Genetic diversity of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi based on de novo microsatellite markers.

Epizootics of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi regulate lepidopteran populations in soybean, cotton, and peanut agroecosystems to the point that insecticide applications could be unnecessary. However, the contribution and how different strains operate during the epizootic are unknown. Several unanswered questions remain: 1.

Annotation of transposable elements in the transcriptome of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros and its chromosomal distribution.

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences capable of moving within the genome. Their distribution is very dynamic among organisms, and despite advances, there are still gaps in the understanding of the diversity and evolution of TEs in many insect species. In the case of Euschistus heros, considered the main stink bug in the soybean crop in Brazil, little is known about the participation of these elements.

Tolerance to UV-B radiation of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi.

Soybean, corn, and cotton crops are afflicted by several noctuid pests and the development of bioinsecticides could help control these pests. The fungus Metarhizium rileyi has the greatest potential because its epizootics decimate caterpillar populations in the absence of insecticide applications. However, insect-pathogenic fungi when used for insect control in agriculture have low survival mainly due to the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation and heat from solar radiation.

Transposable elements in the transcriptome of the velvetbean caterpillar Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae).

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that possess the ability to move from one genomic location to another. These sequences contribute to a significant fraction of the genomes of most eukaryotes and can impact their architecture and regulation. In this paper, we present the first data related to the identification and characterization of TEs present in the transcriptome of Approximately, 835 transcripts showed significant similarity to TEs and (or) characteristic domains.

Transcriptional Analysis of Microsatellites in Velvetbean Caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818.

Brazil is the largest producer of soybeans in the world. The vast extent of soybean plantations across the Brazilian territory exposes this crop to attack by several insects, including the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis. One of the alternatives used to control this insect are the toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Potential Impact of Chemical Fungicides on the Efficacy of Metarhizium rileyi and the Occurrence of Pandora gammae on Caterpillars in Soybean Crops.

Entomopathogenic fungi may play a crucial role in the regulation of caterpillar populations in soybean crops, either through natural occurrences or applied as mycopesticides. In the present work, we reported the naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus Pandora gammae attacking the caterpillar Chrysodeixis includens, with infection rates in field trials ran in two consecutive years in the 10-35% range. As many chemicals are potentially harmful to entomopathogenic fungi, this work aimed to investigate the potential impact of two chemical fungicides (azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr and trifloxistrobina + prothioconazole) used to control soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) on the natural occurrence of P.

Characterization and genomic analyses of a novel alphabaculovirus isolated from the black armyworm, Spodoptera cosmioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The black armyworm Spodoptera cosmioides is a pest of increasing importance in Cry1Ac-Bt toxin crops and non-Bt crops of soybean and cotton in Brazil. Here we characterized a baculovirus isolated from extracts of S. cosmioides that died with symptoms of nuclear polyhedrosis.

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis BR145, a strain with insecticidal activity against Lepidoptera pests.

Bacillus thuringiensis BR145 isolated from a soybean field in Southern Brazil showed toxicity against two important insect pests from soybean crop, Helicoverpa armigera, and Chrysodeixis includens, with LC50 0.294 µg.cm-2 and 0.

Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa zea hybridization: constraints, heterosis, and implications for pest management.

Background: The invasion of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) into the New World has made it possible for this pest to hybridize with a native American species, H. zea (Boddie), under natural conditions. We investigated the viability and development of hybrids of these two Helicoverpa species.

Resistance status of lepidopteran soybean pests following large-scale use of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean in Brazil.

Widespread adoption of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean, expressing Cry1Ac Bt protein and glyphosate tolerance, has been observed in Brazil. A proactive program was implemented to phenotypically and genotypically monitor Cry1Ac resistance in Chrysodeixis includens (Walker). Recent cases of unexpected injury in MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean were investigated and a large-scale sampling of larvae on commercial soybean fields was performed to assess the efficacy of this technology and the distribution of lepidopteran pests in Brazil.

Testes morphology and the identification of transcripts of the hormonal pathways of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae).

Anticarsia gemmatalis is one of the main defoliating pests of soybeans in Brazil. In the current study, we characterized the histomorphology of the testes and the spermatogenesis process in A. gemmatalis.

Optimization of Large-Scale Production of Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus for Its Use as a Biopesticide.

The baculovirus Chrysodeixis includens nucleopolyhedrovirus (ChinNPV) is pathogenic to Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae, known as soybean looper, which is an important pest of soybean and bean. In this study, some parameters were tested to overcome the difficulties in the in vivo production of ChinNPV aiming to increase its use as a biopesticide. First, different combinations of larval instars (3rd and 4th instars), larval incubation temperatures (23 °C and 26 °C), and rearing densities (individually and 10 larvae/cup) were compared for larval weight and the production of occlusion bodies (OBs).

Transcriptional profiling analysis of susceptible and resistant strains of Anticarsia gemmatalis and their response to Bacillus thuringiensis.

Anticarsia gemmatalis is one of the main defoliators of soybean in Brazil. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic crops are used for their management. In this paper we used RNA-seq to explore the response of A.

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil: the Big Outbreak Monitored by Light Traps.

The first detection of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil pointed to a gloomy future for South American agriculture in the 2012/2013 harvest, and insecticide sales increased exponentially during 2013 and 2014. However, after this outbreak, the population of this insect returned to manageable levels. This study documents data on H.

Genomic analyses of Biston suppressaria nucleopolyhedrovirus: a viral isolate obtained from the tea looper caterpillar, Biston suppressaria (Guenée, 1857).

We described the complete genome sequence of a novel baculovirus isolate of species Buzura suppressaria nucleopolyhedrovirus, called by isolate CNPSo-25. The occlusion bodies were found to be polyhedral in shape and to contain virions with singly embedded nucleocapsids. The size of the genome is 121,377 bp with a G+C content of 36.

New cytogenetic data for three species of Pentatomidae (Heteroptera): (Dallas, 1851), (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805), and (Dallas, 1851).

In this paper, we present new cytogenetic data for three species of the family Pentatomidae: (Dallas, 1851), (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805), and (Dallas, 1851). All studied species presented holocentric chromosomes and inverted meiosis for the sex chromosomes. has 2 = 12 (10A + XY); showed 2 = 14 (12A + XY); and showed 2 = 14 (12A + XY).

Characterization of a novel alphabaculovirus isolated from the Southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the evolution of odv-e66, a bacterium-acquired baculoviral chondroitinase gene.

The Southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is native to the American tropics and a polyphagous pest of several crops. Here we characterized a novel alphabaculovirus isolated from S. eridania, isolate Spodoptera eridania nucleopolyhedrivurus CNPSo-165 (SperNPV-CNPSo-165).

Cytogenetic markers applied to cytotaxonomy in two soybean pests: Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner, 1818) and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, 1858).

Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner, 1818) and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, 1858) are species of Lepidoptera that cause great damages in the soybean plantations of Brazil. Despite the importance they have in this regard, there are no studies on the chromosomal organization of these species and recently, A. gemmatalis, which belonged to the Noctuidae family, was allocated to the Erebidae family.

Genome Sequence of Metarhizium , a Microbial Control Agent for Lepidoptera.

(formerly known as ) is a potential agent for microbial control of many insect pests from the order Lepidoptera, the damages of which can cause considerable loss of productivity in agriculture. We report the genome sequence and annotation of strain Cep018-CH2/ARSEF 7053.

Biotic Potential and Life Tables of Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Rachiplusia nu, and Trichoplusia ni on Soybean and Forage Turnip.

Loopers such as Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), Rachiplusia nu (Guenée), and Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) are important defoliators in soybean, sunflower, and crucifer crops, respectively, in countries of the Americas. The biotic potential of these polyphagous species of Plusiinae was comparatively examined considering crop rotation and succession scenarios in which crucifer crops are cultivated during or after Brazilian winter. All the species developed and reproduced on soybean (BRS 133 Embrapa) and forage turnip (Cati AL 1000, Wolf Seeds do Brasil).

The complete genome of Rachiplusia nu nucleopolyhedrovirus (RanuNPV) and the identification of a baculoviral CPD-photolyase homolog.

We described a novel baculovirus isolated from the polyphagous insect pest Rachiplusia nu. The virus presented pyramidal-shaped occlusion bodies (OBs) with singly-embed nucleocapsids and a dose mortality response of 6.9 × 10 OBs/ml to third-instar larvae of R.

Fertility Life Table, Population Parameters and Biotic Potential of Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Helicoverpa gelotopoeon is an endemic pest of South America that affects soybean and other important crops. Life tables are a fundamental tool used to study insect populations, resulting in crucial information for integrated pest management programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biotic potential and the construction of a life table of this species under laboratory conditions.

The complete genome sequence of the first hesperiid-infecting alphabaculovirus isolated from the leguminous pest Urbanus proteus (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae).

Baculoviruses are insect viruses largely used as expression vectors and biopesticides. These viruses can efficiently infect the larval stage of several agricultural pests worldwide causing a lethal disease. In this work, we found a novel baculovirus isolated from the larval stage of Urbanus proteus (L.

A Novel Betabaculovirus Isolated from the Monocot Pest Mocis latipes (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the Evolution of Multiple-Copy Genes.

In this report, we described the genome of a novel baculovirus isolated from the monocot insect pest , the striped grass looper. The genome has 134,272 bp in length with a G + C content of 38.3%.

Species From the Heliothinae Complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Tucumán, Argentina, an Update of Geographical Distribution of Helicoverpa armigera.

The Heliothinae complex in Argentina encompasses Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), and Chloridea virescens (Fabricius). In Tucumán, the native species H. gelotopoeon is one of the most voracious soybean pests and also affects cotton and chickpea, even more in soybean-chickpea succession cropping systems.