targeting insect pests. The entomopathogenic nematode <em>Steinernema feltiae</em> is particularly virulent against <em>B. tabaci</em> and several other insect pests with aboveground life stages. However, unpredictable efficacy limits the use of entomopathogenic nematodes in aboveground/ foliar pest management strategies. Ascaroside pheromone extracts have been shown to significantly improve the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes under field conditions that challenge their survival and efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ascaroside pheromones on <em>Steinernema feltiae</em> in foliar applications against <em>B. tabaci</em>. Cotton plants were selected as hosts for whiteflies, and 5 ml solutions of nematodes (with and without other treatments) were used for foliar applications. Evaluations occurring through laboratory and cage trials were sampled across seven days. Exposure to the pheromone treatment resulted in higher <em>S. feltiae</em> efficacy as marked by higher <em>B. tabaci</em> adult mortality up to 79.98 % and reduced <em>B. tabaci</em> nymph survival down to 5.92 %. In earlier aboveground trials using entomopathogenic nematodes, Barricade® (a gel) facilitated higher efficacy by reducing the risk of desiccation. Barricade® was included in foliar applications for comparison and the gel improved entomopathogenic nematodes’ efficacy in foliar applications. This study highlights a new avenue for the foliar application of entomopathogenic nematodes with enhanced efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105766"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143823656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antifungal activity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus against aerial and soilborne grapevine pathogens: varying efficiencies and non-target effects","authors":"Ignacio Vicente-Díez,&nbsp;Jorge Dueñas-Hernani,&nbsp;Raquel Campos-Herrera","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extensive use of fungicides raises significant environmental and health concerns, including biodiversity loss and risks to agricultural workers, while the emergence of new fungal diseases exacerbates reliance on these chemical agents. Recent research highlights the potential of <em>Xenorhabdus</em> and <em>Photorhabdus</em>, symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), as alternative biocontrol agents against soilborne and aerial fungal pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EPN-symbiotic bacteria and their by-products against selected fungi and their potential non-target effects on biocontrol agents used in vineyards as a model agroecosystem. Specifically, this study investigated (<em>i</em>) the antifungal effect of <em>Xenorhabdus nematophila</em> cultured in three different nutrient media (Tryptone Soya Broth- TSB-, Nutrient Broth –NB, and Luria-Bertani –LB-) and under varying fermentation durations (3 and 10 days) against <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>; (<em>ii</em>) the antifungal activity of <em>X. nematophila</em> and <em>Photorhabdus laumondii</em> subsp. <em>laumondii</em> against the soilborne pathogen <em>Armillaria mellea</em>; and (<em>iii</em>) the antibacterial activity of <em>X. nematophila, X. bovienii, P. laumondii</em> subsp. <em>laumondii</em> and <em>Photorhabdus luminescens</em> subsp<em>. kayaii</em> by-products against <em>Bacillus</em> spp., including strains used as commercial biocontrol products. Our results demonstrated that <em>X. nematophila</em> cultured in TSB and NB produced the highest inhibition of <em>B. cinerea</em>, with inhibitory effects ranging from 63.5 % to 74.3 %, depending significantly on the fermentation duration. For <em>A. mellea</em>, both cell-free supernatants (CFS) and unfiltered ferments (UFs) from <em>X. nematophila</em> and <em>P. laumondii</em> subsp. <em>laumondii</em> significantly reduced colony numbers and colonized areas, with UFs exhibiting superior efficacy. Non-target effect assays revealed selective antibacterial activity, with significant inhibition observed only against <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> var. <em>kurstaki</em> ABTS-351, while no effect was detected against <em>B. thuringiensis</em> PB-54 or <em>B. amyloliquefaciens</em> QST-713. These findings highlight the dual potential of <em>Xenorhabdus</em> and <em>Photorhabdus</em> bacteria as biocontrol agents for fungal pathogens and for promoting selective microbial interactions. However, further studies are needed to optimize their efficacy and assess potential non-target effects in integrated pest management in vineyards and other agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105759"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"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":"Climatic suitability and potential distribution of earleaf acacia and its candidate biological control agent Trichilogaster sp","authors":"Sara S. MacDonald ,&nbsp;Emily J. Le Falchier ,&nbsp;Lindsay P. Campbell ,&nbsp;Ryan Zonneveld ,&nbsp;Carey R. Minteer","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Acacia auriculiformis</em> A. Cunn. ex Benth. (Fabaceae), commonly known as earleaf acacia (ELA), is an invasive evergreen tree introduced to the USA from its native subtropical forests in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Since its introduction to the United States in the 1930s, ELA has spread across Florida and Hawaii, and it has the potential to invade further climatically suitable regions. This study utilizes ecological niche modeling (ENM) to predict the potential distribution of ELA across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America, and assess the climatic suitability of Florida for the candidate biological control agent, <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp. nov., a gall-forming wasp. Earleaf acacia occurrence data were sourced from surveys and databases and <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp. nov. occurrence data were sourced from native range surveys. Ecological niche models were created using the ‘maxnet’ algorithm in the ‘ENMEval’ R package with appropriate environmental variables. The results indicate that a variety of regions across the Americas, including Florida and Louisiana in the United States, as well as Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama have climates suitable for ELA. For <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp. nov., the model forecasts suitable climatic conditions in southern Florida and along the east coast of the USA. Both models exhibit high predictive accuracy, with AUC values above 0.9. This study emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and management of ELA and evaluates areas in Florida predicted to have suitable climatic conditions for <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp. nov<em>.</em> If it is approved for release as a biocontrol agent in Florida. Our findings contribute to understanding the potential distribution of ELA in North America and offers insights into potential management strategies using its co-evolved natural enemy <em>Trichilogaster</em> sp. nov as a biological control agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105757"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143823655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","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":"Biological control of the tick Amblyomma sculptum (Acari: Ixodidae) using the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum alone and in association with the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae","authors":"Thais Araújo Moura ,&nbsp;Isabella Barboza de Almeida ,&nbsp;Elianai Ribeiro de Souza ,&nbsp;Fernanda Calvo Duarte ,&nbsp;Hamilton Humberto Ramos ,&nbsp;Matheus de Oliveira Araújo ,&nbsp;João Ricardo Sato ,&nbsp;José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida ,&nbsp;Márcia Cristina Mendes","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tick <em>Amblyomma sculptum</em> is of major public health interest given that it transmits the bacterium <em>Rickettsia rickettsii</em>, the pathogen that causes Brazilian spotted fever. Capybaras are primary hosts for this ectoparasite species and natural reservoirs for this bacterium. With the aim of finding new means for controlling this tick, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the fungus <em>Purpureocillium lilacinum</em> (IBCB 130) alone and in association with the fungus <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> (IBCB 425), in the field. Two areas of 5000 m² (Pl and MaPl) were used for applications of aqueous suspensions of fungus, once a month over an 11-month period, and there was also a control area that did not receive any application. The fungus <em>P. lilacinum</em> was applied in the area Pl at a concentration of 6 x 10¹¹ conidia/ha; and an association of the two fungi (3 x 10¹¹ conidia/ha for <em>P. lilacinum</em> and 1 x 10¹³ conidia/ha for <em>M. anisopliae</em>) was applied in the area MaPl. One week after each application, ticks were collected by means of CO₂ attraction traps that were laid out on the vegetation. The total number of ticks in each trap was then counted and up to 16 individuals (adults and nymphs) from each area were separated out and distributed individually and in pools. These were kept in climate-controlled chambers at 28 °C and 80 % relative humidity. On days 5, 10 and 15, mortality among the ticks (individually and in pools) was assessed. Fisher’s exact test was used in statistical analysis to ascertain the reduction in population in the treated areas, using data from each area according to periods when either nymphs or adults of <em>A. sculptum</em> predominated (epoch, Ep) or there was no predominance (non-epoch, NEp). The mortality analysis on adult ticks that were housed individually showed percentages of 46 % for area Pl, 44 % for area MaPl and 31 % for the control area, in the evaluation of the 15th day. For the pooled adults, the percentage mortality was 55 % for Pl, 31 % for MaPl and 25 % for the control. The percentage reduction in population for ticks in the adult phase was 69 % for Pl, 69.6 % for MaPl and 7.4 % for the control. For nymphs housed individually, the 15th day mortality was 68 % for Pl, 58 % for MaPl and 60 % for the control; while for the nymphs in pools, the percentages were 92 %, 93 % and 35 % for Pl, MaPl and control, respectively. These results indicate that the areas over which the fungus <em>P. lilacinum</em> was applied presented considerable reductions in population through both treatments, with a lower dosage of fungus in the application of Pl alone than in the application of MaPl. In the light of the results obtained, this study suggests that use of the fungus <em>P. lilacinum</em> forms an effective alternative for biological control of <em>A. sculptum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 105755"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143800320","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}