Publications by authors named "Daniel Martinez-Cisterna"

Nanotechnology has been a promising plant protection discipline in recent years, attributed to the unique physicochemical properties exhibited at the nanoscale. In this context, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been effective in various applications, including medical, industrial, and agronomic, and during the last few years, the control of insect pests has raised great interest. The present review mainly provides updated information about the use of AgNPs elaborated by different synthesis methods, such as biological (plants, microorganisms), physical, and chemical, and their effect against various insect species of agricultural importance belonging to the order Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera.

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Exploitation of the symbiotic relationship between endophytic fungi and ryegrass is a crucial technique for reducing the incidence of insect pests. This is primarily due to the production of alkaloids, such as peramine, by the fungi. This alkaloid has been reported as both a deterrent and toxic to a variety of insects.

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Article Synopsis
  • Extensive agriculture relies on pasture, which can be damaged by insects such as the Argentine stem weevil; a common control method involves using endophyte fungi in ryegrass.
  • A study evaluated the effects of endophytes and their alkaloid production on the weights of weevil adults fed on various ryegrass lines and cultivars, revealing significant weight losses associated with specific strains.
  • The antifeedant alkaloid peramine was found in some experimental lines, indicating that weevils were less likely to feed on ryegrass infected with certain endophytes, impacting their feeding behavior.
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In terms of the domestication process in murtilla, studies have found changes in the concentration of phenolic compounds, with reduction of chemical defense of plants, depending on the change in the feeding behavior of insects. Thus, we hypothesized that the domestication of decreases the content of phenolic compounds and modifies the feeding preference of larvae. Leaves of three parental ecotypes and four cultivated ecotypes were used in preference experiments to evaluate the mass gain and leaves consumption of larvae.

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