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Insects
Special Issues
Biopesticide Development in Multitrophic Era
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Biopesticide Development in Multitrophic Era

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Behavior and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 19204

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Frederic Francis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 25030 Gembloux, Belgium
Interests: insect; host plant; predators-parasites interactions; pest biological control; edible insects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insect pest control within sustainable development in agricultural, horticultural and forest systems (for both plant and animal targets) includes diversified and complementary approaches to reduce conventional pesticide applications. An integrated pest management means the development of biological control with direct effects by macro-organisms such as entomophagous predators/parasites but also entomopathogenic microbials such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Also, microorganisms can be indirectly used to enhance biological control programs (such as PGPR, for Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria), and lead to pest control in terms of plant/animal defense elicitation. In a multitrophic era, microbials from diverse origins, including soil, plant, animal hosts whose insects, can be (in)directly used to improve biological control practices. This special journal issue will include original research articles and mini-reviews focusing on the latest developments in bio-pesticides in various agricultural, horticultural and forest pests considering macro- and micro-organisms also including the diversity of microbiota related to all interacting living organisms in ecosystems. Comprehensive illustrations of these interactions will be considered including how diverse microbials affect plant/animal host - insect interactions and thereby enhance bio-control efficiency. Future challenges to promote the use of biopesticides for improved biological pest control will be the final aim.

Prof. Frederic Francis
Guest Editor

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. Insects 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

  • Microbials
  • macro-organisms
  • multitrophic interactions
  • biological control
  • direct and indirect effects
  • fundamental to application

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1852 KiB  
Article
Induced Systemic Resistance by a Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium Impacts Development and Feeding Behavior of Aphids
by Laurent Serteyn, Céleste Quaghebeur, Marc Ongena, Nuri Cabrera, Andrea Barrera, Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Frédéric Francis and Claudio C. Ramírez
Insects 2020, 11(4), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11040234 - 8 Apr 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4094
Abstract
The effects of microorganisms on plant-insect interactions have usually been underestimated. While plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to induce plant defenses, endosymbiotic bacteria hosted by herbivorous insects are often beneficial to the host. Here, we aimed to assess whether PGPR-induced defenses in [...] Read more.
The effects of microorganisms on plant-insect interactions have usually been underestimated. While plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to induce plant defenses, endosymbiotic bacteria hosted by herbivorous insects are often beneficial to the host. Here, we aimed to assess whether PGPR-induced defenses in broad bean plants impact the pea aphid, depending on its genotype and the presence of endosymbionts. We estimated aphid reproduction, quantified defense- and growth-related phytohormones by GC-MS, and measured different plant growth and physiology parameters, after PGPR treatment. In addition, we recorded the feeding behavior of aphids by electropenetrography. We found that the PGPR treatment of broad bean plants reduced the reproduction of one of the pea aphid clones. We highlighted a phenomenon of PGPR-induced plant defense priming, but no noticeable plant growth promotion. The main changes in aphid probing behavior were related to salivation events into phloem sieve elements. We suggest that the endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa played a key role in plant-insect interactions, possibly helping aphids to counteract plant-induced resistance and allowing them to develop normally on PGPR-treated plants. Our results imply that plant- and aphid-associated microorganisms add greater complexity to the outcomes of aphid-plant interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopesticide Development in Multitrophic Era)
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7 pages, 599 KiB  
Article
Encapsulated Entomopathogenic Nematodes Can Protect Maize Plants from Diabrotica balteata Larvae
by Geoffrey Jaffuel, Ilham Sbaiti and Ted C. J. Turlings
Insects 2020, 11(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11010027 - 30 Dec 2019
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4270
Abstract
To face the environmental problems caused by chemical pesticides, more ecologically friendly alternative pest control strategies are needed. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have great potential to control soil-dwelling insects that cause critical damage to the roots of cultivated plants. EPN are normally suspended in [...] Read more.
To face the environmental problems caused by chemical pesticides, more ecologically friendly alternative pest control strategies are needed. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have great potential to control soil-dwelling insects that cause critical damage to the roots of cultivated plants. EPN are normally suspended in water and then sprayed on plants or onto the soil, but the inconsistent efficiency of this application method has led to the development of new formulations. Among them is the use of alginate capsules or beads that encapsulate the EPN in favorable conditions for later application. In this study, we evaluated whether alginate beads containing EPN are able to kill larvae of the banded cumber beetle Diabrotica balteata LeConte and thereby protect maize plants from damage by these generalist rootworms. EPN formulated in beads were as effective as sprayed EPN at killing D. balteata. They were found to protect maize plants from D. balteata damage, but only if applied in time. The treatment failed when rootworm attack started a week before the EPN beads were applied. Hence, the well-timed application of EPN-containing alginate beads may be an effective way to control root herbivores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopesticide Development in Multitrophic Era)
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Review

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14 pages, 613 KiB  
Review
From Diverse Origins to Specific Targets: Role of Microorganisms in Indirect Pest Biological Control
by Frédéric Francis, Hans Jacquemyn, Frank Delvigne and Bart Lievens
Insects 2020, 11(8), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11080533 - 14 Aug 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 9793
Abstract
Integrated pest management (IPM) is today a widely accepted pest management strategy to select and use the most efficient control tactics and at the same time reduce over-dependence on chemical insecticides and their potentially negative environmental effects. One of the main pillars of [...] Read more.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is today a widely accepted pest management strategy to select and use the most efficient control tactics and at the same time reduce over-dependence on chemical insecticides and their potentially negative environmental effects. One of the main pillars of IPM is biological control. While biological control programs of pest insects commonly rely on natural enemies such as predatory insects, parasitoids and microbial pathogens, there is increasing evidence that plant, soil and insect microbiomes can also be exploited to enhance plant defense against herbivores. In this mini-review, we illustrate how microorganisms from diverse origins can contribute to plant fitness, functional traits and indirect defense responses against pest insects, and therefore be indirectly used to improve biological pest control practices. Microorganisms in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere have not only been shown to enhance plant growth and plant strength, but also promote plant defense against herbivores both above- and belowground by providing feeding deterrence or antibiosis. Also, herbivore associated molecular patterns may be induced by microorganisms that come from oral phytophagous insect secretions and elicit plant-specific responses to herbivore attacks. Furthermore, microorganisms that inhabit floral nectar and insect honeydew produce volatile organic compounds that attract beneficial insects like natural enemies, thereby providing indirect pest control. Given the multiple benefits of microorganisms to plants, we argue that future IPMs should consider and exploit the whole range of possibilities that microorganisms offer to enhance plant defense and increase attraction, fecundity and performance of natural enemies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopesticide Development in Multitrophic Era)
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