Publications by authors named "K Tougeron"

Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is the vector of the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), the most serious viral disease of banana (Musa spp.) in the world. Before acquiring the virus, the vector is more attracted to infected banana plants in response to the increased emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

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Article Synopsis
  • * It presents data from surveys on herbivory for 503 plant species across various geographic locations, revealing that variability increases with latitude and decreases with plant size.
  • * The authors propose that understanding the factors influencing this variability is crucial for comprehending broader ecological patterns and advancements in plant-herbivore research.
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Bioconversion using insects is a promising strategy to convert organic waste (catering leftovers, harvest waste, food processing byproducts, etc.) into biomass that can be used for multiple applications, turned into high added-value products, and address environmental, societal and economic concerns. Due to its ability to feed on a tremendous variety of organic wastes, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has recently emerged as a promising insect for bioconversion of organic wastes on an industrial scale.

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Viral diseases can change plant metabolism, with potential impacts on the quality of the plant's food supply for insect pests, including virus vectors. The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, is the vector of the Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the causal agent of Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), the most devastating viral disease of bananas in the world. The effect of BBTV on the life-history traits and population dynamics of P.

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Insects have evolved diverse strategies to resist extreme high temperatures (EHT). The adaptive value of such strategies has to be evaluated when organisms experience multiple EHT events during their lifetime, as predicted in a changing climate. This is particularly the case for associations with facultative microbial partners involved in insect heat tolerance, the resilience of which to repeated heat stress has never been studied.

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