scholarly journals Intensified agriculture favors evolved resistance to biological control

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (15) ◽  
pp. 3885-3890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Tomasetto ◽  
Jason M. Tylianakis ◽  
Marco Reale ◽  
Steve Wratten ◽  
Stephen L. Goldson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Genetic Barriers ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis

Increased regulation of chemical pesticides and rapid evolution of pesticide resistance have increased calls for sustainable pest management. Biological control offers sustainable pest suppression, partly because evolution of resistance to predators and parasitoids is prevented by several factors (e.g., spatial or temporal refuges from attacks, reciprocal evolution by control agents, and contrasting selection pressures from other enemy species). However, evolution of resistance may become more probable as agricultural intensification reduces the availability of refuges and diversity of enemy species, or if control agents have genetic barriers to evolution. Here we use 21 y of field data from 196 sites across New Zealand to show that parasitism of a key pasture pest (Listronotus bonariensis; Argentine stem weevil) by an introduced parasitoid (Microctonus hyperodae) was initially nationally successful but then declined by 44% (leading to pasture damage of c. 160 million New Zealand dollars per annum). This decline was not attributable to parasitoid numbers released, elevation, or local climatic variables at sample locations. Rather, in all locations the decline began 7 y (14 host generations) following parasitoid introduction, despite releases being staggered across locations in different years. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally that declining parasitism rates occurred in ryegrass Lolium perenne, which is grown nationwide in high-intensity was significantly less than in adjacent plots of a less-common pasture grass (Lolium multiflorum), indicating that resistance to parasitism is host plant–dependent. We conclude that low plant and enemy biodiversity in intensive large-scale agriculture may facilitate the evolution of host resistance by pests and threaten the long-term viability of biological control.

scholarly journals Ploidy in Lolium spp. cultivars affects Argentine stem weevil parasitism by Microctonus hyperodae

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 326 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Tomasetto ◽  
O. Olaniyan ◽  
S.L. Goldson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
Microctonus Hyperodae

A laboratory study was conducted to: (1) advance earlier work to determine the susceptibility of Listronotus bonariensis (Argentine stem weevil) to its parasitoid biological control agent, Microctonus hyperodae, in the presence of diploid ryegrasses such as Lolium multiflorum or Lolium perenne; and (2) determine whether or not plant orientation (i.e. horizontal vs. vertical) had any effect on parasitism rates. No significant differences in parasitism rates were found in the Listronotus bonariensis populations in the two grasses. However, combining and analysing these data with those from an earlier experiment conducted in the same way showed that parasitism rates were significantly lower in diploid Lolium multiflorum cultivars than in tetraploid Lolium multiflorum. This is the first clear evidence of a ploidy effect on parasitism rates in the presence of Lolium multiflorum. Tetraploid Lolium multiflorum has fewer, more robust and larger tillers than the diploid Lolium spp. so higher parasitism rates may be related to the lack of hiding places for an evasive genetically-driven behaviourally-based resistance by Listronotus bonariensis.

scholarly journals Microctonus hyperodae a summary of releases and distribution in New Zealand pasture

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 272-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.R. McNeill ◽  
P.J. Addison ◽  
J.R. Proffitt ◽  
C.B. Phillips ◽  
S.L. Goldson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
South America ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Limited Distribution ◽  
The North ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Geographic Populations ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
Microctonus Hyperodae

The braconid parasitoid Microctonus hyperodae was released in New Zealand for biological control of Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis The initial 1991 research introduction involved the release of 99000 parasitised L bonariensis Between 1991 and 1998 a further 660000 M hyperodae were released as part of commercial contracts and research programmes Commercial contracts resulted in the widespread release of the parasitoid in the North Island with South Island releases mainly confined to midCanterbury There were eight geographic populations originally collected from South America and these were maintained separately in the laboratory Excluding the Mendoza population which was founded on a single female an average of 91040 M hyperodae was released from each of the seven remaining populations Parasitised L bonariensis were released at a total of 121 sites and the parasitoid established at 118 (975) Based on the distribution of releases in New Zealand and the results of surveys it is estimated that M hyperodae is now very widely distributed in the North Island with more limited distribution in the South Island

scholarly journals Genetic Diversity in Invasive Populations of Argentine Stem Weevil Associated with Adaptation to Biocontrol

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. R. Harrop ◽  
Marissa F. Le Lec ◽  
Ruy Jauregui ◽  
Shannon E. Taylor ◽  
Sarah N. Inwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Effective Population

Modified, agricultural landscapes are susceptible to damage by insect pests. Biological control of pests is typically successful once a control agent has established, but this depends on the agent’s capacity to co-evolve with the host. Theoretical studies have shown that different levels of genetic variation between the host and the control agent will lead to rapid evolution of resistance in the host. Although this has been reported in one instance, the underlying genetics have not been studied. To address this, we measured the genetic variation in New Zealand populations of the pasture pest, Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis), which is controlled with declining effectiveness by a parasitoid wasp, Microctonus hyperodae. We constructed a draft reference genome of the weevil, collected samples from a geographical survey of 10 sites around New Zealand, and genotyped them using a modified genotyping-by-sequencing approach. New Zealand populations of Argentine stem weevil have high levels of heterozygosity and low population structure, consistent with a large effective population size and frequent gene flow. This implies that Argentine stem weevils were able to evolve more rapidly than their biocontrol agent, which reproduces asexually. These findings show that monitoring genetic diversity in biocontrol agents and their targets is critical for long-term success of biological control.

scholarly journals Effect of Epichlo endophyte strains in Lolium spp cultivars on Argentine stem weevil parasitism by Microctonus hyperodae

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 204-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.L. Goldson ◽  
F. Tomasetto ◽  
A.J. Popay
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Early Autumn ◽  
Extensive Field ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
Microctonus Hyperodae ◽  
All Treatment

This paper reports on an extensive field investigation conducted at Lincoln during the 20142015 summer/early autumn This aimed to assess the effects of a range of novel Epichlo endophytes when present in different cultivars of Lolium spp on parasitism rates by the biological control agent Microctonus hyperodae in Listronotus bonariensis (ie the Argentine stem weevil) Results for the entire summer and including all treatment combinations did not find any significant differences in parasitism in L bonariensis populations However in the early autumn independent of the endophytes present significantly higher levels of parasitism were found in a tetraploid Lolium multiflorum cultivar and a tetraploid L perenne selection compared to the L perenne cultivars Whether this finding has any bearing on a possible mechanism of weevil resistance is discussed

scholarly journals A simple PCRRFLP method to distinguish between species and strains of Microctonus parasitoids found in New Zealand

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 186-191
Author(s):  
C.J. Vink
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides ◽  
Restriction Fragment Length

Two strains of the hymenopteran parasitoid Microctonus aethiopoides have been released in New Zealand for the biological control of Sitona weevil species One attacks Sitona discoideus a pest of lucerne and the other attacks Sitona lepidus a pest of clover Two other Microctonus species also attack weevils in pasture; M hyperodae was released for the biological control of Listronotus bonariensis and the native M zealandicus attacks Irenimus spp These Microctonus species can attack nontarget weevil hosts and the identification of the larvae of the different Microctonus species and the separation of adults of M aethiopoides strains can only be achieved by molecular methods This paper describes a simple polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) method for distinguishing between the two M aethiopoides strains M hyperodae and M zealandicus This PCRRFLP method requires minimal molecular equipment and is cheaper and/or faster than other molecular methods

scholarly journals Parasitism by Microctonus aethiopoides on a novel host Listronotus bonariensis in Canterbury pastures

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 280-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.R. McNeill ◽  
J.M. Kean ◽  
S.L. Goldson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Natural Host ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Novel Host ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

The parasitoids Microctonus aethiopoides and M hyperodae have been introduced as biological control agents against Sitona discoideus and Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis respectively Collections from ryegrass/white clover pastures in midCanterbury found that M aethiopoides was widespread in L bonariensis despite the weevil being a novel host Microctonus aethiopoides was recovered from 83 of the 65 sites sampled in Canterbury with parasitism rates of 0419 Studies in lucerne crops showed that M aethiopoides preferentially parasitised its natural host S discoideus although in some cases up to 10 of L bonariensis found in the lucerne were parasitised A possible reason for the prevalence of M aethiopoides in Canterbury pasture was that the widelydispersive flights of S discoideus from aestivation sites provided a source for reinfection of the parasitoid into ryegrass pasture Analysis of field parasitism suggested that parasitism of L bonariensis by M aethiopoides was negatively correlated with parasitism by M hyperodae

scholarly journals Potential biological control of take-all disease in perennial ryegrass

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 213-220
Author(s):  
Abdullah Umar ◽  
Diwakar R.W. Kandula ◽  
John G. Hampton ◽  
M. Phil Rolston ◽  
Soonie F. Chng
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Gaeumannomyces Graminis ◽  
Trichoderma Atroviride ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Take All

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the major pasture grass in New Zealand but is highly susceptible to take-all disease, caused by the root-rot pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis (Gg). Isolates of the fungus Trichoderma atroviride are known to control Gg but it is not known if a mixture of isolates would be more effective than individual ones. Soil from a field naturally infested with Gg was placed in containers in a glasshouse and sown with ryegrass seeds then treated with one of three Trichoderma atroviride isolates or a mixture of all three isolates. All T. atroviride treatments significantly increased shoot dry matter by 46–73% and root dry matter by 42–62% compared with the control but a mixture of isolates was no more effective than individual isolates. Application of T. atroviride also significantly decreased root disease severity, which was negatively correlated with root dry matter. Takeall in pastures could possibly be controlled by overdrilling grass with a single isolate of T. atroviride.

Allozyme markers to help define the South American origins ofMicroctonus hyperodae(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) established in New Zealand for biological control of Argentine stem weevil

2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.I. Iline ◽  
C.B. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
South American ◽  
Isofemale Lines ◽  
The South ◽  
Morphometric Variation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Dehydrogenase Isozyme ◽  
Listronotus Bonariensis

AbstractThe thelytokous parasitoid,Microctonus hyperodaeLoan, was collected from eight South American locations and introduced to New Zealand in 1991 for biological control of Argentine stem weevil,Listronotus bonariensis(Kuschel) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Parasitoids from each population were released in equal numbers at each New Zealand site to give them the same opportunities to establish. Population markers have been sought to identify the South American geographic populations that have become most successful in New Zealand. These would assist in determining the importance of concepts such as climate matching and host–parasitoid coevolution to the establishment of natural enemies in new regions for biological control. Vertical polyacrylamide electrophoresis was used to survey 16 enzymes and ten calcium binding proteins, and this paper reports variation at three putative loci. Malate dehydrogenase, a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase isozyme and a calcium binding protein exhibited clear genetic variation, each with two alleles. AllM. hyperodaeisofemale lines from east of the Andes mountains shared one genotype, all but one from west of the Andes shared another, while a population from within the Andes contained both genotypes. This variation was highly congruent with previously described morphometric variation. At two loci, the maintenance of heterozygotes, and the absence of homozygotes, within isofemale lines suggestedM. hyperodaethelytoky is apomictic.

The introduction of the eleven-spotted ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata to New Zealand in 1874: the first use of a ladybird for biological control, or a spurious record created by cumulative misreporting?

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Galbreath ◽  
P. J. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Entomological Society ◽  
Beneficial Insects ◽  
Coccinella Undecimpunctata

The introduction of the eleven-spotted ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata to New Zealand in 1874 has been widely quoted as the first importation of an insect for biological control in New Zealand and one of the first anywhere. However, searches of historical records show no evidence that such an introduction was made or attempted. Instead, there is clear evidence that the presently accepted record arose by a process of cumulative misreporting. An account of discussions in the Entomological Society of London in December 1873 about possible introductions of various beneficial insects to New Zealand was misreported by the American entomologist C. V. Riley, and several subsequent authors restated his version with further modifications and additions. This created the record of the introduction of C. undecimpunctata to New Zealand in 1874 that has been accepted and repeated ever since.

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