Economic assessment of nematode biological control agents in a potato production model

Summary Nematode parasitism is a yield limiting factor in many cropping systems, including potato production, which can translate into substantial economic losses. These impacted financial returns are simply calculated by subtracting the cost of production from total revenue (yield times the price per yield of potatoes). The production costs can include, but are not limited to, chemical and biological control agents. To assess economic returns associated with different nematode management strategies, we evaluated complete cost estimations for a representative commercial potato farm in central Michigan, USA. Economic returns were calculated using stochastic parameters for two biological control agents (MeloCon and Majestene), six chemical controls (Mocap, Movento, Nimitz, Velum and Vydate), and two soil amendments (poultry and dairy manure). Evaluated costs included stochastic estimations for price per unit weight of potatoes, fuel, labour and production land rent. Yield data from three field trials were used to create empirical distributions. Using yield data and stochastic cost estimations, we generated 500 simulations of net returns per treatment. The top three average returns were obtained from the use of Mocap, Nimitz and poultry manure. Velum, Movento, dairy manure and Vydate also gave returns significantly higher than no treatment at all; however, the biological nematicide, Majestene, showed negative returns. This simple financial model is a crucial layer of analysis on the performance of nematicides that can be adapted to advise growers through Agricultural Extension activities and needs to include the evaluation of biological control agents.

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Biological control agents in the integrated nematode management of potato in Egypt

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-020-00325-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mahfouz M. M. Abd-Elgawad

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Economic Value ◽

Potato Production ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Main Body ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Economic Significance

Abstract Background Potato represents Egypt’s largest vegetable export crop. Many plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are globally inflicting damage to potato plants. In Egypt, their economic significance considerably varies according to PPN distribution, population levels, and pathogenicity. Main body This review article highlights the biology, ecology, and economic value of the PPN control viewpoint. The integration of biological control agents (BCAs), as sound and safe potato production practice, with other phytosanitary measures to manage PPNs is presented for sustainable agriculture. A few cases of BCA integration with such other options as synergistic/additive PPN management measures to upgrade crop yields are reviewed. Yet, various attributes of BCAs should better be grasped so that they can fit in at the emerging and/or existing integrated management strategies of potato pests. Conclusion A few inexpensive biocontrol products, for PPNs control on potato, versus their corresponding costly chemical nematicides are gathered and listed for consideration. Hence, raising awareness of farmers for making these biologicals familiar and easy to use will promote their wider application while offering safe and increased potato yield.

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Fungi as biological control agents of arthropods of agricultural and medical importance

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000053658 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 205-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 104

Author(s):

R. A. Hall ◽

B. Papierok

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Organic Pollution ◽

Verticillium Lecanii ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Yield Data ◽

Medical Importance ◽

Terrestrial Insects

SUMMARYThere are many species of fungi attacking terrestrial and aquatic insects of agricultural and medical importance. Of these, few species have received much attention with a view to their use as biological control agents. The mechanisms of infection have been comparatively well studied, although many questions remain to be answered. The knowledge so far obtained has shed some light on the reasons for host specificity. Temperature, above all relative humidity, and their interactions are the most important physical factors influencing infection of terrestrial insects by entomopathogenic fungi and these are discussed in relation to epizootiological events. In aquatic environments, temperature, salinity and organic pollution are the important factors. In addition to these physical factors, numerous biotic factors at the level of the insect and the fungal pathogen influence both infection and spread of disease in insect populations. The complexity of the interactions of the biotic and abiotic factors makes it extremely difficult to study the influence of any one of these. Virulence of fungal pathogens and its measurement are discussed, together with the shortcomings of present bioassay systems; virtually no laboratory bioassay system exists which has been designed to yield data meaningful in the field. Mass-production techniques are described as are their inherent problems and those of formulation and storage. Finally, the achievements of fungal control of insects in the field are reviewed. Thus far, several species are mass-produced and are in widespread use, two of which,Verticillium lecaniiandHirsutella thompsonii, have been commercialized. More studies, ecological, fundamental and developmental are required in this field to realize fully the potential of other candidate fungi.

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Impact of Trichoderma sp. on the Development of Heterobasidion Annosum in Decayed Understory Picea Abies Stumps

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Section B Natural Exact and Applied Sciences ◽

10.1515/prolas-2017-0009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 71 (1-2) ◽

pp. 52-56

Author(s):

Kristīne Kenigsvalde ◽

Dina Nitiša ◽

Dace Saulīte ◽

Kari Korhonen ◽

Līvija Vulfa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Field Studies ◽

Antagonistic Effect ◽

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Trichoderma Sp ◽

The Impact ◽

Trichoderma Isolates

Abstract Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. s.l. causes significant economic losses in conifer forests. Therefore, to reduce the spread of the infection surfaces of freshly cut conifer, stumps are commonly treated with biological control agents. Trichoderma sp. shows very strong antagonistic effect against H. annosum in vitro, but relatively few field studies have been conducted. Moreover, most of previous studies examined the impact of Trichoderma sp. on H. annosum in healthy conifer stumps. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma sp. against H. annosum in already decayed understory spruce stumps. In total, 75 decayed spruce stumps were surveyed. Part of the spruce stumps were left as a control, and the others were treated with one of two Trichoderma isolates (T472 and T945) belonging to two different species: T. viridescens and T. viride. The occurrence of H. annosum was evaluated 3 and 12 months after treatment. The main results were that the area of previously healthy wood occupied by H. annosum was larger in control stumps in comparison with treated stumps, but the differences were not statistically significant.

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Viruses Infecting the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Rhizoctonia solani

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v11121113 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Assane Hamidou Abdoulaye ◽

Mohamed Frahat Foda ◽

Ioly Kotta-Loizou

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Rhizoctonia Solani ◽

Pathogenic Fungus ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Fungal Host ◽

Molecular Features ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽

Fungal Viruses ◽

Negative Sense

The cosmopolitan fungus Rhizoctonia solani has a wide host range and is the causal agent of numerous crop diseases, leading to significant economic losses. To date, no cultivars showing complete resistance to R. solani have been identified and it is imperative to develop a strategy to control the spread of the disease. Fungal viruses, or mycoviruses, are widespread in all major groups of fungi and next-generation sequencing (NGS) is currently the most efficient approach for their identification. An increasing number of novel mycoviruses are being reported, including double-stranded (ds) RNA, circular single-stranded (ss) DNA, negative sense (−)ssRNA, and positive sense (+)ssRNA viruses. The majority of mycovirus infections are cryptic with no obvious symptoms on the hosts; however, some mycoviruses may alter fungal host pathogenicity resulting in hypervirulence or hypovirulence and are therefore potential biological control agents that could be used to combat fungal diseases. R. solani harbors a range of dsRNA and ssRNA viruses, either belonging to established families, such as Endornaviridae, Tymoviridae, Partitiviridae, and Narnaviridae, or unclassified, and some of them have been associated with hypervirulence or hypovirulence. Here we discuss in depth the molecular features of known viruses infecting R. solani and their potential as biological control agents.

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Use of Sugar Dispensers to Disrupt Ant Attendance and Improve Biological Control of Mealybugs in Vineyard

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12040330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 330

Author(s):

Martina Parrilli ◽

Marco Profeta ◽

Luca Casoli ◽

Fabio Gambirasio ◽

Antonio Masetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Field Trials ◽

Field Application ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri ◽

Mutualistic Relationship ◽

Ant Attendance ◽

Pseudococcus Comstocki

Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are economically important pests occurring in vineyards, causing severe economic losses for growers and compromising bunch production. The partial effectiveness of insecticides used in controlling mealybug infestations as well as their high impact on the environment and on human health have led to the research of alternative and sustainable control methods, including biological control. Several natural enemies are reported to be effective against mealybugs, but their activity may be hindered by tending ants. These social insects are known to exhibit a mutualistic relationship with mealybugs, resulting in extremely aggressive behavior against beneficial insects. Consequently, this study explored a method to mitigate ant attendance by means of sugar dispensers in order to improve ecosystem services, as well as decrease mealybug infestation in vineyards. Field trials were carried out in four commercial vineyards of Northern Italy infested by mealybugs, in which Anagyrus vladimiri Triapitsyn (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were released as biological control agents. Our results showed that sugar dispensers reduced ant activity and mealybug infestation, leading to a significant enhancement of ecosystem services. The technique showed a great potential in boosting biological control against mealybugs in field conditions, though the field application seemed to be labour intensive and needs to be replicated for a multi-year evaluation.

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Yellow Brazilian Pepper-tree Leaf Galler (suggested common name) Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Insecta: Hemiptera: Calophyidae: Calophyinae)

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-in1186-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 (6) ◽

Author(s):

James P. Cuda ◽

Patricia Prade ◽

Carey R. Minteer-Killian

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

North America ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Host Plants ◽

Classical Biological Control ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Pepper Tree ◽

Brazilian Pepper ◽

Close Relatives ◽

Tree Leaf

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]

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