Diversity and adaptation properties of actinobacteria associated with Tunisian stone ruins.

Stone surface is a unique biological niche that may host a rich microbial diversity. The exploration of the biodiversity of the stone microbiome represents a major challenge and an opportunity to characterize new strains equipped with valuable biological activity. Here, we explored the diversity and adaptation strategies of total bacterial communities associated with Roman stone ruins in Tunisia by considering the effects of geo-climatic regions and stone geochemistry.

Potential of Oscheius tipulae nematodes as biological control agents against Ceratitis capitata.

A survey to collect soil nematodes with potential to control Ceratitis capitata flies was carried out in different locations in Tunisia. Several nematode isolates were recovered, laboratory colonies were established, and their taxonomic identities were determined based on molecular methods. Among all the recovered nematode isolates, two of them, Oscheius tipulae TC2 and OC2, were evaluated for their capacity to control C.

Edible Insects in Africa in Terms of Food, Wildlife Resource, and Pest Management Legislation.

Entomophagy is an ancient and actually African tradition that has been receiving renewed attention since edible insects have been identified as one of the solutions to improve global nutrition. As any other foodstuff, insects should be regulated by the government to ensure product quality and consumer safety. The goal of the present paper was to assess the current legal status of edible insects in Africa.

Fitness improvement of mass-reared sterile males of Ceratitis capitata (Vienna 8 strain) (Diptera: Tephritidae) after gut enrichment with probiotics.

Successful mass rearing is crucial for sterile insect technique programs. It has been shown that the sterilizing process using gammaradiation results in damage to midgut tissue, cellular organelles, and gut microbiota of flies. This can be responsible for the inferiority of sterile males compared with wild males.

Improvement of egg hatch of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) for enhanced output.

Embryonated eggs of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) genetic sexing strain (GSS), VIENNA 8 were treated with low concentrations of five disinfectants-formaldehyde, iodine, sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and quaternary ammonium--for decontamination and egg hatch improvement. The newly laid eggs were successfully treated with formaldehyde at 100 ppm for 1 min with 74.2% hatching and with quaternary ammonium at 150 ppm for 1 and 2 min with 70.