scholarly journals Next Generation Biological Control: The Need for Integrating Genetics and Evolution

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelley Leung ◽  
Erica Ras ◽  
Kim Ferguson ◽  
Simone Ariëns ◽  
Dirk Babendreier Babendreier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Ecological Principles ◽  
Sequencing Strategy ◽  
High Heritability ◽  
Economic Perspectives ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
International Trade Laws ◽  
Review Current

Biological control is widely successful for controlling pests, but effective biocontrol agents are now more difficult to obtain due to more restrictive international trade laws. Coupled with increasing demand, the efficacy of existing and new biocontrol agents needs to be improved with genetic and genomic approaches. Although they have been underutilised in the past, applying genetic and genomic techniques is becoming more feasible from both technological and economic perspectives. We review current methods and provide a framework for using them, incorporating evolutionary and ecological principles. First, it is necessary to identify which biocontrol trait to select and in what direction. Next, the genes or markers linked to these traits need be determined to better target their selection, followed by how to implement this information into a breeding program. Choosing a trait can be assisted by modelling to account for the proper agro-ecological context, and by knowing which traits have sufficiently high heritability values. We provide guidelines for designing genomic strategies in biocontrol programs, which depends on the organism, budget, and desired objective. Genomic approaches start with genome sequencing and assembly. We provide a guide for deciding the most successful sequencing strategy for biocontrol agents. Gene discovery involves quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses, transcriptomic and proteomic studies, and gene editing. Improving biocontrol practices include marker-assisted selection, genomic selection and microbiome manipulation of biocontrol agents, and monitoring for genetic variation during rearing and post-release. We conclude by identifying the most promising applications of genetic and genomic methods to improve biological control efficacy.

scholarly journals Combining Biocontrol Agents to Reduce the Variability of Biological Control

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 621-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Guetsky ◽  
D. Shtienberg ◽  
Y. Elad ◽  
A. Dinoor
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Bacillus Mycoides ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Spray Timing ◽  
Control Application

Two biocontrol agents, a yeast (Pichia guilermondii) and a bacterium (Bacillus mycoides), were tested separately and together for suppression of Botrytis cinerea on strawberry leaves. The aims of the research were to determine whether the use of their combination would broaden the environmental conditions under which biological control is effective, and to test the hypothesis that it would reduce the variability of control efficacy under diverse conditions. Applied separately, the biocontrol agents significantly inhibited spore germination, lesion formation, and lesion development at most temperatures, relative humidities, and spray-timing combinations (temperatures: 10, 15, 20, 23, 25, and 30°C; relative humidities: 78, 85, 96, and 100%; and spray-timings: 0, 4, and 7 days before inoculation). However, control efficacy was highly variable, and under certain combinations it was not adequate. Control efficacy achieved by the biocontrol agents applied separately ranged between 38 and 98% (mean 74%) and the coefficient of variation ranged from 9.7 to 75%. The mixture of Bacillus mycoides and Pichia guilermondii suppressed Botrytis cinerea effectively (80 to 99.8% control) under all conditions, and the coefficients of variation were as low as 0.4 to 9% in all cases. Thus, application of both biocontrol agents resulted in better suppression of Botrytis cinerea, and also reduced the variability of disease control. Application of more than one biocontrol agent is suggested as a reliable means of reducing the variability and increasing the reliability of biological control.

Biological Control Efficacy of Bacillus Licheniformis Hg03 Against Soft Rot Disease of Postharvest Peach

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunpeng Wang ◽  
Xiaoli Wang ◽  
Jingfeng Zhu ◽  
Huan Wei ◽  
Zhipeng Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Bacillus Licheniformis ◽  
Soft Rot ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Soft Rot Disease ◽  
Rot Disease

Identification of Aspergillus flavus Isolates as Potential Biocontrol Agents of Aflatoxin Contamination in Crops

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 1051-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. ROSADA ◽  
J. R. SANT'ANNA ◽  
C. C. S. FRANCO ◽  
G. N. M. ESQUISSATO ◽  
P. A. S. R. SANTOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Microscopic Examination ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Nit Mutants ◽  
The Stability

Aspergillus flavus, a haploid organism found worldwide in a variety of crops, including maize, cottonseed, almond, pistachio, and peanut, causes substantial and recurrent worldwide economic liabilities. This filamentous fungus produces aflatoxins (AFLs) B1 and B2, which are among the most carcinogenic compounds from nature, acutely hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive. Recent efforts to reduce AFL contamination in crops have focused on the use of nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus strains as biological control agents. Such agents are applied to soil to competitively exclude native AFL strains from crops and thereby reduce AFL contamination. Because the possibility of genetic recombination in A. flavus could influence the stability of biocontrol strains with the production of novel AFL phenotypes, this article assesses the diversity of vegetative compatibility reactions in isolates of A. flavus to identify heterokaryon self-incompatible (HSI) strains among nonaflatoxigenic isolates, which would be used as biological controls of AFL contamination in crops. Nitrate nonutilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from 25 A. flavus isolates, and based on vegetative complementation between nit mutants and on the microscopic examination of the number of hyphal fusions, five nonaflatoxigenic (6, 7, 9 to 11) and two nontoxigenic (8 and 12) isolates of A. flavus were phenotypically characterized as HSI. Because the number of hyphal fusions is reduced in HSI strains, impairing both heterokaryon formation and the genetic exchanges with aflatoxigenic strains, the HSI isolates characterized here, especially isolates 8 and 12, are potential agents for reducing AFL contamination in crops.

NEW ASSOCIATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: THEORY AND PRACTICE

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (10) ◽  
pp. 829-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heikki M.T. Hokkanen ◽  
David Pimentel
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
New Associations ◽  
Future Success ◽  
New Association

AbstractThe new association approach for selecting biological control agents has been reanalyzed in the light of recent data. The results support the conclusion that the new association approach is ecologically and statistically sound. One of the major advantages of this approach is its capacity to control native pests, which make up 60–80% of all pests. The specificity of biocontrol agents newly associated with the target hosts is similar to other biocontrol agents. In addition, the new association approach is as safe as the old association approach in terms of environmental risks. Recent trials in the use of new associations have been most encouraging, and suggest that this approach should contribute to the future success of biological pest control worldwide.

scholarly journals First Screening of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Fungus as Biocontrol Agents against an Emerging Pest of Sugarcane, Cacosceles newmannii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Javal ◽  
John S. Terblanche ◽  
Desmond E. Conlong ◽  
Antoinette P. Malan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Sugar Production ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Sugarcane Stalk ◽  
Reduce Sugar ◽  
Steinernema Yirgalemense

Cacosceles newmannii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an emerging pest of sugarcane in South Africa. The larvae of this cerambycid beetle live within the sugarcane stalk and drill galleries that considerably reduce sugar production. To provide an alternative to chemical control, entomopathogenic nematodes and fungus were investigated as potential biological control agents to be used in an integrated pest management system. The nematodes Steinernema yirgalemense, S. jeffreyense, Heterorhabditis indica, and different concentrations of the fungus Metarhizium pinghaense were screened for efficacy (i.e., mortality rate) against larvae of C. newmannii. The different biocontrol agents used, revealed a low level of pathogenicity to C. newmannii larvae, when compared to control treatments.

Screening Sugars Can Benefit the Parasitoid Cotesia chilonis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Without Benefiting Its Host, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 2142-2148
Author(s):  
Jun-Ce Tian ◽  
Yang Chen ◽  
Anthony M Shelton ◽  
Xu-Song Zheng ◽  
Hong-Xing Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Chilo Suppressalis ◽  
Sugar Consumption ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Rich Food ◽  
Rice Pest ◽  
Cotesia Chilonis

Abstract Most adult parasitoids depend on carbohydrate-rich food as an energy source for longevity, fecundity, and mobility. Thus, providing sugars has been proposed as a technique to maximize the biological control efficacy of parasitoids. However, the sugars provided for parasitoids need to be carefully selected because herbivore hosts might also benefit. Here we explore the effects of 12 naturally occurring sugars on the longevity and fecundity of the rice pest, Chilo suppressalis, and the longevity of its parasitoid, Cotesia chilonis, as well as the effect of sugars on sugar consumption of C. chilonis. Results showed that none of the tested sugars significantly impacted the longevity of C. suppressalis, but fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose significantly increased its fecundity. The longevity of C. chilonis was significantly increased when fed fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, trehalose, and melezitose. Our data suggest that C. chilonis consumed larger quantities of glucose, fructose, and sucrose followed by maltose, melezitose, and trehalose and the longevity of C. chilonis was positively correlated to sugar consumption. Our data also suggest that the herbivore C. suppressalis and its parasitoid C. chilonis responded differently to trehalose and melezitose. Although additional studies are needed, our data suggest that these sugars could be considered as candidate components for sugar sprays to enhance the activity and efficacy of C. chilonis, but without benefiting its pest host.

A new species of Bithoracochaeta Stein (Diptera: Muscidae) with comments on Mexican species of the genus and their implication as possible biocontrol agents for greenhouses pests

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4896 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-291
Author(s):  
SANTIAGO JAUME-SCHINKEL ◽  
SERGIO IBÁÑEZ-BERNAL
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Hunting Behavior ◽  
Mexican Species ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Bithoracochaeta Stein, 1911 (Diptera, Muscidae), Bithoracochaeta couriae sp. nov., is described and illustrated. In addition, we present comments on all Mexican species of the genus, a brief description of hunting behavior of B. couriae sp. nov. and its possible use as a biological control agent of greenhouses pests. 

Assessing aerated vermicompost tea (ACT) combined with microbial biological control agents for suppression of Fusarium and Rhizoctonia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Wylie ◽  
Zamir K. Punja
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Disease Suppression ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Background Suppression ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Vermicompost Tea ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Biological control of plant diseases is important in organic greenhouse vegetable production where fungicide use is limited. Organic producers employ microbially-diverse substrates, including composts, as media for plant growth. Previous research into the impact of vermicompost on the efficacy of applied biocontrol agents is limited. An in vitro assay was developed to test the efficacy of two biological control agents in a competitive microbial background. Suppression of the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum (Forc) by Clonostachys rosea f. catenulata (Gliocladium catenulatum strain J1446 (Prestop®) and Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (Rhapsody®), was assessed on agar media amended with aerated vermicompost tea (ACT). Pathogen growth was reduced more by C. rosea than ACT alone and C. rosea was equally effective when combined with ACT. In contrast, B. subtilis reduced pathogen growth less than ACT, and when combined, reduced pathogen growth not more than ACT alone. Both biocontrol agents were similarly tested with ACT against Forc and Rhizoctonia solani on cucumber and radish. Additive, neutral, and antagonistic responses, depending on host, pathogen, and biocontrol agent, were observed. ACT alone provided more consistent disease suppression on cucumber compared with B. subtilis or C. rosea. In combination, disease suppression was most often better than each biocontrol alone but not better than ACT alone. ACT had antagonistic or additive interactions with C. rosea in the radish/R. solani pathosystem, depending on the experiment. The specific and general suppression of plant diseases by biological control agents in microbially-rich environments is variable and requires further study.

Biological control of ticks

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (S1) ◽  
pp. S389-S403 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. SAMISH ◽  
H. GINSBERG ◽  
I. GLAZER
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Parasitoid Wasps ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
Production Strategies ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Selection Of

Ticks have numerous natural enemies, but only a few species have been evaluated as tick biocontrol agents (BCAs). Some laboratory results suggest that several bacteria are pathogenic to ticks, but their mode of action and their potential value as biocontrol agents remain to be determined. The most promising entomopathogenic fungi appear to be Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, strains of which are already commercially available for the control of some pests. Development of effective formulations is critical for tick management. Entomopathogenic nematodes that are pathogenic to ticks can potentially control ticks, but improved formulations and selection of novel nematode strains are needed. Parasitoid wasps of the genus Ixodiphagus do not typically control ticks under natural conditions, but inundative releases show potential value. Most predators of ticks are generalists, with a limited potential for tick management (one possible exception is oxpeckers in Africa). Biological control is likely to play a substantial role in future IPM programmes for ticks because of the diversity of taxa that show high potential as tick BCAs. Considerable research is required to select appropriate strains, develop them as BCAs, establish their effectiveness, and devise production strategies to bring them to practical use.

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