Comparative growth and efficacy of Trinidadian strains of Isaria fumosorosea blastospores for controlling Trialeurodes vaporariorum on bean plants

The comparative growth and efficacy of three strains of Trinidadian Isaria fumosorosea Wize (T, T10 and T11) blastospores were assessed as spray suspensions for controlling greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. Percent germination of all the three strains were unaffected by the surfactants Triton X -100 or Tween 80 compared to the control (water). Radial growth of fungal strain T11 was faster than either T or T10 which were similar in their growth patterns. Virulence of blastospores of three strains were tested against pharate adult greenhouse whiteflies on bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The corrected mortality of whitefly for strains T, T10 and T11 was 56, 68 and 98% at 107 blastospores mL-1 and the median lethal concentration observed was 2.1 x 107, 1.3 x 107 and 2.5 x 106 blastospores mL-1, respectively. Strain T11 was the most virulent (range: 97-98% mortality) and had the lowest LC50 (range: 1.1-2.5 x 106 viable blastospores mL-1) value of the Trinidadian blastospore treatments tested against greenhouse whitefly on P. vulgaris

Synthesis of limonoid CDE fragments related to limonin and nimbinim

[EN]A practical, brief and selective synthesis of limonoid CDE fragments from a readily available starting diketone is described. The key step is a cationic electrocyclization promoted by strong acids. In general the methodology has been demonstrated for compounds with sensitive furane and thiophene substituents to obtain diverse substituted indenones. Several of the compounds obtained show significant antifeedant activity against Spodoptera littoralis

State of the world’s plants and fungi 2020

Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them. Produced in conjunction with an international scientific symposium, Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi sets an important international standard from which we can annually track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity

Host selection behaviour of deathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum: Oviposition preference choice assays testing old vs new oak timber, Quercus sp.

In a choice bio-assay adult female deathwatch beetles were offered two dendrochronologically dated wood blocks from oak timber to study oviposition preference behaviour. There was a clear preference for ovipositing on old wood dating from the 13th to 19th centuries rather than new wood from the 20th century. Control, same-century choice, experiments showed that beetles will oviposit on young wood and that the age of the wood does not alter the overall oviposition potential. Oviposition frequency varied with insect age. Fecundity of insects collected from an infested building was similar to that of insects maintained in culture