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The potential of nematophagous fungi to control the free-living stages of nematode parasites of sheep: survey for the presence of fungi in fresh faeces of grazing livestock in Australia.

In the course of 12 months, 1742 fresh faecal samples from grazing livestock, principally ruminants, from various States of Australia were examined for the presence of nematophagous fungi. In total, 48 separate isolations were made representing various species from the genus Arthrobotrys and also 16 isolates of the single Duddingtonia species, Duddingtonia flagrans. These isolates will be used in continuing studies to select the most suitable species, on the basis of nematophagous capability and ruminant gut survival capacity, for development of a biological means of controlling nematode parasites of livestock.

Animal Husbandry↗

Antagonistic effects of Streptomyces violaceusniger strain G10 on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4: indirect evidence for the role of antibiosis in the antagonistic process.

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense is the causal pathogen of wilt disease of banana. A cost-effective measure of control for this disease is still not available. Streptomyces violaceusniger strain G10 acts as an antifungal agent antagonistic towards many different phytopathogenic fungi, including different pathogenic races of the Fusarium wilt pathogen. In an attempt to understand the mode of action of this antagonist in nature, the interaction between S. violaceusniger strain G10 and F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense was first studied by paired incubation on agar plates. Evidence for the in vitro antibiosis of strain G10 was demonstrated by inhibition zones in the "cross-plug" assay plates. Microscopic observations showed lysis of hyphal ends in the inhibited fungal colonies. Culture of strain G10 in liquid media produces antifungal metabolites, which showed in vitro antagonistic effects against F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense such as swelling, distortion and excessive branching of hyphae, and inhibition of spore germination. An indirect method was used to show that antibiosis is one of the mechanisms of antagonism by which strain G10 acts against F. oxysporun f.sp. cubense in soil. This study suggests the potential of developing strain G10 for the biological control of Fusarium wilt disease of banana.

Agar↗

Pythium perplexum isolated from soil in France: morphology, molecular characterisation and biological control.

Pythium perplexum (F-926) was isolated from a soil sample taken in the Burgundy region in France. In 1907, it was mistakenly described by Bulter as P. vexans. Despite morphological resemblance, the comparison between the internal transcribed spacer 1 regions of the ribosomal DNA of the two fungi leaves no doubt of their different identities. P. perplexum was found to be highly pathogenic to cucumber seedlings. Damping-off disease of cucumber caused by P. perplexum can effectively be controlled by using the soil bacterium Serratia plymuthica (B-781). The details of the morphology and the molecular characterisation of P. perplexum and its biological control with S. plymuthica are described here.

Antibiosis↗

Laboratory evaluation of pathogenicity of entomogenous nematodes to African tick species.

Five strains of entomogenous nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae strains DD, Mexican, SR, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora strains 1S5 and HP88, were tested for their pathogenicity to various developmental stages of five African tick species namely; Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. evertsi, Amblyomma variegatum, A. gemma, and Boophilus decoloratus. In engorged female R. appendiculatus, all nematodes at a concentration of 1,000 infective juveniles (IJ)/dish, except S. carpocapsae Mexican strain, induced high mortalities (56-100%), whereas in engorged female R. evertsi, only S. carpocapsae DD and H. bacteriophora HP88 induced high mortalities (78% and 56%, respectively). In engorged B. decoloratus, S. carpocapsae DD, Mexican, SR and H. bacteriophora HP88 (100 IJ/dish) induced mortalities of 85%, 65%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. In all cases, except for S. carpocapsae Mexican strain, a higher concentration (5,000 IJ/dish) did not result in higher mortality than occurred with 1,000 IJ/dish. Unfed females and immature stages of ticks were found to be generally resistant to the nematodes. The feasibility of using entomogenous nematodes for biological control of African tick species are briefly discussed.

Africa↗

[Antagonistic and insecticidal properties of soil micromycetes].

It was shown that microscopic fungi isolated in plague foci had an antagonistic effect on the plague causative agent. In the majority of the cases it was associated with their insecticidal activity against plague-transmitting fleas. It is expedient to consider the relations revealed between the burrow biocenosis components in investigation of plague enzootic aspects and development of new biological insecticides for control of the infection carriers.

Animals↗

Laboratory studies on the predatory potential of dragon-fly nymphs on mosquito larvae.

Biocontrol potential of dragonfly nymph, Brachythemis contaminata Fabricius against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Culex. quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti was studied under laboratory conditions. It was found that dragonfly nymph had highest predation efficacy against An. stephensi followed by Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti. Feeding rate increased with decrease in prey size/stage. Analysis of data indicated that dragonfly nymphs have good predatory potential and can be used as a biological control agent for control of mosquito breeding.

Animals↗

Identification of Specific Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas Strains in the Biocontrol of the Potato Pest Tecia solanivora.

Tecia solanivora (The Guatemalan potato tuber moth) is a major potato pest, responsible for up to 20% of crop losses and a significant economic impact. Certain Pseudomonas exhibit insecticidal activity and produce virulence factors with cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties, positioning them as promising candidates for biological control. This study evaluated seven Pseudomonas strains with insecticidal activity and identified key virulence factors involved. The strains demonstrated varying degrees of insecticidal activity, with Pseudomonas protegens strains CHA0 and 59C being the most lethal, causing over 75% mortality and triggering a systemic melanization response in the insects. Genomic analysis revealed 175 virulence-related genes shared across all strains and 16 genes specific to the highly insecticidal ones, including genes for antimicrobial compounds and insect toxins. Mutational analysis confirmed the roles of hydrogen cyanide, 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, pyoluteorin, Fit toxin, and two-partner secretion systems in P. protegens CHA0 insecticidal activity. This strain also exhibited insecticidal effects on adult T. solanivora and delayed egg hatching and pupal emergence. In microcosm assays, P. protegens CHA0 reduced tuber damage caused by T. solanivora larvae by up to 38%. These results suggest that P. protegens CHA0 is a promising biocontrol agent, providing a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides to control T. solanivora.

Animals↗

Pyrethroid-Acarophenax lacunatus interaction in suppressing the beetle Rhyzopertha dominica on stored wheat.

Any biocontrol agent used against stored grain insects will have to interact with insecticides used as grain protectants due to their heavy use especially in tropical areas. Therefore, the interaction between the pyrethroid insecticides bifenthrin and deltamethrin and Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae), an egg parasite of the stored cereal pest Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), was assessed in a range of mite densities and insecticide doses for each compound. Despite the mite species presence on all insecticide doses, the lowest instantaneous rate of increase of A. lacanatus was recorded with the highest doses of insecticides. The presence of the biological control agent at all doses of both insecticides suggests its tolerance to these compounds. A. lacunatus showed higher parasitism rate with bifenthrin than with deltamethrin indicating a higher selectivity of the first compound to the biocontrol agent.

Animals↗

Transgenic loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plants expressing a modified delta-endotoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis with enhanced resistance to Dendrolimus punctatus Walker and Crypyothelea formosicola Staud.

A synthetic version of the CRY1Ac gene of Bacillus thuringiensis has been used for the transformation of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) using particle bombardment. Mature zygotic embryos were used to be bombarded and to generate organogenic callus and transgenic regenerated plants. Expression vector pB48.215 DNA contained a synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) CRY1Ac coding sequence flanked by the double cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator sequences, and the neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) gene controlled by the promoter of the nopaline synthase gene was introduced into loblolly pine tissues by particle bombardment. The transformed tissues were proliferated and selected on media with kanamycin. Shoot regeneration was induced from the kanamycin-resistant calli, and transgenic plantlets were then produced. More than 60 transformed plants from independent transformation events were obtained for each loblolly pine genotype tested. The integration and expression of the introduced genes in the transgenic loblolly pine plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) analysis, by Southern hybridization, by Northern blot analysis, and by Western blot analysis. Effective resistance of transgenic plants against Dendrolimus punctatus Walker and Crypyothelea formosicola Staud was verified in feeding bioassays with the insects. The transgenic plants recovered could represent a good opportunity to analyse the impact of genetic engineering of pine for sustainable resistance to pests using a B. thuringiensis insecticidal protein. This protocol enabled the routine transformation of loblolly pine plants that were previously difficult to transform.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Parasitoids of medfly, Ceratitis capitata, and related tephritids in Kenyan coffee: a predominantly koinobiont assemblage.

Arabica coffee was sampled from two sites in the central highlands of Kenya (Rurima, Ruiru) and one site on the western side of the Rift Valley (Koru). Three species of ceratitidine Tephritidae, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), C. rosa Karsch and Trirhithrum coffeae Bezzi, were reared from sites in the central highlands, and an additional species, C. anonae Graham, was recovered from the western-most site. Ten species of parasitic Hymenoptera were reared from these tephritids. The parasitoid assemblage was dominated by koinobionts. Eight of the species are koinobiont endoparasitoids, but only one idiobiont larval ectoparasitoid was reared, and only one idiobiont pupal endoparasitoid. The effects of sampling bias on determination of parasitoid assemblage size associated with concealed hosts are discussed. The potential for use of these parasitoids in biological control is also discussed. Most of the parasitoid species recovered during this study are capable of developing on C. capitata, while several also attack C. rosa. Both flies are notorious pests of tropical and subtropical fruits.

Animals↗

Innovations: applications of insect transgenesis.

The recent establishment of broadly applicable genetic transformation systems will allow the analysis of gene function in diverse insect species. This will increase our understanding of developmental and evolutionary biology. Furthermore, insect transgenesis will provide new strategies for insect pest management and methods to impair the transmission of pathogens by human disease vectors. However, these powerful techniques must be applied with great care to avoid harm to our environment.

Animals↗

Life tables of Venturia canescens (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) parasitizing the Mediterranean flour moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Effects of temperature, adult feeding, and host instar on life table parameters of Venturia canescens Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) parasitizing larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were studied in the laboratory. Experimental adults lived under various regimes of temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C), food supply (with or without access to honey), and host instar (second, third, fourth, and fifth). Temperature increase resulted in higher values of the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)), the net reproductive rate (R(o)), the finite capacity of increase (lambda), and the gross reproductive rate (GRR), whereas it was followed by decrease of the mean generation time (G) and the doubling time (DT) values. Feeding on honey caused remarkable increase of r(m), R(o), and GRR, whereas r(m) and lambda reached their maximum when full-grown hosts (fifth instar) were parasitized. This is the first time life table parameters of V. canescens have been studied. The findings of the current study are discussed on the basis of improving V. canescens performance as a biological agent against moth pests of stored products.

Animals↗

[Control of arthropod vectors of human diseases in intertropical Africa: its importance (author's transl)].

Intertropical Africa is the first area in the world for the frequency of arthropod born human diseases, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, viral infections (f.i.yellow fever), various filariasis and chiefly onchocerciasis. Control of arthropod vectors is very important indeed in this area. It requires a closed collaboration between entomologists, biologists, hygienists and tropical physicians. Chemical control is still preponderant but it must be associated, as often as possible, with physical, biological and genetic means of control.

Africa↗