In the 21st century, we still need to talk about gender inequality in science. Even with the sharp growth of studies on this theme over the last decades, we are still trying to convince our peers ...that diversity matters and, if embraced, makes better science. Part of this drawback can be related to the need for data to support effective proposals to change the academic scenario. In order to close some of those gaps, we here analyze 1) the profile of Brazilian researchers based on production, impact, and membership to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 2) participation in the Editorial boards of Brazilian journals dedicated to Entomology, and, 3) the academic scenario of Brazilian Entomology focusing on the sex of the first and last authors in peer-reviewed international publications related to Entomology. We aimed to provide a deeper look on the Brazilian Entomology scenario and to expand the amount of data availability to stimulate and foster a mind-change in the current academic structure. We performed scientometric searches and analysis using different platforms and found that the number and impact of the publications by female researchers, as observed by relative numbers, are not less than that of males. Despite that, female researchers are less represented at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and editorial boards, reinforcing the lack of women recognition in science. Thus, we observe that some narratives related to the productivity gap can be misleading to a perpetuation of our internal and structural biases. We here expanded data from a previous paper where we scrutinized the Brazilian Entomology scenario and discussed the patches and systems that maintain gender gap in science.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the 21st century, we still need to talk about gender inequality in science. Even with the sharp growth of studies on this theme over the last decades, we are still trying to convince our peers ...that diversity matters and, if embraced, makes better science. Part of this drawback can be related to the need for data to support effective proposals to change the academic scenario. In order to close some of those gaps, we here analyze 1) the profile of Brazilian researchers based on production, impact, and membership to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 2) participation in the Editorial boards of Brazilian journals dedicated to Entomology, and, 3) the academic scenario of Brazilian Entomology focusing on the sex of the first and last authors in peer-reviewed international publications related to Entomology. We aimed to provide a deeper look on the Brazilian Entomology scenario and to expand the amount of data availability to stimulate and foster a mind-change in the current academic structure. We performed scientometric searches and analysis using different platforms and found that the number and impact of the publications by female researchers, as observed by relative numbers, are not less than that of males. Despite that, female researchers are less represented at the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and editorial boards, reinforcing the lack of women recognition in science. Thus, we observe that some narratives related to the productivity gap can be misleading to a perpetuation of our internal and structural biases. We here expanded data from a previous paper where we scrutinized the Brazilian Entomology scenario and discussed the patches and systems that maintain gender gap in science.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The present study aimed to add value to palm oil by-products as substrates to efficiently produce conidia of
Beauveria bassiana
and
Isaria javanica
(
Hypocreales
:
Cordycipitaceae
) for biological ...control of the whitefly
Bemisia tabaci
(
Hemiptera
:
Aleyrodidae
), through a solid-state fermentation process using palm kernel cake and palm fiber as nutrient source and solid matrix, respectively. The optimum culture conditions yielded high concentrations of viable conidia after air-drying, when the fungi were grown on palm kernel cake (
B
.
bassiana
7.65 × 10
9
and
I
.
javanica
2.91 × 10
9
conidia g
−1
dry substrate) after 6 days under optimal growth conditions set to 60% substrate moisture and 32 °C. Both fungal strains exhibited high efficacy against third-instar whitefly nymphs, inducing mortality up to 62.9 and 56.6% by
B. bassiana
and
I. javanica
, respectively, assessed after 9 days post-application in a screenhouse. Furthermore, we noted that insect mortality was strongly correlated with high atmospheric moisture, while
B. bassiana
appeared to require shorter accumulative hours under high moisture to kill whitefly nymphs compared to
I. javanica
. Our results underpin a feasible and cost-effective mass production method for aerial conidia, using palm kernel as the main substrate in order to produce efficacious fungal bioinsecticides against an invasive whitefly species in Brazil. Finally, our fermentation process may offer a sustainable and cost-effective means to produce eco-friendly mycoinsecticides, using an abundant agro-industrial by-product from Brazil that will ultimately assist in the integrated management of agricultural insect pests.
The aim of our study was to produce and characterize poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres containing essential oils from
fruit and to evaluate their stability gains as well as their insecticidal and ...deterrent activities against whitefly (
). The PCL nanospheres exhibited a homogeneous spherical morphology, with particle diameters between 106.7 nm and 129.2 nm, pH of approximately 6, zeta potential (ZP) lower than -19.0 mV and encapsulation efficiency higher than 98%. Only 43% of the nanoencapsulated essential oil (NSEO) was degraded in response to ultraviolet light, whereas the essential oil (EO) degraded by 76% over the same period. In a free-choice test, the NSEO and EO reduced the number of whitefly eggs by approximately 70%. NSEO and EO at 1.5% killed 82.87% and 91.23% of 2nd-instar nymphs of whitefly, respectively. Although NSEO displayed lower insecticidal activity, it offers a greater advantage over the free EO, due to protection conferred by polymer against photodegradation. Therefore, its usage may optimize the maintenance of essential oils in the field through photoprotection and controlled release. Our results suggest that the EO of
fruit can be used for
management strategy; nevertheless, the benefits of NSEO require further evaluation at the field level.
During 1991, in Brazil, the presence of the exotic Bemisia tabaci B mitotype was reported in São Paulo state. However, the duration from the time of initial introduction to population upsurges is not ...known. To investigate whether the 1991 B mitotype outbreaks in Brazil originated in São Paulo or from migrating populations from neighboring introduction sites, country‐wide field samples of B. tabaci archived from 1989–2005 collections were subjected to analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) and nuclear RNA‐binding protein 15 (RP‐15) sequences. The results of mtCOI sequence analysis identified all B. tabaci as the NAFME 8 haplotype of the B mitotype. Phylogenetic analyses of RP‐15 sequences revealed that the B mitotype was likely a hybrid between a B type parent related to a haplotype Ethiopian endemism (NAFME 1–3), and an unidentified parent from the North Africa‐Middle East (NAF‐ME) region. Results provide the first evidence that this widely invasive B mitotype has evolved from a previously undocumented hybridization event. Samples from Rio de Janeiro (1989) and Ceará state (1990), respectively, are the earliest known B mitotype records in Brazil. A simulated migration for the 1989 introduction predicted a dispersal rate of 200–500 km/year, indicating that the population was unlikely to have reached Ceará by 1990. Results implicated two independent introductions of the B mitotype in Brazil in 1989 and 1990, that together were predicted to have contributed to the complete invasion of Brazil in only 30 generations.
Two independent introductions of the B mitotype in Brazil, in 1989 and 1990, were predicted to have contributed to the complete invasion of Brazil in only 30 generations.
Filamentous fungi exhibit unparalleled potential as cell factories for protein production, owing to their adeptness in protein secretion and remarkable proficiency in post-translational ...modifications. This review delineates the role of filamentous fungi in bio-input technology across different generations and explores their capacity to generate secondary metabolites. Our investigation highlights filamentous fungi as frontrunners in the production of bioactive compounds, emphasizing the imperative nature of elucidating their metabolic repertoire. Furthermore, we delve into common strategies for genetic transformation in filamentous fungi, elucidating the underlying principles, advantages, and drawbacks of each technique. Taking a forward-looking approach, we explore the prospects of genome engineering, particularly the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, as a means to propel protein secretion in filamentous fungi. Detailed examination of the protein secretion pathways in these fungi provides insights into their industrial applications. Notably, extensive research within the scientific community has focused on Aspergillus and Trichoderma species for the industrial production of proteins and enzymes. This review also presents practical examples of genetic engineering strategies aimed at augmenting enzyme secretion in filamentous fungi for various industrial applications. These findings underscore the potential of filamentous fungi as versatile platforms for protein production and highlight avenues for future research and technological advancement in this field.
Entomopathogenic fungi stand out in the biological control of several agriculturally important insects. Six isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae, Cordyceps javanica, Beauveria sp. and B. bassiana were ...screened to control Anthonomus grandis, Euschistus heros, Oebalus poecilus, O. ypsilongriseus and Thyanta perditor, important insect pests of soybean, cotton and rice. The bioassays were conducted in a completely randomized design, with four replications (10 insects/replication). Significant differences for virulence were observed between the tested fungal species and isolates. For A. grandis, the most virulent isolate was M. anisopliae BRM 2335, followed by Beauveria BRM 14527 and BRM 67744 82.5 to 97.5 % of mortality; average lethal time (LT50) of 5.9 to 7.8 days. M. anisopliae BRM 2335 was also highly virulent to the four stink bug species (75 to 97.5 % of mortality; LT50 of 5.2 to 9.7 days). For the stink bugs, Beauveriasp. BRM 67744 was infectious to O. poecilus (75 % of mortality), but failed to control E. heros (16.9 % of mortality). C. javanicaBRM 27666 and BRM 14526 showed average virulence to the stink bugs and A. grandis (17.5 to 57.3 % of mortality; LT50 of 6.0 to 9.7 days). M. anisopliae was consistently more virulent to the stink bugs than the other fungi. Therefore, M. anisopliaeBRM 2335 was selected for further studies under screenhouse and field conditions to control A. grandis and other stink bug species, especially E. heros.
Encapsulation via nanotechnology offers a potential method to overcome limited thermal and photo-stability of botanical pesticides. In this study, nanospheres of essential oils (NSEO) derived from
...Lam. fruit were characterized and evaluated for their photostability and insecticidal activity against
Three major compounds of
fruits were detected by CG-MS: β-phellandrene (76.8%), β-myrcene (9.6%), and germacrene D (8.3%). The nanoprecipitation method was used to obtain homogeneous spherical NSEO, with ≥98% encapsulation efficiency. Tests with UV/Vis spectrophotometry showed significantly reduced photodegradation from exposed NSEO samples when compared with essential oil (EO) controls. Whitefly screenhouses bioassays with bean plants treated with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% suspensions showed EO treatments in both free and nanoencapsulated forms reduced adult whitefly oviposition by up to 71%. In further tests, applications at 1.5% caused ≥64% mortality of second instar nymphs. When the test was conducted under high temperature and light radiation conditions, the insecticidal effect of NSEO treatments was improved (i.e., 84.3% mortality) when compared to the free form (64.8%). Our results indicate the insecticidal potential of EO-derived from
fruits with further formulation as nanospheres providing greater photostability and enhanced insecticidal activity against
under adverse environmental conditions.
The toxicological impact of chemical pesticides on fungal entomopathogens and their use in tank-mixing can be directly measured through in vitro compatibility tests. This study reports the in vitro ...toxicity of eight insecticides, four fungicides and five herbicides in the conidial germination, vegetative growth and conidiation of Metarhizium anisopliae (strain CG 168). A conidial suspension containing the pesticide at recommended field dosage was subjected to constant agitation in a rotary shaker for 3h to simulate a tank mixing. Then, aliquots of each suspension were used to determine conidial germination, vegetative growth and conidiation on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The fungicides difenoconazole (69 mL ha-1), propiconazole (75 mL ha-1), trifloxystrobin (313 g ha-1) and azoxystrobin (56 mL ha-1) were the most harmful products to all biological stages of M. anisopliae and they should not be applied together with this fungus in tank mixing. The insecticides exhibited the least degree of toxicity to this fungal pathogen, whereas the herbicides had the greatest impact on mycelial growth. The agrochemicals compatible with M. anisopliae were the insecticides methyl parathion (240 mL ha-1), thiamethoxam (31 g ha-1), and lambda-cyhalothrin (6.3 mL ha-1) and the herbicides glyphosate (1560 mL ha-1), bentazon (720 mL ha-1), and imazapic+ imazapyr (84 g ha-1). The compatible pesticides could be simultaneously used with this bio-control agent for integrated pest management in rice production systems.
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•Higher virulence against nymphs was attained with B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea.•None of the B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea isolates were effective against eggs.•Whitefly adults are ...highly susceptible to I. fumosorosea isolates.•Selection was based on virulence and sporulation on rice and nymphal cadavers.
The virulence of five isolates of Beauveria bassiana, five of Isaria fumosorosea and four of Lecanicillium muscarium from Brazil was determined on whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype B lifestages on bean leaves under laboratory conditions. The conidial yield (on cadavers or parboiled rice), surface hydrophobicity and enzyme activity were also determined. The isolates of B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea were the most virulent against nymphs (71–86% mortality within 8d), with LT50 values ranging from 3 to 4d after treatment with 107conidia/mL (150conidia/mm2). Spore production on nymph cadavers reached 4–8×105conidia/insect. The L. muscarium isolates demonstrated low virulence toward nymphs. After spraying eggs with 1×108conidia/mL (1674conidia/mm2) of B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea, most nymphs hatched, but then 40–70% of these nymphs were infected by indirect exposure of conidia on the leaves. Adults exposed to treated leaf disks (150conidia/mm2) were more susceptible to I. fumosorosea than to B. bassiana. The enzyme activity (Pr1) and the relative conidial surface hydrophobicity were not correlated with any virulence parameter measured for either B. bassiana or I. fumosorosea. In addition, the highest conidial yields on parboiled rice using solid-state fermentation (4.9–11.4×109conidia/g) were achieved by isolates of I. fumosorosea CG1228 and B. bassiana CG1229. I. fumosorosea CG1228 was highly virulent against whitefly nymphs and adults as well as attained high spore production on insect cadavers and parboiled rice. Our results indicate that I. fumosorosea CG1228 has desirable attributes for the development of a mycoinsecticide against B. tabaci biotype B.
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