83 research outputs found
First Record of Anthonomus eugenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Italy
Summary Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was observed for the first time in Italy and the Mediterranean Region attacking sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.; Solanaceae) in greenhouses and in fields in the coastal area of the Lazio Region of Italy. The incursion, detected in Oct 2013, was a heavy infestation of sweet pepper buds and not fully developed fruits, and causing their premature abscission. The outbreak area was delineated by the coast on the west, and hills on the south and east
THE PRESENT PEST STATUS OF EUCALYPTUS SAP-SUCKERS AND GALL WASPS IN CAMPANIA (ITALY)
Sap-suckers and gall wasps may be a severe phytosanitary problem for several Eucalyptus species, particularly
for the red gum E. camaldulensis, the most widely cultivated Australian native tree species worldwide. This paper
reviewed the harmfulness of some of these invasive pests established in Campania, and provides new information about
their pest status
Symbiotic control of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae
The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (OLF) is a major pest, which causes severe yield losses and quality decay of olive oil. The widespread
use of chemical insecticides to control this pest is a major concern for the resulting environmental impact and food safety issues. Therefore, the
development of sustainable control strategies is highly desirable. The primary endosymbiotic bacterium of the OLF, “Candidatus Erwinia dacicola”,
is essential for successful larval development in unripe olive fruits. Then, targeting this endosymbiont with antimicrobial compounds may exert a
control action against OLF. Here we evaluate the impact on OLF endosymbiont of Copper Oxychloride (CO) and the fungal metabolites Viridiol and
Harzianic Acid (HA) produced by two biocontrol strains of Trichoderma spp. Laboratory bioassays were carried out on OLF wild populations to assess
the effect of the oral administration of these compounds on mortality and fecundity of adult flies, and on larval development of their progeny in unripe
olive fruits. Treated females were processed by qPCR to measure the endosymbiont load in the oesophageal bulb and in the midgut. Exposure to
Viridiol and HA had a strong negative impact on endosymbiont load and OLF larval survival, while CO negatively affected both adults and larval
stages, showing a combined toxic action and an anti-symbiotic effect, which was dose-dependent. These results provide new insights on the symbiotic
control of the OLF and pave the way for developing new strategies based on the use of natural compounds with antimicrobial activity
Metabolomics approach based on NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis to explore the interaction between the leafminer<i> Tuta absoluta</i> and tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>)
Introduction: Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most devastating and harmful pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops causing up to 80–100% yield losses. A large arsenal of plant metabolites is induced by the leafminer feeding including defence compounds that could differ among varieties. Objective: To compare the metabolomic changes of different genotypes of tomato (tolerant “T”, susceptible “S” and “F1” hybrid obtained between T and S) after exposition to T. absoluta. Methodology: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy followed by multivariate data analysis were performed to analyse the metabolic profiles of control and infested samples on three different tomato genotypes.Results: Signals related to GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) were relatively much higher in all infested samples compared to the non-infested plants used as control. Infested T genotype samples were the most abundant in organic acids, including fatty acids and acyl sugars, chlorogenic acid, neo-chlorogenic acid and feruloyl quinic acid, indicating a clear link between the exposure to leafminer. Results also showed an increase of trigonelline in all tomato varieties after exposition to T. absoluta. Conclusion: Metabolomics approach based on NMR spectroscopy followed by multivariate data analysis allowed for a detailed metabolite profile of plant defences, providing fundamental information for breeding programmes in plant crops.</p
Aleurocanthus spiniferus, an alien invasive threat to Europe. AssociatEd bacterial community and natural enemies
Aleurocanthus spiniferus also known as orange spiny whitefly (OSW), is a pest native to tropical Asia that in the last century has spread throughout
Asia, reaching Africa, Australia, and Pacific islands. In 2008 the first European OSW population was recorded in Apulia region (South East Italy) and
allowed EPPO to add the species as a quarantine threat to Europe now in the A2 list. In the following years OSW spread and invaded new territories
of Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. Although OSW polyphagy is already well-known, new associations with autochthonous and allochthonous plants
have been reported showing its host-shifting ability. To counteract an upcoming pan-Mediterranean invasion updated bio-ethological information of
the pest and the role of possible natural enemies are essential to implement a correct IPM strategy. Field samplings have been aimed at the
identification of natural enemies and the evaluation of their efficacy. Furthermore, through insect small-RNA sequencing and by Denaturing Gradient
Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) technique coupled with 16S-rRNA gene sequencing, the primary symbiotic bacteria of OSW have been identified.
Sampling on natural enemies highlighted the presence of predatory species belonging to the Coccinellidae family. Besides to the almost ineffective
populations of Oenopia conglobata and Clithostetus arcuatus, new findings detected scattered Delphastus sp. populations along the western coast
of Italy. Both adult and larvae of this ladybird species preyed OSW developmental stages. The evaluation of the role of Delphastus sp. as biocontrol
agent is underway. The first study on OSW microbiota allowed to find symbiotic bacteria commonly associated with the genus Aleurocanthus: Portiera
sp., Serratia sp., Wolbachia sp., Rickettsia sp. and, although sporadically, other species. Further studies will target the functional role of these
symbionts to develop an effective IPM tailored for Countries at risk
THE PRESENT PEST STATUS OF EUCALYPTUSSAP-SUCKERS AND GALL WASPS IN CAMPANIA (ITALY)
ap-suckers and gall wasps may be a severe phytosanitary problem for several Eucalyptusspecies, particularlyfor the red gum E. camaldulensis, the most widely cultivated Australian native tree species worldwide. This paperreviewed the harmfulness of some of these invasive pests established in Campania, and provides new information abouttheir pest statu
The distribution, host plants and natural enemies of white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), in Ankara province.
The distribution, host plants, and natural enemies of the white peach scale,
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), were
investigated in 25 districts of Ankara Province, Turkey, during 2013-2015. Thirteen districts
were infested with harmful white peach scale; infestation was most common in parks,
roadsides, private and institution gardens in centrum and old silkroad parts of Ankara.
Twenty-two host plant species were found in these 13 districts, five of which (Aesculus
carnea, Hibiscus sp., Paulownia tomentosa, Rhus thyphina and Salix babylonica) had not
previously been recorded as host plants in Turkey. Some host plant species, including
Catalpa bignonioides, Cornus alba, Fraxinus americana, F. excelsior, Forsythia
intermedia, Morus alba, M. nigra and Sophora japonica, were found to be very highly
infested. Five species of predators and three species of parasitoids were associated with
white peach scale. Orius minutus L., Chrysoperla pallida (Henry et al.) are new record as
predator of P. pentagona in World and Epitetracnemus comis Noyes &Ren Hui are first
time record in Turkey
The Aleurocanthus spiniferus (OSW) in Europe: a becoming invasive threat to citrus also.
The orange spiny whitefly (OSW), Aleurocanthus spiniferus, is a worldwide known citrus pest native to tropical Asia. Since the beginning of the 20th century, OSW spread throughout Asia, the Pacific, central and Southern Africa and from 2008 it was intercepted many times in EPPO area (Italy, Croatia and Montenegro). OSW polyphagy is well known, being able to infest more than 90 host plants belonging to unrelated botanical families, although Citrus spp. are considered the primary hosts. Accurate samplings highlighted OSW new host associations extending the range of plant families potentially exploitable and confirming the existence of host-shift phenomena. Analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed that OSW Apulian population belongs solely to one of the two haplogroups present in China. Furthermore, the study of microbiota allowed us to identify the principal endosymbiotic bacteria in OSW. So far, field samplings confirmed the presence of predators belonging to Coccinellidae family able to prey on different evelopmental stages of A. spiniferus. These findings could be considered as an opportunity for biological control of OSW. Results laid solid foundations in the knowledge of European OSW populations now invading Italy and neighbouring countries to counteract a pan-Mediterranean invasion of this harmful whitefly. Further studies are essential for the assessment of an effective IPM strategy tailored either for organic or intensive agricultural context
Climate and landscape composition explain agronomic practices, pesticide use and grape yield in vineyards across Italy
Context
Worldwide, organic farming is being promoted as one of the main alternatives to intensive conventional farming. However, the benefits of organic agriculture are still controversial and need to be tested across wide environmental gradients.
Objective
Here, we carried out an observational study to test how agronomic practices, pest management, environmental impact and yield of conventional and organic vineyards changed along wide climatic and landscape gradients across Italy.
Methods
We used a block design with 38 pairs of conventional and organic vineyards across Italy.
Results and conclusions
Most agronomic practices did not differ between conventional and organic vineyards. By contrast, landscape composition and climate were strong predictors of management in both systems. First, increasing semi-natural areas around the vineyards reduced pesticide pressure and related environmental impacts, but was also associated with lower yield. Second, irrespective of the farming system, a warm and dry climate was associated with reduced fungicide pressure. Conventional farming had a yield gain of 40% in cold and wet climate compared to organic but the yield gap disappeared in the warmest regions.
Significance
In both farming systems, we observed a large variability in management practices that was mainly explained by climate and landscape composition. This large variability should be considered when evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of different farming systems under contrasting environmental contexts
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