Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.2
3.3
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management
share announcement

Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 9001

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Zoologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96010900, RS, Brazil
Interests: fruit flies; natural enemies; biological control; ecology of insects; agriculture entomology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sérgio M. Ovruski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratorio de Investigaciones Bioecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), División Control Biológico de Plagas, PROIMI Biotecnología, CCT NOA Sur-CONICET, Avda, Belgrano y Pje, Caseros, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001MVB, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Interests: fruit flies; parasitoids; insect biology and ecology; biological control; integrated pest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Knowledge of the ecology of insects, mites, vertebrate and invertebrate pests, weeds, and phytopathogens is one of the pillars of integrated pest management. Pests should be understood as populations that are out of balance and cause economic losses. Ecological knowledge about these populations is crucial for longer-lasting pest management with reduced environmental and social impact. The diversification of agroecosystems, agroforests, biological control, the push–pull technique, the sterile insect technique, and the search for selective agrochemicals within an area-wide approach depend significantly on this ecological knowledge. This Special Issue invites the submission of original research articles and reviews to deepen ecological aspects as a basis for future integrated pest management, such as demographic traits, ecology and evolution of behavioral patterns, population dynamics, diversity, abundance, trophic relationships, host range and status, natural enemies, niche, distribution modeling, phytosociology, allelopathy, competition, absent quarantine pests, and epidemiology.

Dr. Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia
Dr. Sérgio M. Ovruski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant–insect interaction
  • population dynamics
  • diversity
  • host range
  • natural enemies
  • trophic relationships
  • competition
  • epidemiology
  • phytosociology
  • absent quarantine pests
  • epidemiology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

11 pages, 767 KiB  
Article
Occurrence of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) in Commercial Fields of Solanum lycopersicum in Brazil
by Daniel de Lima Alvarez, Daniel Mariano Santos, Pedro Hiroshi Passos Ikuno, Caroline da Cruz Martines, Sérgio Roberto Benvenga, Cristiane Müller, Renate Krause-Sakate and Regiane Cristina de Oliveira
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2516; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112516 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 649
Abstract
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important crop to the economy of Brazil, and the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the limiting factors responsible for reducing its yields. These insects are part of a cryptic species group [...] Read more.
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important crop to the economy of Brazil, and the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the limiting factors responsible for reducing its yields. These insects are part of a cryptic species group present across almost the entire globe. The most relevant cryptic species in the world are B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED due to their capability to adapt and cause damage to vegetables, grain, and ornamental crops. The arrival of MED in Brazil through the state of São Paulo represents risks to farmers in the region due to the difficulty in managing these insects. This study assessed the occurrence of both species in tomato crops in the southeastern region of Brazil in 2020 and 2021. An amount of 79 samples containing 767 insects were collected throughout the study period, and in the cities of Sumaré (SP) and Monte Mor (SP), several samples were collected from the same location throughout the year. The insects were stored and sent for molecular analysis. The results showed an increase in MED compared to MEAM1. The presence of MED in the Minas Gerais samples was not recorded. However, a higher percentage of MED was observed in the state of São Paulo, which was detected in the municipalities of Sumaré and Monte Mor. These results possibly indicate that MED could be starting to stabilize in open tomato fields in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3894 KiB  
Article
Exploring Natural Infection in Alternative Hosts of Corn Stunt Spiroplasma and Tracking the Temporal Dynamics of Corn Stunt Disease in the Brazilian Cerrado Biome
by Rodrigo S. Toloy, Natalia P. Nose, Marcos V. Giongo, Alex S. R. Cangussu, Fabricio S. Campos, Marcio A. Ootani, Juliano M. Ribeiro, Raimundo W. S. Aguiar, Luis O. Viteri Jumbo, Eugênio E. Oliveira and Gil R. Santos
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2341; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102341 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 778
Abstract
The corn stunt disease complex, caused by the mollicutes Spiroplasma kunkelii (Css) and the maize bushy stunt (MBS) phytoplasma, is a major phytosanitary issue for corn production in the neotropical region of Brazil. In this study, we investigated the presence of alternative hosts [...] Read more.
The corn stunt disease complex, caused by the mollicutes Spiroplasma kunkelii (Css) and the maize bushy stunt (MBS) phytoplasma, is a major phytosanitary issue for corn production in the neotropical region of Brazil. In this study, we investigated the presence of alternative hosts for S. kunkelii (Css) in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and explored the potential for asymptomatic Css infections in maize plants. To identify possible alternative hosts, we collected samples from ornamental and native plants located in Cerrado regions with a high incidence of corn stunt disease. We also monitored the disease’s progression over time and calculated the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC). Additionally, we sampled healthy, asymptomatic maize plants growing near symptomatic ones and analyzed all the samples using qPCR to detect the pathogen. Our results showed no Css infection in the sampled alternative host species and no asymptomatic infections in the nearby maize plants. The incidence of maize stunting varied significantly among the sample years and counties. In Aparecida do Rio Negro, the infection rate was six times higher in 2020 compared to 2019, while Porto Nacional showed an 11-fold increase. During surveillance from March to July, the infection rate at the Sierra site went from less than 3% in March 2019 to 6% in July (F1,4 = 415.84; p = 0.0003). MBS infection increased significantly, while S. kunkelii remained stable below 3%. In 2020, MBS increased from 3% to more than 12%. A similar trend was observed at the Sede site, where MBS increased from 9% in 2019 to 11% in 2020. An increase in the AUDPC was observed both within individual years and between 2019 and 2020, indicating a worsening trend in disease severity. Overall, our findings reinforce the need for preventive measures in managing maize crop fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 2143 KiB  
Article
Trypsin Inhibitor of Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) in the Control of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
by Vinicius O. Ramos, Dejane S. Alves, Geraldo A. Carvalho, Custódio D. Santos, Alberto J. Cavalheiro, Júlia A. C. Oliveira, Tamara R. Marques, Anderson A. Simão and Adelir A. Saczk
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2222; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102222 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 624
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous insect of various agricultural crops. The methods used for its control have led to the selection of resistant insect populations, which justifies the search for new alternatives for the management of this insect. [...] Read more.
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous insect of various agricultural crops. The methods used for its control have led to the selection of resistant insect populations, which justifies the search for new alternatives for the management of this insect. Accordingly, in the present study, trypsin inhibitors present in the leaf extract of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) were investigated for their activity against S. frugiperda. Chemometric optimization methods were developed for the extraction, purification, identification, and structural characterization of the inhibitors. In addition, the effect of R. communis extract on S. frugiperda development was evaluated. Inhibitor extraction was chemometrically optimized, yielding an extract with an antitryptic activity of 94,837.14 mUIT g−1. The R. communis extract was purified and found to contain two compounds (adenosine and ricinine) exhibiting trypsin inhibitor activity. However, after purification, only ricinine inhibited S. frugiperda trypsin in vitro (103.21 mUIT mg−1). The extract was added to the diet of S. frugiperda larvae, resulting in reduced digestion, increased protein in the feces (control = 12,571 μg protein/mg feces; 1818.2 g mL−1 = 16,867 μg protein/mg feces), and insect mortality. At the highest concentration, the treatment led to an LT50 of 15.9 days and a cumulative survival rate of 18.5%. Based on the results of this study, it is possible that ricinine binds to the catalytic site of trypsin, causing the mortality of S. frugiperda larvae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 2021 KiB  
Article
Effect of Trap Type and Height on the Captures of the Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in Pheromone-Baited Traps in Cotton
by Georgios C. Katranas, Thomas N. Vassilakos, Christos I. Rumbos and Christos G. Athanassiou
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040656 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1078
Abstract
The impact of trap type and height on the captures of adults of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was assessed in cotton fields in three experimental sites (Nikaia, Nees Karyes, and Koilada) in Central Greece. Initially, the effectiveness of three [...] Read more.
The impact of trap type and height on the captures of adults of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was assessed in cotton fields in three experimental sites (Nikaia, Nees Karyes, and Koilada) in Central Greece. Initially, the effectiveness of three different traps (white Delta, red Delta, and green Funnel) was compared. Subsequently, white Delta traps were positioned at three heights, i.e., 30, 60, and 90 cm, above ground level. Overall, captures notably increased in all traps from late July to mid-September. Funnel traps had poor performance for the captures of P. gossypiella adults, as compared with the respective figures for the other two Delta traps. Specifically, in two experimental sites (Nikaia and Koilada), both Delta traps cumulatively captured significantly more adults than the Funnel trap throughout the monitoring period. In the third site (Nees Karyes), the red Delta trap captured in total significantly more adults than the other two tested traps. Moreover, we found that traps in Nikaia placed at 90 cm captured significantly less adults as compared with the other two trap heights. The same trend was observed in Koilada; however, differences were significant only between traps at 30 and 90 cm. No significant differences were determined among different heights in the third site (Nees Karyes). These findings offer valuable insights for the monitoring protocols of P. gossypiella in cotton fields, on the basis of a standardized trapping strategy, that can take into account a wide range of factors, such as trap design and trap height. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 962 KiB  
Article
Trichopria anastrephae: A Promising Neotropical-Native Parasitoid for Drosophila suzukii Control
by María Josefina Buonocore-Biancheri, Lorena del Carmen Suárez, Segundo Ricardo Núñez-Campero, Marcos Darío Ponssa, Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia, Daniel Santiago Kirschbaum and Sergio Marcelo Ovruski
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030520 - 2 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1224
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive pest mainly affecting berry and stone fruit crops worldwide. In Argentina, it inhabits fruit-growing regions. An eco-friendly management strategy involves biological control by using resident natural enemies, such as the Neotropical-native pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima ( [...] Read more.
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive pest mainly affecting berry and stone fruit crops worldwide. In Argentina, it inhabits fruit-growing regions. An eco-friendly management strategy involves biological control by using resident natural enemies, such as the Neotropical-native pupal parasitoid Trichopria anastrephae Lima (Ta). The study compared the host-killing capacity and the offspring reproductive success of two Ta lineages on the puparia of both D. suzukii (Ds) and D. melanogaster (Dm) in no-choice and choice tests under laboratory conditions. The host preference and host-switching behaviors were also assessed. One parasitoid lineage was reared on Ds (TaDs), and the second on Dm (TaDm). In no-choice tests, both Ta lineages performed similarly on both hosts regarding the percentage of killed hosts and parasitoid offspring survival. The host-killing ability of TaDm was only significantly lower when Ds was offered as a host, relative to Dm. In choice tests, Ta attacked mainly Ds at a 4–9 times Ds to Dm ratio, but at a 1.5–2 times Ds to Dm ratio, the host-killing ability was similar between both drosophilids. At an equal host ratio or higher Dm ratios, Ta preferred the native host. However, it was determined that Ta has the potential to parasitize the recently-introduced pest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1476 KiB  
Article
Low-Temperature-Induced Winter Dormancy in a Predatory Stink Bug Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) in the Subtropics
by Yongji Zhu, Jian Wen, Qinglan Luo, Zhaolang Kuang and Kewei Chen
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2573; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102573 - 7 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1185
Abstract
Insects have developed dormancy mechanisms to survive coldness in winters. The specific forms of winter dormancy, however, vary among different geographical and climatic zones and species. While there is extensive research on winter dormancy in insect pests and parasitoids in temperate zones, our [...] Read more.
Insects have developed dormancy mechanisms to survive coldness in winters. The specific forms of winter dormancy, however, vary among different geographical and climatic zones and species. While there is extensive research on winter dormancy in insect pests and parasitoids in temperate zones, our understanding of how predatory insects, such as predatory stink bugs in subtropical regions, cope with cold winters and the specific forms of dormancy they undergo remains limited. The effects of winter temperatures on the population dynamics, development, and reproduction of the predatory stink bug Eocanthecona furcellata in the subtropics were investigated through greenhouse and laboratory experiments. E. furcellata exhibits two distinct peaks in population distribution throughout the year: one in April–May and another in October–November. Interestingly, the proportions of adults show an opposite pattern to the population dynamics, with the highest proportions of adults observed during the winter and summer seasons, when temperatures are the lowest and the highest, respectively. Laboratory studies showed that E. furcellata reared at lower temperatures (16 °C, 18 °C, and 20 °C) experienced prolonged development and higher mortality rates for eggs and nymphs compared to higher temperatures (22 °C and 26 °C). Further experiments observed that E. furcellata adults reared at 16 °C, 18 °C, and 20 °C entered into winter dormancy, where ovarian development was either completely halted or slowed down. The observed high proportion of E. furcellata adults and low proportion of nymphs during the cold winter months align well with the dormancy period. This study sheds light on the underlying mechanisms driving the population dynamics of E. furcellata during the subtropical winter. These findings have significant implications in accurately predicting the population dynamics of E. furcellata, implementing effective field release strategies, and optimizing cold storage techniques in the context of biological control programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2733 KiB  
Article
Population Dynamics and Effect of Seed Treatment on Plutella xylostella Control in Romania
by Emil Georgescu, Maria Toader, Ioan Sebastian Brumă, Lidia Cană, Luxița Rîșnoveanu, Cristina Fătu and Roxana Zaharia
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051236 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2192
Abstract
This paper presents a three-year study concerning the effectiveness of the OSR seed treatment with the cyantraniliprole active ingredient in controlling the DBM larvae attack in autumn and four-year monitoring of the DBM flight pattern, using pheromone sticky traps. The experiment and the [...] Read more.
This paper presents a three-year study concerning the effectiveness of the OSR seed treatment with the cyantraniliprole active ingredient in controlling the DBM larvae attack in autumn and four-year monitoring of the DBM flight pattern, using pheromone sticky traps. The experiment and the monitoring were conducted at the experimental field from the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) Fundulea in Southeast Romania. For the field assessments, each OSR sampled plant was photographed in macro mode, and then images were downloaded and magnified on the PC screen to determine the DBM larva attack. The traps were placed in the OSR crop from mid-March till December and checked twice weekly. Data from the field assessment revealed a higher pest attack on OSR plants on 11 November 2020, when the DBM larvae attack degree was 16.26% in the untreated variant and 11.24% in the variant with treated seeds. The results evidenced unusually higher activity for the diamondback moths during November 2019, 2020, and 2022; the beginning of December 2020 and 2021; and mid-December 2022. This is the first report from the Romanian scientific literature concerning higher DBM attacks at OSR plants in autumn and high moth activity during November and December. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Aspects as a Basis for Future Pest Integrated Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop