Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria, under laboratory conditions, aiming controlling Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on sugarcane

Virulência de nematoides entomopatogênicos e suas bactérias simbióticas, sob condições de laboratório, visando controlar Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) na cana-de-açúcar

Abstract

Sugarcane crops Saccharum spp. (Poales: Poaceae) produces different derivatives to the world: sugar, ethanol and bioenergy. Despite the application of pesticides, insect pests still cause economic losses, among these the pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) causing direct and indirect damage to the plant. This study assess the virulence of three entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) species and their symbiont bacteria against the pink sugarcane mealybug, under laboratory conditions. Fourteen treatments represented by control (distilled water), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (HB EN01) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), Steinernema rarum (Doucet, 1986) (PAM25) and Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, 1955 (All) (Rhabditida: Steinermatidae) at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/insect, and the standard chemical product, thiamethoxam, were assayed. In a second experiment, the bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens (Thomas and Poinar, 1979), Xenorhabdus szentirmaii Lengyel, 2005 and Xenorhabdus nematophila (Poinar and Thomas, 1965) (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae) at 3.0 x 109 cells/ml were assessed for each treatment. Ten replications were stablished, each one counting ten females/mealybugs inside a 10 cm Petri dish, amounting 100 individuals/treatment. All treatments were kept under stable conditions (25±1 ºC, H 70±10%, in the dark). All nematodes species infected S. sacchari. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) provided the highest mortality against the pink sugarcane mealybug (79.25%), followed by H. bacteriophora (HB EN01) (58.25%) and S. carpocapsae (All) (42.50%) (P<0.001). The mortality rate caused by X. szentirmaii, P. luminescens and X. nematophila were 40, 45 and 20%, respectively. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) has conditions to be a potential agent to be incorporate into the integrated pest management in sugarcane.

Keywords:
Heterorhabditis; Photorahbdus; pink sugarcane mealybug; Saccharum spp.; Steinernerma; Xenorhabdus

Resumo

A cultura da cana-de-açúcar Saccharum spp. (Poales: Poaceae) produz diferentes derivados para o mundo: açúcar, etanol e bioenergia. Apesar da aplicação de pesticidas, os insetos-praga ainda causam prejuízos econômicos, dentre eles a cochonilha rosada da cana-de-açúcar Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) causando danos diretos e indiretos à planta. Este estudo avaliou a virulência de três espécies de nematoides entomopatogênicos (NEPs) e suas bactérias simbiontes contra a cochonilha rosada da cana-de-açúcar, em condições de laboratório. Quatorze tratamentos representados pelo controle (água destilada), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (HB EN01) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), Steinernema rarum (Doucet, 1986) (PAM25) e Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, 1955 (All) (Rhabditida: Steinermatidae) nas concentrações de 25, 50, 75 e 100 juvenis infectantes (JIs)/inseto, e o produto químico padrão, tiametoxam, foram testados. Em um segundo experimento, a bactéria Photorhabdus luminescens (Thomas e Poinar, 1979), Xenorhabdus szentirmaii Lengyel, 2005 e Xenorhabdus nematophila (Poinar e Thomas, 1965) (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae) em 3,0 x 109 células/ml foram avaliadas para cada tratamento. Dez repetições foram estabelecidas, cada uma contendo dez fêmeas/cochonilhas dentro de uma placa de Petri de 10 cm, totalizando 100 indivíduos/tratamento. Todos os tratamentos foram mantidos em condições estáveis (25±1 ºC, U 70±10%, no escuro). Todas as espécies de nematoides infectaram S. sacchari. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) proporcionou a maior mortalidade contra a cochonilha rosada da cana-de-açúcar (79,25%), seguida por H. bacteriophora (HB EN01) (58,25%) e S. carpocapsae (All) (42,50%) (P<0,001). As taxas de mortalidade causada por X. szentirmaii, P. luminescens e X. nematophila foram de 40, 45 e 20%, respectivamente. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) tem condições de ser um agente potencial a ser incorporado ao manejo integrado de pragas da cana-de-açúcar.

Palavras-chave:
Heterorhabditis; Photorahbdus; cochonilha rosada da cana-de-açúcar; Saccharum spp.; Steinernerma; Xenorhabdus

1. Introduction

Sugarcane crop Saccharum spp. (Poales: Poaceae) is important to the world as producing ethanol, sugar and bioenergy, standing out Brazil the world’s largest producer and exporter of sugarcane derivatives (Embrapa, 2020EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA – EMBRAPA [online], 2020 [viewed 12 November 2020]. Available from: http://www.embrapa.br
http://www.embrapa.br...
).

In this production, many insect pests provoke economic losses, and among them, scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) cause direct and indirect damage that affect the phenology of the plant (Novoa et al., 2015NOVOA, N.M., HAMON, A., HODGES, G. and KONDO, T., 2015. Lista de los insectos escama (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) de Cuba = List of scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of Cuba. Poeyana, vol. 500, pp. 33-54.; Jayanthi et al., 2016JAYANTHI, R., SRIKANTH, J. and SUSHIL, S.N., 2016. Sugarcane. In: M. MANI and C. SHIVARAJU, eds. Mealybugs and their management in agricultural and horticultural crops. Bangalore: Springer Publisher, pp. 287-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2677-2_28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-267...
; Mohamed et al., 2009MOHAMED, G.E.D.H., IBRAHIM, S.A.M. and MOHARUM, F.A., 2009. Effect of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) infestation levels on sugarcane physical and chemical properties. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 119-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.15434.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.1...
; Monteiro et al., 2021bMONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021b. Presence of pink sugarcane mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) increases probability of red rot on sugarcane. Scientia Agrícola, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020.0373.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020...
).

There are 18 species of scale insects associated to sugarcane in Brazil (Monteiro et al., 2019MONTEIRO, G.G., WOLFF, V.R.S., PERONTI, A.L.B.G., MARTINELLI, N.M. and ANJOS, I.A., 2019. First record of Hemiberlesia musae Takagi & Yamamoto, 1974 and Duplachionaspis divergens (Green, 1899) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on sugarcane in greenhouse in Brazil. The Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 392-396. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n2p392.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n2p392...
). The most important one is the pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) attacking roots and from basal to apical nodes (Tohamy et al., 2008TOHAMY, T.H, EL-RAHEEM, A.A.A. and EL-RAWY, A.M., 2008. Role of the cultural practices and natural enemies for suppressing infestation of the pink sugarcane mealybug: Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in sugarcane fields at Minia Govemorate, Middle Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, vol. 18, pp. 177-188.; Monteiro et al., 2021bMONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021b. Presence of pink sugarcane mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) increases probability of red rot on sugarcane. Scientia Agrícola, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020.0373.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020...
).

Saccharicoccus sacchari, of unknown origin (Zhang et al., 2018ZHANG, J.T., WU, B. and WU, S.A., 2018. A review of the genus Saccharicoccus Ferris, 1954 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) in China, with description of a new species. Zootaxa, vol. 4375, no. 1, pp. 127-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4375.1.7. PMid:29689784.
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4375....
) is associated to Saccharum spp., being reported in 79 countries around the world (García Morales et al., 2016GARCÍA MORALES, M., DENNO, B.D., MILLER, D.R., MILLER, G.L., BEN-DOV, Y. and HARDY, N.B., 2016. ScaleNet: a literature-based model of scale insect biology and systematics. Database, vol. 2016, pp. bav118. PMid:26861659.) and widely spread throughout the state of São Paulo (Monteiro et al., 2021aMONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021a. Distribution, abundance and seasonality of scale insects in sugarcane crops in the state of São Paulo. Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasileira de Biologia, vol. 83, e250879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.250879. PMid:34669806.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.2508...
). In India and Cuba, the insect caused growth delay and plant death of sugarcane shoots due to the intense sap suction (Novoa et al., 2015NOVOA, N.M., HAMON, A., HODGES, G. and KONDO, T., 2015. Lista de los insectos escama (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) de Cuba = List of scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of Cuba. Poeyana, vol. 500, pp. 33-54.; Nrip and Gaikwad, 2017NRIP, K.N. and GAIKWAD, A.T., 2017. A Study of Various Pests in Sugarcane Crop of India.-. Educational Applied Scientific Research Journal, vol. 2, pp. 12-14.). In Egypt, severe infestations of S. sacchari caused reduction in the weight and diameter of stems (Jayanthi et al., 2016JAYANTHI, R., SRIKANTH, J. and SUSHIL, S.N., 2016. Sugarcane. In: M. MANI and C. SHIVARAJU, eds. Mealybugs and their management in agricultural and horticultural crops. Bangalore: Springer Publisher, pp. 287-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2677-2_28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-267...
), as well as reductions of 13 to 21% of sugar production (Mohamed et al., 2009MOHAMED, G.E.D.H., IBRAHIM, S.A.M. and MOHARUM, F.A., 2009. Effect of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) infestation levels on sugarcane physical and chemical properties. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 119-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.15434.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.1...
). Sucking habit of S. sacchari facilitates the entry of phytopathogenic microorganisms, being also a vector of the Sugarcane Bacilliform Virus (ScBv) (Autrey et al., 1995AUTREY, L.J.C., BOOLELL, S., JONES, P., LOCKHARF, B.E.L. and NADIF, A., 1995. The distribution of sugarcane Bacilliform virus in various geographical regions. Plant Pathology, vol. 21, pp. 527-541.).

This insect infests newly-planted sugarcane rhizomes, up to 30 cm of depth, and as the plant grows, the species forms colonies under the leaf sheaths, on the nodes of the plants (Tohamy et al., 2008TOHAMY, T.H, EL-RAHEEM, A.A.A. and EL-RAWY, A.M., 2008. Role of the cultural practices and natural enemies for suppressing infestation of the pink sugarcane mealybug: Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in sugarcane fields at Minia Govemorate, Middle Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, vol. 18, pp. 177-188.; Monteiro et al., 2021aMONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021a. Distribution, abundance and seasonality of scale insects in sugarcane crops in the state of São Paulo. Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasileira de Biologia, vol. 83, e250879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.250879. PMid:34669806.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.2508...
). This cryptic habit makes difficult to control the pseudococcid, including its dispersal between plants by ants, the movements of the air provided by jet-transported equipments and infested stems left after harvest, favouring reinfestation of the pink sugarcane mealybug to the next crop cycle (Rajendra, 1974RAJENDRA, A., 1974. The biology and control of Saccharicoccus sacchari Ckll. (Hom: Pseudococcidae) the pink mealy bug of sugar cane in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science. Biological Sciences, vol. 11, pp. 23-28.; Tohamy et al., 2008TOHAMY, T.H, EL-RAHEEM, A.A.A. and EL-RAWY, A.M., 2008. Role of the cultural practices and natural enemies for suppressing infestation of the pink sugarcane mealybug: Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in sugarcane fields at Minia Govemorate, Middle Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, vol. 18, pp. 177-188.).

As there is no efficacious product against this pest, the producers are dependent by natural enemies (Cruz et al., 2019CRUZ, M.A., PERONTI, A.L.B.G., MARTINELLI, N.M., COSTA, V.A., IGNÁCIO, G.P. and ALMEIDA, L.M., 2019. Complex of natural enemies associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on sugarcane in Brazil. The Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 160-175. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n4p160.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n4p160...
). Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) are interesting microbial control agents due to their low impact on the environment and selective to natural enemies (Brida et al., 2017BRIDA, A.L., ROSA, J.M.O., OLIVEIRA, C.M.G., CASTRO, B.M., SERRÃO, J.E., ZANUNCIO, J.C., LEITE, L.G. and WILCKEN, S.R.S., 2017. Entomopathogenic nematodes in agricultural areas in Brazil. Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 452-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep45254. PMid:28382937.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep45254...
; San-Blas et al., 2019SAN-BLAS, E., CAMPOS-HERRERA, R., DOLINSKI, C., MONTEIRO, C., ANDALÓ, V., LEITE, L.G., RODRÍGUEZ, M.G., MORALES-MONTERO, P., SÁENZ-APONTE, A., CEDANO, C., LÓPEZ-NUÑEZ, J.C., DEL VALLE, E., DOUCET, M., LAX, P., NAVARRO, P.D., BÁEZ, F., LLUMIQUINGA, P., RUIZ-VEGA, J., GUERRA-MORENO, A. and STOCK, S.P., 2019. Entomopathogenic nematology in Latin America: a brief history, current research and future prospects. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, vol. 165, pp. 22-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.03.010. PMid:30940472.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.03....
). The families Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae are associated respectively to bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus spp. and Xenorhabdus spp. (Almenara et al., 2012ALMENARA, D.P., ROSSI, C., CAMARGO, M.R. and WINTER, C.E. 2012. Entomopathogenic nematodes. In: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA EM ENTOMOLOGIA MOLECULAR – INCT, ed. Advanced topics in molecular entomology. São Paulo, pp. 15-167.) and both of them can be artificially cultivated (Kim et al., 2005KIM, Y., JI, D., CHO, S. and PARK, Y., 2005. Two groups of entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, share an inhibitory action against phospholipase A2 to induce host immunodepression. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 258-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05.001. PMid:15979640.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05....
). The bacteria is inside the infective juvenile (IJ) digestive system killing the host by septicemia (Poinar Junior and Grewal, 2012). The high susceptibility of the pseudococcids Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell, 1893) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Zart et al., 2021ZART, M., MACEDO, M.F., RANDO, J.S.S., DONEZE, G.S., BRITO, C.P., POLETTO, R.S. and ALVES, V.S., 2021. Performance of entomopathogenic nematodes on the mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and the compatibility of control agents with nematodes. Journal of Nematology, vol. 53, pp. 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-020. PMid:33860237.
http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-0...
) and Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley, 1900) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Alves et al., 2009ALVES, V.S., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECILIA, L.V.C., ROHDE, C. and DA SILVA, M.A.T., 2009. Tests in conditions for the control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in coffee with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009...
) to EPNs suggests the pink sugarcane mealybug could be a potential target.

This study aimed to assess the virulence of three species of EPNs and their respective symbiotic bacteria against S. sacchari under laboratory conditions.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Biological materials acquisition

The EPNs: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (HB EN01) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), Steinernema rarum (Doucet, 1986) (PAM25) and Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, 1955 (All) (Rhabditida: Steinermatidae), and their respective bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens (Thomas and Poinar, 1979), Xenorhabdus szentirmaii Lengyel, 2005 and Xenorhabdus nematophila (Poinar and Thomas, 1965) (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae), were provided by the Laboratory of Biological Control of the Instituto Biológico, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Adult females of S. sacchari were collected in sugarcane field in the municipality of Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, 21°13'22” S, -48°16'81” W, altitude of 605 m, and stored in conical tubes of 50 mL.

2.2. Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes

The pink sugarcane mealybug were prepared in permanent slides using the technique described by Willink (1996)WILLINK, M.C.G., 1996. The genus Cerococcus in Argentina (Homoptera: Cerococcidae). Insecta Mundi, vol. 10, pp. 235-239. to identify the species. The identification took place under an optical microscope through morphological characteristics, using the work of Williams and Willink (1992)WILLIAMS, D.J. and WILLINK, M.C.G., 1992. Mealybugs of Central and South America. London: CAB International..

Fourteen treatment tested H. bacteriophora, S. rarum and S. capocapsae at four concentration, tiamethoxam and distilled water (control). For each treatment, eight replications were established, each replication consinting of a Petri dish (10 cm diameter) contaning a filter paper covering the botton and ten adult females of S. sacchari. For each nematode strain, four doses were tested, 25, 50, 75 and 100 IJs/insect, 2 mL of IJ suspension were applicated over the filter paper. Thiamethoxam (3-(2-chloro-1.3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-5-methyl-1.3.5-oxadiazinan-4-ylidene(nitro)amine), was tested at the pattern dose of 1.2 g L-1 adding same volume per dish, following the recommendation of 1200 g/ha for the control of the coffee root mealybug D. texensis (Agrofit, 2021SISTEMA DE AGROTÓXICOS FITOSSANITÁRIOS – AGROFIT [online], 2021 [viewed 30 December 2021]. Available from: https://agrofit.agricultura.gov.br/agrofit_cons/principal_agrofit_cons
https://agrofit.agricultura.gov.br/agrof...
). Once this pest is from the same family of the pink sugarcane mealybug.

Mealybug mortality was assessed seven days, to obtain the maximum potential for nematode mortality. After the application of the suspensions, mortality caused by nematodes was confirmed by observing the symptoms in a Zeiss Stemi 508 (Alves et al., 2009ALVES, V.S., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECILIA, L.V.C., ROHDE, C. and DA SILVA, M.A.T., 2009. Tests in conditions for the control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in coffee with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009...
) and observing them inside and on the dead S. sacchari body.

2.3. Virulence of the symbiotic bacteria

The bacteria P. luminescens, X. szentirmaii and X. nematophila were grown in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium, consisting of 0.1% tryptone, 0.05% yeast extract, 0.05% NaCl, 0.1% bacterial agar and 97% distilled water at pH 7.0 for three days at 28 °C. The bacteria were tested at the dose 3 x 109 cells/mL by adding 2 mL of the culture inside a Petri dish, over a filter paper circle. The bacteria were compared to the chemical (thiamethoxam) at the dose of 1.2 g L-1, and with distilled water (control). Each treatment contained ten replications and each replication consisted of ten pink sugarcane mealybug, female/Petri dish, on the filter paper.

2.4. Data analysis

All experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. The data were submitted to the tests of normality of residues by Shapiro-Wilk (Royston, 1995ROYSTON, P., 1995. Remark AS R94: a remark on algorithm AS 181: the W-test for normality. Applied Statistics, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 547. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2986146.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2986146...
) and homogeneity of variances by Levene (Gastwirth et al., 2009GASTWIRTH, J.L., GEL, Y.R. and MIAO, W., 2009. The impact of Levene’s test of equality of variances on statistical theory and practice. Statistical Science, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 343-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS301.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS301...
) at 5% probability. Once the normality and homogeneity were verified, the data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test (5%) using the Agroestat Online software (Maldonado, 2020MALDONADO, J.R.W., 2020 [viewed 24 January 2021]. AgroEstat Online [online]. Available from: https://www.agroestat.com.br/
https://www.agroestat.com.br/...
).

3. Results

All nematodes were pathogenic to S. sacchari. Steinernema rarum (PAM25) provided the highest mortality to the pseudococcid (79.25%), followed by H. bacteriophora (HB EN01) (58.25%) and S. carpocapsae (All) (42.50%) (P<0.001). Thiamethoxam, caused 100% mortality (Figure 1A).

Figure 1
Effect of different strains of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and their respective symbiotic bacteria, on the control of S. sacchari. (A) Different concentrations of S. rarum (PAM 25), H. bacteriophora (HB EN01), S. carpocapsae (All) on the mortality of S. sacchari; (B) Main effects of different EPNs on the mortality of S. sacchari; (C) Effect of X. szentirmaii, P. luminescens and X. nematophila at concentration of 3 x 109 cells/ml on the mortality of S. sacchari. For each group, bars with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05); unidentified bars do not differ (P>0.05).

Although the overall efficiency of S. rarum (PAM25) was higher than another isolates, there was no difference (P=0.206) among tested concentrations, as well as no difference in the mortality of S. sacchari in H. bacteriophora (HB EN01) concentrations (P=0.338). However, concentration of 25 IJs of S. carpocapsae (All) provided the lowest mortality rate, killing only 21% of mealybugs (P<0.01).

Different mortalities were observed in the application of the isolated bacteria (P<0.001) (Figure 1C). There was no difference between the bacteria X. szentirmaii and P. luminescens, which caused 40 and 45% mortality, respectively. The lowest mortality (20%) was observed with the use of X. nematophila, but it was still higher than that obtained in the control (10%). Thiamethoxam caused the greatest mortality (100%).

4. Discussion

Similar results were obtained by EL Roby (2018)EL ROBY, A.S.M.H., 2018. Efficiency of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida) against Saccharococcus sacchari (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) under laboratory conditions. Pakistan Journal of Nematology, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 59-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.18681/pjn.v36.i01.p59-63.
http://dx.doi.org/10.18681/pjn.v36.i01.p...
, with Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. against S. sacchari, with mortality up to 48.7 and 70.8%, respectively. In general, the increase in the concentration of nematodes did not improve the control. This suggests that the control efficiency is more linked to the strain quality than the concentration of EPNs. Although S. carpocapsae (All) isolate was less efficient at the concentration of 25 IJs, the highest concentration also showed low mortality (<51%) (Figure 1B). These results show that virulence depends on the nematode species, highlighting the importance to screem the best nematode for each targert.

Other studies with Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. also proved their virulence against other groups of scale insects, such as D. texensis, with up to 70% mortality (Alves et al., 2009ALVES, V.S., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECILIA, L.V.C., ROHDE, C. and DA SILVA, M.A.T., 2009. Tests in conditions for the control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in coffee with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009...
). Laboratory tests with four nematodes species demonstrated that S. carpocapsae strain caused 78% mortality of scale insects with 25 IJs/insect (Andaló et al., 2004ANDALÓ, V., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECÍLIA, L.V.C. and SOUZA, G.C., 2004. Selection of Fungal Isolates and Entomopathogenic Nematodes to the coffee root scale insect Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, vol. 71, pp. 181-187.).

Evaluating the virulence of EPNs to D. texensis, Alves et al. (2009)ALVES, V.S., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECILIA, L.V.C., ROHDE, C. and DA SILVA, M.A.T., 2009. Tests in conditions for the control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in coffee with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009...
verified that Heterorhabditis sp. (CCA), H. bacteriophora (HB EN01), Heterorhabditis sp. (JPM3 l) and Heterorhabditis sp. (JPM3) provided high virulence, in the concentration of 100 IJs/insect, reaching mortality of 100, 94, 93.6 and 80.9% respectively. The isolates (CCA) and (JPM3) also were efficient controlling the pseudococcids sheltered in crypts, which caused mortality of 84 and 93% of the insects respectively.

The mortality obtained with the use of bacteria can be related to the secondary metabolites produced that came into contact through the natural openings such as mouthpieces, spirals, circles and anus of the mealybug. There are a large number of genes in the entomopathogenic bacteria responsible for the production of toxins and secondary metabolites. These molecules guarantee the insect’s pathogenic process and recognition by the nematode, maintaining symbiosis (Clarke, 2008CLARKE, D.J., 2008. Photorhabdus: a model for the analysis of pathogenicity and mutualism. Cellular Microbiology, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 2159-2167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2008.01209.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.20...
).

Photorhabdus luminescens synthetizes anthraquinone secondary metabolites and antibiotics of the stilbene class, which are pathogenic toxins (Brachmann et al., 2007BRACHMANN, A.O., JOYCE, S.A., JENKE-KODAMA, H., SCHWÄR, G., CLARKE, D.J. and BODE, H.B., 2007. A Type II Polyketide Synthase is Responsible for Anthraquinone Biosynthesis in Photorhabdus Luminescens. ChemBioChem, vol. 8, no. 14, pp. 1721-1728. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbic.200700300. PMid:17722122.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbic.200700300...
; Duchaud et al., 2003DUCHAUD, E., RUSNIOK, C., FRANGEUL, L., BUCHRIESER, C., GIVAUDAN, A., TAOURIT, S., BOCS, S., BOURSAUX-EUDE, C., CHANDLER, M., CHARLES, J.-F., DASSA, E., DEROSE, R., DERZELLE, S., FREYSSINET, G., GAUDRIAULT, S., MÉDIGUE, C., LANOIS, A., POWELL, K., SIGUIER, P., VINCENT, R., WINGATE, V., ZOUINE, M., GLASER, P., BOEMARE, N., DANCHIN, A. and KUNST, F., 2003. The Genome Sequence of the Entomopathogenic Bacterium Photorhabdus Luminescens. Nature Biotechnology, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1307-1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt886. PMid:14528314.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt886...
; Joyce et al., 2008JOYCE, S.A., BRACHMANN, A.O., GLAZER, I., LANGO, L., SCHWAR, G., CLARKE, D.J. and BODE, H.B., 2008. Bacterial biosynthesis of a multipotent stilbene. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 47, no. 10, pp. 1942-1945. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200705148. PMid:18236486.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200705148...
). The bacterium X. nematophila produces antibiotics of different classes, xenocoumarin and xenorhabdin. Antibiotic biosynthesis prevents other species of bacteria from infecting the corpse colonized by EPNs (Bradley et al., 1999BRADLEY, J.S., GARAU, J., LODE, H., ROLSTON, K.V.I., WILSON, S.E. and QUINN, J.P., 1999. Carbapenems in clinical practice: a guide to their use in serious infection.-. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 93-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-8579(98)00094-6. PMid:10221411.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-8579(98)...
). The first characterized toxins of Photorhabdus spp. (Tc) and (Mcf) are examples of proteins involved on controlling the immune response of the infected insect, inducing apoptosis in the cells of the immune system. These bacteria produce compounds that inhibit the phospholipase A2 enzyme of the infected insect. This enzyme is involved in the biosynthesis of eicosanoids that regulates the cellular immune response (Kim et al., 2005KIM, Y., JI, D., CHO, S. and PARK, Y., 2005. Two groups of entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, share an inhibitory action against phospholipase A2 to induce host immunodepression. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 258-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05.001. PMid:15979640.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05....
; Stanley, 2006STANLEY, D., 2006. Prostaglandins and other Eicosanoids in insects: biological significance. Annual Review of Entomology, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 25-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151021. PMid:16332202.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.5...
).

The X. nematophila bacteria has genes encoding a toxin complex in its genome (Almenara et al., 2012ALMENARA, D.P., ROSSI, C., CAMARGO, M.R. and WINTER, C.E. 2012. Entomopathogenic nematodes. In: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA EM ENTOMOLOGIA MOLECULAR – INCT, ed. Advanced topics in molecular entomology. São Paulo, pp. 15-167.). Among them, Brown et al. (2004)BROWN, S.E., CAO, A.T., HINES, E.R., AKHURST, R.J. and EAST, P.D., 2004. A novel secreted protein toxin from the insect pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 279, no. 15, pp. 14595-14601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M309859200. PMid:14707137.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M309859200...
identified a 42 kDa protein, toxic to insects, which, when expressed in a recombinant system, this toxin (Tc) caused deaths to larvae of Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in doses of 30 to 40 ng/g. Other example of secreted toxin is the protein Xpt, also with insecticidal activity (Sergeant et al., 2006SERGEANT, M., BAXTER, L., JARRETT, P., SHAW, E., OUSLEY, M., WINSTANLEY, C. and MORGAN, J.A.W., 2006. Identification, typing, and Insecticidal activity of Xenorhabdus Isolates from entomopathogenic nematodes in United Kingdom soil and characterization of the Xpt Toxin Loci. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 72, no. 9, pp. 5895-5907. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00217-06. PMid:16957209.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00217-06...
). These proteins kill insects when injected artificially, released during infection with EPNs or administered orally (Herbert and Goodrich-Blair, 2007HERBERT, E.E. and GOODRICH-BLAIR, H., 2007. Friend and foe: the two faces of Xenorhabdus Nematophila. Nature Reviews. Microbiology, vol. 5, no. 8, pp. 634-646. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1706. PMid:17618298.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1706...
).

However, the mortality below 50% caused by the bacteria might be related to the hydrophobic waxes on the scale insect body, which hinder the action of contact of the bacteria culture and its metabolites to the body of the mealybug, and also by the pseudococcid sucking behaviours, requiring the ingestion of bacteria or toxic compounds to reach the target site to confer insecticidal action.

Steinernema rarum (PAM25), as evidenced under laboratory conditions, has the potential as biological control agent to be incorporate into the integrated pest management program in sugarcane against the pink sugarcane mealybug. However, further studies are needed to reveal the field performance of EPN isolates tested.

Acknowledgements

This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Educational Personnel – Brazil (CAPES) – Financing Code 001.

References

  • ALMENARA, D.P., ROSSI, C., CAMARGO, M.R. and WINTER, C.E. 2012. Entomopathogenic nematodes. In: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA EM ENTOMOLOGIA MOLECULAR – INCT, ed. Advanced topics in molecular entomology. São Paulo, pp. 15-167.
  • ALVES, V.S., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECILIA, L.V.C., ROHDE, C. and DA SILVA, M.A.T., 2009. Tests in conditions for the control of Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in coffee with entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 139-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262009000100029
  • ANDALÓ, V., MOINO JUNIOR, A., SANTA-CECÍLIA, L.V.C. and SOUZA, G.C., 2004. Selection of Fungal Isolates and Entomopathogenic Nematodes to the coffee root scale insect Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, vol. 71, pp. 181-187.
  • AUTREY, L.J.C., BOOLELL, S., JONES, P., LOCKHARF, B.E.L. and NADIF, A., 1995. The distribution of sugarcane Bacilliform virus in various geographical regions. Plant Pathology, vol. 21, pp. 527-541.
  • BRACHMANN, A.O., JOYCE, S.A., JENKE-KODAMA, H., SCHWÄR, G., CLARKE, D.J. and BODE, H.B., 2007. A Type II Polyketide Synthase is Responsible for Anthraquinone Biosynthesis in Photorhabdus Luminescens. ChemBioChem, vol. 8, no. 14, pp. 1721-1728. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbic.200700300 PMid:17722122.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbic.200700300
  • BRADLEY, J.S., GARAU, J., LODE, H., ROLSTON, K.V.I., WILSON, S.E. and QUINN, J.P., 1999. Carbapenems in clinical practice: a guide to their use in serious infection.-. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 93-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-8579(98)00094-6 PMid:10221411.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-8579(98)00094-6
  • BRIDA, A.L., ROSA, J.M.O., OLIVEIRA, C.M.G., CASTRO, B.M., SERRÃO, J.E., ZANUNCIO, J.C., LEITE, L.G. and WILCKEN, S.R.S., 2017. Entomopathogenic nematodes in agricultural areas in Brazil. Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 452-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep45254 PMid:28382937.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep45254
  • BROWN, S.E., CAO, A.T., HINES, E.R., AKHURST, R.J. and EAST, P.D., 2004. A novel secreted protein toxin from the insect pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 279, no. 15, pp. 14595-14601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M309859200 PMid:14707137.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M309859200
  • CLARKE, D.J., 2008. Photorhabdus: a model for the analysis of pathogenicity and mutualism. Cellular Microbiology, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 2159-2167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2008.01209.x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2008.01209.x
  • CRUZ, M.A., PERONTI, A.L.B.G., MARTINELLI, N.M., COSTA, V.A., IGNÁCIO, G.P. and ALMEIDA, L.M., 2019. Complex of natural enemies associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on sugarcane in Brazil. The Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 160-175. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n4p160
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n4p160
  • DUCHAUD, E., RUSNIOK, C., FRANGEUL, L., BUCHRIESER, C., GIVAUDAN, A., TAOURIT, S., BOCS, S., BOURSAUX-EUDE, C., CHANDLER, M., CHARLES, J.-F., DASSA, E., DEROSE, R., DERZELLE, S., FREYSSINET, G., GAUDRIAULT, S., MÉDIGUE, C., LANOIS, A., POWELL, K., SIGUIER, P., VINCENT, R., WINGATE, V., ZOUINE, M., GLASER, P., BOEMARE, N., DANCHIN, A. and KUNST, F., 2003. The Genome Sequence of the Entomopathogenic Bacterium Photorhabdus Luminescens. Nature Biotechnology, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1307-1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt886 PMid:14528314.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nbt886
  • EL ROBY, A.S.M.H., 2018. Efficiency of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida) against Saccharococcus sacchari (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) under laboratory conditions. Pakistan Journal of Nematology, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 59-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.18681/pjn.v36.i01.p59-63
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.18681/pjn.v36.i01.p59-63
  • EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA – EMBRAPA [online], 2020 [viewed 12 November 2020]. Available from: http://www.embrapa.br
    » http://www.embrapa.br
  • GARCÍA MORALES, M., DENNO, B.D., MILLER, D.R., MILLER, G.L., BEN-DOV, Y. and HARDY, N.B., 2016. ScaleNet: a literature-based model of scale insect biology and systematics. Database, vol. 2016, pp. bav118. PMid:26861659.
  • GASTWIRTH, J.L., GEL, Y.R. and MIAO, W., 2009. The impact of Levene’s test of equality of variances on statistical theory and practice. Statistical Science, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 343-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS301
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-STS301
  • HERBERT, E.E. and GOODRICH-BLAIR, H., 2007. Friend and foe: the two faces of Xenorhabdus Nematophila Nature Reviews. Microbiology, vol. 5, no. 8, pp. 634-646. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1706 PMid:17618298.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1706
  • JAYANTHI, R., SRIKANTH, J. and SUSHIL, S.N., 2016. Sugarcane. In: M. MANI and C. SHIVARAJU, eds. Mealybugs and their management in agricultural and horticultural crops Bangalore: Springer Publisher, pp. 287-296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2677-2_28
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2677-2_28
  • JOYCE, S.A., BRACHMANN, A.O., GLAZER, I., LANGO, L., SCHWAR, G., CLARKE, D.J. and BODE, H.B., 2008. Bacterial biosynthesis of a multipotent stilbene. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 47, no. 10, pp. 1942-1945. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200705148 PMid:18236486.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200705148
  • KIM, Y., JI, D., CHO, S. and PARK, Y., 2005. Two groups of entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, share an inhibitory action against phospholipase A2 to induce host immunodepression. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 258-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05.001 PMid:15979640.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2005.05.001
  • MALDONADO, J.R.W., 2020 [viewed 24 January 2021]. AgroEstat Online [online]. Available from: https://www.agroestat.com.br/
    » https://www.agroestat.com.br/
  • MOHAMED, G.E.D.H., IBRAHIM, S.A.M. and MOHARUM, F.A., 2009. Effect of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) infestation levels on sugarcane physical and chemical properties. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 119-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.15434
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2009.15434
  • MONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021a. Distribution, abundance and seasonality of scale insects in sugarcane crops in the state of São Paulo. Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasileira de Biologia, vol. 83, e250879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.250879 PMid:34669806.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519.6984.250879
  • MONTEIRO, G.G., PERONTI, A.L.B.G. and MARTINELLI, N.M., 2021b. Presence of pink sugarcane mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) increases probability of red rot on sugarcane. Scientia Agrícola, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020.0373
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678.992X.2020.0373
  • MONTEIRO, G.G., WOLFF, V.R.S., PERONTI, A.L.B.G., MARTINELLI, N.M. and ANJOS, I.A., 2019. First record of Hemiberlesia musae Takagi & Yamamoto, 1974 and Duplachionaspis divergens (Green, 1899) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on sugarcane in greenhouse in Brazil. The Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 392-396. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n2p392
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n2p392
  • NOVOA, N.M., HAMON, A., HODGES, G. and KONDO, T., 2015. Lista de los insectos escama (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) de Cuba = List of scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) of Cuba. Poeyana, vol. 500, pp. 33-54.
  • NRIP, K.N. and GAIKWAD, A.T., 2017. A Study of Various Pests in Sugarcane Crop of India.-. Educational Applied Scientific Research Journal, vol. 2, pp. 12-14.
  • POINAR JUNIOR, G.O. and GREWAL, P.S., 2012. History of Entomopathogenic Nematology. Journal of Nematology, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 153-161. PMid:23482453.
  • RAJENDRA, A., 1974. The biology and control of Saccharicoccus sacchari Ckll. (Hom: Pseudococcidae) the pink mealy bug of sugar cane in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science. Biological Sciences, vol. 11, pp. 23-28.
  • ROYSTON, P., 1995. Remark AS R94: a remark on algorithm AS 181: the W-test for normality. Applied Statistics, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 547. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2986146
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2986146
  • SAN-BLAS, E., CAMPOS-HERRERA, R., DOLINSKI, C., MONTEIRO, C., ANDALÓ, V., LEITE, L.G., RODRÍGUEZ, M.G., MORALES-MONTERO, P., SÁENZ-APONTE, A., CEDANO, C., LÓPEZ-NUÑEZ, J.C., DEL VALLE, E., DOUCET, M., LAX, P., NAVARRO, P.D., BÁEZ, F., LLUMIQUINGA, P., RUIZ-VEGA, J., GUERRA-MORENO, A. and STOCK, S.P., 2019. Entomopathogenic nematology in Latin America: a brief history, current research and future prospects. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, vol. 165, pp. 22-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.03.010 PMid:30940472.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.03.010
  • SERGEANT, M., BAXTER, L., JARRETT, P., SHAW, E., OUSLEY, M., WINSTANLEY, C. and MORGAN, J.A.W., 2006. Identification, typing, and Insecticidal activity of Xenorhabdus Isolates from entomopathogenic nematodes in United Kingdom soil and characterization of the Xpt Toxin Loci. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 72, no. 9, pp. 5895-5907. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00217-06 PMid:16957209.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00217-06
  • SISTEMA DE AGROTÓXICOS FITOSSANITÁRIOS – AGROFIT [online], 2021 [viewed 30 December 2021]. Available from: https://agrofit.agricultura.gov.br/agrofit_cons/principal_agrofit_cons
    » https://agrofit.agricultura.gov.br/agrofit_cons/principal_agrofit_cons
  • STANLEY, D., 2006. Prostaglandins and other Eicosanoids in insects: biological significance. Annual Review of Entomology, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 25-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151021 PMid:16332202.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151021
  • TOHAMY, T.H, EL-RAHEEM, A.A.A. and EL-RAWY, A.M., 2008. Role of the cultural practices and natural enemies for suppressing infestation of the pink sugarcane mealybug: Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in sugarcane fields at Minia Govemorate, Middle Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, vol. 18, pp. 177-188.
  • WILLIAMS, D.J. and WILLINK, M.C.G., 1992. Mealybugs of Central and South America London: CAB International.
  • WILLINK, M.C.G., 1996. The genus Cerococcus in Argentina (Homoptera: Cerococcidae). Insecta Mundi, vol. 10, pp. 235-239.
  • ZART, M., MACEDO, M.F., RANDO, J.S.S., DONEZE, G.S., BRITO, C.P., POLETTO, R.S. and ALVES, V.S., 2021. Performance of entomopathogenic nematodes on the mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and the compatibility of control agents with nematodes. Journal of Nematology, vol. 53, pp. 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-020 PMid:33860237.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2021-020
  • ZHANG, J.T., WU, B. and WU, S.A., 2018. A review of the genus Saccharicoccus Ferris, 1954 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) in China, with description of a new species. Zootaxa, vol. 4375, no. 1, pp. 127-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4375.1.7 PMid:29689784.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4375.1.7

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    07 Feb 2022
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    30 June 2021
  • Accepted
    31 Dec 2021
Instituto Internacional de Ecologia R. Bento Carlos, 750, 13560-660 São Carlos SP - Brasil, Tel. e Fax: (55 16) 3362-5400 - São Carlos - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjb@bjb.com.br