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The potential of Mythimna sequax Franclemont eggs for the production of Trichogramma spp. after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen1 1 Parte da tese do primeiro autor apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia- Produção Vegetal, Departamento de Fitotecnia e Fitossanitarismo, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil; pesquisa financiada pelo programa de bolsas da Capes

Potencial de ovos de Mythimna sequax Franclemont criopreservados em nitrogênio líquido para produção de Trichogramma spp.

ABSTRACT

The cryopreservation of noctuid eggs in liquid nitrogen has proved be a promising tool in the mass production of Trichogramma, however studies into this technique have only just begun. This study evaluated the response of different densities of the female of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley to the parasitism of Mythimna sequax eggs stored and not stored in liquid nitrogen, and the performance of females reared only in cryopreserved eggs. The study evaluated the influence of the number of T. pretiosum females (4, 8 and 12) released to parasitise 40 M. sequax eggs, stored and not stored for 15 days in liquid nitrogen, as well as the performance of T. pretiosum females reared in eggs stored for three generations and females reared in non-stored eggs. Parasitism by T. pretiosum in stored eggs was 84%, twice the value obtained in previous studies. The emergence of parasitoids was greater than 95% in both experiments. The performance of females raised in stored eggs did not differ from that of females raised in non-stored eggs. The data show that the technique of cryopreservation of M. sequax eggs may be a viable alternative in the mass production of T. pretiosum.

Key words:
Egg storage; Ultra-low temperatures; Noctuids; Egg parasitoids

RESUMO

A criopreservação de ovos de noctuídeos em nitrogênio líquido tem se mostrado uma ferramenta promissora para a produção massal de Trichogramma, entretanto, os estudos sobre esta técnica são incipientes. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a resposta de diferentes densidades de fêmeas de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley ao parasitismo de ovos de Mythimna sequax estocados ou não em nitrogênio líquido e o desempenho de fêmeas criadas somente em ovos criopreservados. Para isso, avaliou-se a influência da quantidade de fêmeas de T. pretiosum (4; 8 e 12) liberadas para o parasitismo de 40 ovos de M. sequax estocados por 15 dias em nitrogênio líquido e não estocados, assim como, o desempenho de fêmeas de T. pretiosum criadas em ovos estocados por três gerações com fêmeas criadas em ovos não estocados. O parasitismo de T. pretiosum em ovos estocados foi de 84%, o dobro do número obtido em estudos anteriores. A emergência de parasitoides foi superior a 95% em ambos os experimentos. O desempenho das fêmeas criadas em ovos estocados não diferiu das fêmeas criadas em ovos não estocados. Os dados mostram que a técnica de criopreservação para os ovos de M. sequax pode ser uma alternativa viável para a produção massal de T. pretiosum.

Palavras-chave:
Estocagem de ovos; Temperaturas ultrabaixas; Noctuídeos; Parasitoides de ovos

INTRODUCTION

Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma Westwood are the most frequently used agents in programs of biological control of lepidopteran pests in several countries (PEREIRA et al., 2004PEREIRA, F. F. et al. Biologia e exigências térmicas de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley e T. exiguum Pinto & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) criados em ovos de Plutella xyl ostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Neotropical Entomology, v. 33, p. 231-236, 2004.). Their mass production is generally carried out using eggs of microlepidoptera, such as Anagasta kuehniella Zeller, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier and Corcyra cephalonica Staiton, as they have low production costs (PARRA, 1997PARRA, J. R. P. Técnicas de criação de Anagasta kuehniella, hospedeiro alternativo para produção de Trichogramma. In: PARRA, J. R. P.; ZUCCHI, R.A. (Ed.). Trichogramma e o controle biológico aplicado. Piracicaba: Fealq, 1997. p. 121-150.). However, these hosts produce eggs of reduced size (CÔNSOLI; KITAJIMA; PARRA, 1999CÔNSOLI, F. L.; KITAJIMA, E. W.; PARRA, J. R. P. Ultraestructure of the natural and factitious host eggs of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym., Trichogrammatidae). Journal of Insect Morphology Embryology, v. 28, p. 211-229, 1999.), which result in small and less vigorous parasitoids when compared to parasitoids from larger host eggs due to the greater availability of nutrients for the immature insects (BAI et al., 1992BAI, B. et al. The effect of host size on quality attributes of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, v. 64, p. 37-48, 1992.; SALT, 1941SALT, G. The effects of hosts upon their insect parasites. Biological Reviews, v. 16, p. 239-263, 1941.). Such factors as species, size and age of the host, as well as temperature and humidity, can affect the efficiency of Trichogramma parasitism under field conditions (DUROCHER-GRANGER et al., 2011DUROCHER-GRANGER, L. et al. Gamete number and size correlate with adult size in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma euproctidis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, v. 140, n. 3, p. 262-268, 2011.; ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.).

Studies carried out by Bai et al. (1992)BAI, B. et al. The effect of host size on quality attributes of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, v. 64, p. 37-48, 1992. showed that rearing Trichogramma from hosts that have eggs of greater volume resulted in a larger number of parasitoids per egg, and individuals that are longer-lived and more robust, favouring successful pest control. In this respect, the noctuid Mythimna sequax Franclemont, in addition to producing eggs of greater volume than the eggs of moths reared in flour, has high reproductive capacity, ease of rearing and reduced costs (MARCHIORO; FOERSTER, 2012MARCHIORO, C. A.; FOERSTER, L. A. Performance of the wheat armyworn, Mythimna sequax Franclemont, on natural and artificial diets. Neotropical Entomology, v. 41, n. 4, p. 288-295, 2012.).

Success in the mass production of parasitoids depends on synchronising with production in the host, especially in periods close to their being released in the field (TEZZE; BOTTO, 2004TEZZE, A. A.; BOTTO, E. N. Effect of cold storage on the quality of Trichogramma nerudai (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Biological Control, v. 30, p. 11-16, 2004.). One of the alternatives to meet the large-scale production demand of Trichogramma is the storage of host eggs at low temperatures for long periods (GRECO; STILINOVIC, 1998GRECO, C. F.; STILINOVIC, D. Parasitization performance of Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) reared on eggs of Sitotraga cerealella Oliver (Lep., Gelechidae), stored at freezing and subfreezing conditions. Journal of Applied Entomology, v. 122, p. 311-314, 1998.). This technique has been used to store eggs of pentatomid bugs in liquid nitrogen for the production of Trissolcus basalis Wollaston and Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) for release into soybean crops (CORRÊA-FERREIRA; OLIVEIRA, 1998CORRÊA-FERREIRA, B. S.; OLIVEIRA, M. C. N. Viability of Nezara viridula (L.) eggs for parasitism by Trissolcus basalis (Woll.), under different storage techniques in liquid nitrogen. Anais da Sociedade Entomologica do Brasil, v. 27, p. 101-107, 1998.; DOETZER; FOERSTER, 2013DOETZER, A. K.; FOERSTER, L. A. Storage of pentatomid eggs in liquid nitrogen and dormancy of Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) adults as a method of mass production. Neotropical Entomology, v. 42, p. 534-538, 2013.; FAVETTI; BUTNARIU; DOETZER, 2014FAVETTI, B. M.; BUTNARIU, A. R.; DOETZER, A. K. Storage of Euschistus heros eggs (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in liquid nitrogen for parasitization by Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Neotropical Entomology, v. 43, p. 291-293, 2014.).

With lepidoptera, the storage technique has mainly been carried out at low temperatures with parasitised eggs (JALALI; SINGH, 1992JALALI, S. K.; SINGH, S. P. Diferential response of four Trichogramma species to low temperatures for short term storage. Entomophaga, v. 37, n. 1, p. 159-165, 1992.; ÖZDER, 2004ÖZDER, N. Effect of different cold storage periods on parasitization performance of Trichogramma cacoeciae (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology, v. 14, n. 5, p. 441-447, 2004.; PITCHER et al., 2002PITCHER, S. A. et al. Cold storage of Trichogramma ostrinae reared on Sitotroga cerealella eggs. BioControl, v. 47, p. 25-535, 2002.). Cryopreservation of lepidopteran eggs in liquid nitrogen before parasitism remains poorly investigated. The main advantage of this technique is the storage of host eggs for prolonged periods (CORRÊA-FERREIRA; OLIVEIRA, 1998CORRÊA-FERREIRA, B. S.; OLIVEIRA, M. C. N. Viability of Nezara viridula (L.) eggs for parasitism by Trissolcus basalis (Woll.), under different storage techniques in liquid nitrogen. Anais da Sociedade Entomologica do Brasil, v. 27, p. 101-107, 1998.), and the inviability of the host, which avoids the risk of larvae hatching from eggs that may not have been parasitised (MILWARD-DE-AZEVEDO et al., 2004MILWARD-DE-AZEVEDO, E. M. V. et al. Desempenho reprodutivo de Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) em pupas crioconservadas de Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius (Diptera: Calliphoridae): avaliação preliminar. Ciência Rural, v. 34, n. 1, p. 207-211, 2004.).

This technique has shown to be promising for the production of Trichogramma, as demonstrated by studies carried out with different hosts (GRECO; STILINOVIC, 1998GRECO, C. F.; STILINOVIC, D. Parasitization performance of Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) reared on eggs of Sitotraga cerealella Oliver (Lep., Gelechidae), stored at freezing and subfreezing conditions. Journal of Applied Entomology, v. 122, p. 311-314, 1998.; KRECHEMER; FOERSTER, 2016KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016.). Despite the promising results, the parasitism rate in these studies was below 70%, indicating a need to improve the technique.

The cryopreservation of noctuid eggs in liquid nitrogen may be a viable alternative for the mass production of Trichogramma spp., since these eggs have more volume than the eggs of S. cerealella (CÔNSOLI; KITAJIMA; PARRA, 1999CÔNSOLI, F. L.; KITAJIMA, E. W.; PARRA, J. R. P. Ultraestructure of the natural and factitious host eggs of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym., Trichogrammatidae). Journal of Insect Morphology Embryology, v. 28, p. 211-229, 1999.; ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.). However, such factors as female density and the quality of the host eggs may influence the performance of Trichogramma spp. (MOREIRA et al., 2004MOREIRA, M. D. et al. Parasitismo e superparasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) em ovos de Sitotroga cerealella (Oliver) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Neotropical Entomology, v. 38, n. 2, p. 237-242, 2009.). The present study therefore evaluated the response of different densities of T. pretiosum females to the parasitism of eggs of M. sequax stored in liquid nitrogen, and the performance of females obtained from eggs stored for three generations, compared to females obtained from eggs that had not been stored.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiments were carried out at the Integrated Insect Control Laboratory (LCII), and at the Laboratory of Cell Biology at the Biological Sciences Department of the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.

The eggs of M. sequax used in the experiments were obtained from populations reared in the laboratory at a temperature of 20 ± 1 ºC, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and a 12L:12D photoperiod (MARCHIORO; FOERSTER, 2012MARCHIORO, C. A.; FOERSTER, L. A. Performance of the wheat armyworn, Mythimna sequax Franclemont, on natural and artificial diets. Neotropical Entomology, v. 41, n. 4, p. 288-295, 2012.). The population of T. pretiosum was kept in 1.0 x 10 cm test tubes at the same temperature as the host. Every two days, eggs of M. sequax were exposed to parasitism by T. pretiosum. The adults were fed pure honey distributed in strands on the inside of the glass tube. M. sequax eggs, 24 hours old, were transferred to 2 mL capacity cryotubes (Corning®) at an approximate amount of 400 eggs per tube. The samples were placed directly in liquid nitrogen. After the storage period, the eggs were thawed in a water bath at 37 ºC for 5 minutes and maintained at 20 ± 1 ºC, a relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and a 12L:12D photoperiod for conducting the experiments.

The first experiment evaluated the influence of the number of T. pretiosum females on parasitism in eggs of M. sequax, both stored and not stored (control) in liquid nitrogen for 15 days. The treatments were D4 = 4♀:40 eggs, D8 = 8♀:40 eggs and D12 = 12♀:40 eggs. Clumps containing 40 eggs were transferred to glass tubes (1 x 10 cm) and exposed to parasitism for 24 hours by females up to 48 h old, who were fed on strands of pure honey. The experimental design was completely randomised, with 6 treatments and 20 replications, each replication consisting of 40 eggs.

The second experiment evaluated parasitism by T. pretiosum females reared on eggs stored in liquid nitrogen for three generations (TPLN), and females reared in non-stored eggs (control) (TP). Eggs of M. sequax, cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 30 days, and eggs that had not been cryopreserved were exposed to parasitism by TPLN and TP females. Clumps of 20 eggs were transferred to glass tubes containing strands of honey on the inside for feeding the females. Two females (1♀:10 eggs) up to 48 h old were released into each tube for 24 hours to parasitise. The experimental design was completely randomised, with four treatments and 20 replications, each replication consisting of 20 eggs and two T. pretiosum females.

The parameters evaluated in the two experiments with the aid of a stereo microscope were the percentage of parasitised eggs, percentage of emerged adults (presence of emergence hole in the egg), length of cycle (egg-adult), number of emerged parasitoids and sex ratio.

Data that followed a normal distribution by the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and homogeneity by Levene’s test, were submitted to ANOVA and the means compared by the Tukey test (p≤0.05). For data that did not follow these precepts, the Kruskal-Wallis test (p≤0.05) was used. The sex ratio was calculated with the formula SR = number of females / (number of males + number of females) and compared using the chi-square test (X2) at an expected ratio of 1♂:1♀.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the two experiments, the highest rates of parasitism by T. pretiosum in the eggs of M. sequax were 84% for 30 days storage and 91% for 15 days storage. The mean percentage of eggs with emerged adults was 95%. These results were greater than for parasitism by T. pretiosum in eggs of S. cerealella cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 20, 30 and 130 days, which was 32, 41 and 43% respectively, with an emergence rate of less than 70% (GRECO; STILINOVIC, 1998GRECO, C. F.; STILINOVIC, D. Parasitization performance of Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) reared on eggs of Sitotraga cerealella Oliver (Lep., Gelechidae), stored at freezing and subfreezing conditions. Journal of Applied Entomology, v. 122, p. 311-314, 1998.), and for eggs of A. kuehniella stored in liquid nitrogen for up to nine months, which were not parasitised (LOHMANN et al., 2007LOHMANN, T. et al. Viabilidade do armazenamento de ovos de Anagasta kuehniella, Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) em nitrogênio líquido para a produção de Trichogramma pretiosum, Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v. 2, p. 1551-1555, 2007.). Both species are the most used in the mass production of Trichogramma. The low parasitism of T. pretiosum in the above-mentioned studies may be related to the size of the host egg, the thickness of the chorion (ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.), and the period of storage. When the egg, that has a more fragile structure, is exposed to liquid nitrogen (-196 ºC), it can undergo rupture of the cell membrane due to the formation of ice crystals inside the cell (CASTRO et al., 2011CASTRO, S. V. de et al. Agentes crioprotetores intracelulares: características e utilização na criopreservação de tecido ovariano e oócitos. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v. 39, n. 2, p. 957, 2011.). This hypothesis is corroborated by studies carried out by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016., who stored eggs of M. sequax, which have more volume than those of flour moths (ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.). Those authors stored the eggs in liquid nitrogen for 30, 60 and 90 days, and obtained 61, 70 and 58% parasitism by T. pretiosum respectively. The results obtained in the present study, and confirmed by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016., suggest that the eggs of M. sequax are tolerant to freezing in liquid nitrogen.

The density of T. pretiosum females did not affect parasitism in the non-stored eggs, with a mean value greater than 88% of parasitised eggs, but it did affect parasitism in the stored eggs, with only 71% of the eggs being parasitised in treatment D12 (H = 21.0126, p<0.0008) (Figure 1A).

Figure 1
Mean percentage (± SE) of parasitised eggs (A) and eggs with emerged T. pretiosum adults (B), for eggs of M. sequax stored in liquid nitrogen for 15 days and for non-stored eggs, parasitised at different female densities. Similar letters do not differ by the Kruskal-Wallis test (p≤0.05)

An increase in the proportion of females (Treatment D4), the equivalent of one female to every 10 eggs, resulted in an increase in the parasitism of stored M. sequax eggs when compared to those obtained by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016., who used a ratio of one female to 20 eggs. However, the proportion of 12 females caused a reduction in the rate of parasitism in stored eggs, produced by the high density of females in relation to the number of eggs offered, and resulting in superparasitism. Some eggs subjected to freezing may have undergone alterations in their structure, since they dehydrated after parasitism by several females.

Paron, Ciociola and Cruz (1998)PARON, M. J. F. O.; CIOCIOLA, A. I.; CRUZ, I. Resposta de Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) a diferentes densidades de ovos do hospedeiro natural, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Anais da Sociedade Entomologica do Brasil, v. 27, p. 427-433, 1998. found that an increase in the proportion of T. atopovirilia females affected parasitism and development of the parasitoids in eggs of Helicoverpa zea due to intraspecific competition for food by the parasitoid larvae inside the egg. Beserra et al. (2003)BESERRA, E. B. et al. Características biológicas de linhagens de Trichogramma pretiosum desenvolvidas em ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, v. 25, n. 2, p. 479-483, 2003. also saw a reduction in parasitism with an increase in the density of T. pretiosum females, since the females parasitise the same egg several times instead of parasitising various eggs. Parasitism of the same egg many times causes superparasitism, resulting in a drastic reduction in the rate of parasitism.

The results were similar in relation to the percentage of eggs with emerged adults, with the lowest value for emergence of 85% found in treatment D12 (H = 44.2962, p<0.0000) (Figure 1B). This result confirmed those obtained by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016. for the emergence of T. pretiosum in the eggs of M. sequax stored in liquid nitrogen, and was superior to that of Greco and Stilinovic (1998)GRECO, C. F.; STILINOVIC, D. Parasitization performance of Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) reared on eggs of Sitotraga cerealella Oliver (Lep., Gelechidae), stored at freezing and subfreezing conditions. Journal of Applied Entomology, v. 122, p. 311-314, 1998., where the emergence of parasitoids in eggs of S. Cerealella stored in liquid nitrogen was 69%. Pratissoli et al. (2005)PRATISSOLI, D. et al. Influência da densidade de ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda em alguns aspectos biológicos de três espécies de Trichogramma. Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo, v. 4, p. 1-7, 2005. found values of ​​greater than 85% emergence for T. pretiosum in the eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) when a density of more than one female for 15 host eggs was used. According to Navarro (1998)NAVARRO, M. A. Trichogramma spp.: producción, uso y manejo en Colombia. Guadalajara de Buga: Imprectec, 1998, 176 p., in quality control of Trichogramma production, emergence should be greater than 85%; the results obtained in this study are therefore above the standard for T. pretiosum.

The number of emerged parasitoids in the stored eggs differed from the non-stored eggs at all female densities (F: 42.319, p<0.0000) (Table 1). In stored eggs, the average number of parasitoids that emerged was lower than that seen for non-stored eggs (Table 1). The number of parasitoids not emerged from the eggs was proportional to the increase in female density. Treatment D12, for both the stored and non-stored eggs, showed a higher number of non-emerged parasitoids, differing from the other treatments (H = 56.5125, p<0.0000) (Table 1).

Table 1
Mean values (± SE) for the number of emerged and non-emerged parasitoids, sex ratio and length of cycle (egg-adult) for T. pretiosum in eggs of M. sequax stored in liquid nitrogen for 15 days and parasitised by different numbers of females (n =120)

It was found that as the number of females increased, the percentage of parasitoid emergence decreased, both in stored eggs and in non-stored eggs. Although the number of parasitoids emerging from stored eggs was lower than from non-stored eggs, the number of emerged parasitoids, on average two parasitoids/egg, was still higher than the number of parasitoids emerged from eggs of A. kuehniela (0.98/egg), which are frequently used in the commercial mass production of Trichogramma (ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.). The high number of females may have increased competition between them and caused them to parasitise the same egg several times (BESERRA et al., 2003BESERRA, E. B. et al. Características biológicas de linhagens de Trichogramma pretiosum desenvolvidas em ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, v. 25, n. 2, p. 479-483, 2003.), damaging the eggs or causing superparasitism, with less food available for development of the larvae (PARON; CIOCIOLA; CRUZ, 1998PARON, M. J. F. O.; CIOCIOLA, A. I.; CRUZ, I. Resposta de Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) a diferentes densidades de ovos do hospedeiro natural, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Anais da Sociedade Entomologica do Brasil, v. 27, p. 427-433, 1998.). Densities of four and eight females, which correspond to a ratio of 1♀:10 eggs and 1♀:5 eggs respectively, did not differ for the development parameters of T. pretiosum under evaluation. However, for mass production, it would be feasible to employ a density of four females in the parasitism of stored eggs, since this density had the least effect on parasitoid development, resulting in a larger number of individuals.

The length of the biological cycle (egg-adult) of the parasitoids that developed in eggs stored at densities of four and eight females was 0.5 days less in relation to the density of 12 females (H = 26.481, p<0.001) (Table 1). The same difference was found in the parasitoids that developed in non-stored eggs at a density of four females when compared to 12 females (H = 17,605, p<0.001) (Table 1). The high density of females may have delayed development of the parasitoids due to the reduced availability of food inside the egg.

The sex ratio ranged from 0.60 to 0.80 and did not differ between treatments by the chi-square test (Tables 1 and 2). The results are within the standard for this species, and should be equal to or greater than 0.50 (NAVARRO, 1998NAVARRO, M. A. Trichogramma spp.: producción, uso y manejo en Colombia. Guadalajara de Buga: Imprectec, 1998, 176 p.). The stored and non-stored eggs parasitised by different densities of T. pretiosum females resulted in a greater number of females than males. The factor of nutrition may influence the sex ratio of the parasitoids, so that the eggs of M. sequax having greater nutritional reserves due to their volume, about three times greater than the eggs of A. kuehniella (ZAMONER, 2005ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005.), contributed to the increase in female density not affecting the sex ratio. These results confirm those obtained by Greco and Stilinovic (1998)GRECO, C. F.; STILINOVIC, D. Parasitization performance of Trichogramma spp. (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) reared on eggs of Sitotraga cerealella Oliver (Lep., Gelechidae), stored at freezing and subfreezing conditions. Journal of Applied Entomology, v. 122, p. 311-314, 1998. and Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016., who found a predominance of T. pretiosum females in eggs stored in liquid nitrogen and in non-stored eggs.

Table 2
Mean values (± SE) for the number of emerged and non-emerged parasitoids, sex ratio and length of cycle (egg-adult) for T. pretiosum in eggs of M. sequax stored in liquid nitrogen for 30 days and parasitised by females reared from eggs stored in LN (TPLN) and non-stored eggs (TP) (N = 80)

Although parasitism of T. pretiosum in eggs stored in liquid nitrogen was lower in relation to non-stored eggs, the rate was higher than 84%, with no difference between females of T. pretiosum reared in stored eggs (TPLN) and those reared in non-stored eggs (TP) (Figure 2A). The percentage of stored eggs with emerging adults did not differ from the non-stored eggs, with an average of 97% for eggs parasitised by both TPLN and TP females (H = 4.9367, p<0.1765) (Figure 2B).

Figure 2
Mean percentage (± SE) of parasitised eggs of M. sequax (A) and eggs with emerged T. pretiosum adults (B), for eggs stored in liquid nitrogen for 30 days and for non-stored eggs, parasitised by females reared with eggs stored in LN for three generations (TPLN) and with non-stored eggs (TP). Similar letters do not differ by the Kruskal-Wallis test (p≤0.05)

Cobert (1985)COBERT, S. A. Insect chemosensory responses: a chemical legacy hypothesis. Ecological Entomology, v. 10, p. 143-153, 1985. reports that parasitoids reared for several generations in a given host develop pre-imaginal conditioning, acquired during the immature phase, where the adults show a preference to parasitise eggs from the same host in which they are kept. However, this study found that females raised with non-stored M. sequax eggs and females raised with stored eggs both successfully parasitised eggs stored in liquid nitrogen, with no effect on progeny emergence. There is therefore no need to keep a strain of Trichogramma reared only with stored eggs, which contributes to a reduction in the labour and maintenance costs of rearing the hosts.

The average number of emerged parasitoids from stored eggs differed from the non-stored eggs parasitised by both TPLN females and TP females (F = 9.6953, p<0.0000) (Table 2). However, there was no difference between TPLN and TP females who received stored eggs, where the number of emerged parasitoids was between 30 and 33, and gave rise to approximately two parasitoids per egg.

In the treatments where TPLN and TP females received non-stored eggs (control), the number of emerged parasitoids ranged from 49.9 to 40.3 respectively, presenting around 2.2 to 2.6 parasitoids per egg. These values confirm those obtained by Zamoner (2005)ZAMONER, M. Efeito do volume de ovos hospedeiros sobre o desenvolvimento, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 2005. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zoologia) - Curso de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 2005. when comparing M. sequax with eggs of A. kuehniela. On average, two parasitoids did not emerge from stored eggs parasitised by both TPLN and TP females, whereas in non-stored eggs the average was 1.0 and 0.5 non-emerged parasitoids (H = 15.6085, p<0.0014) (Table 2). These studies demonstrate that even when storage reduces adult emergence to two parasitoids per egg, the number of individuals will still be greater than obtained with eggs of A. kuehniela.

The length of the cycle (egg-adult) ranged from 14 to 16 days, with the parasitoids from non-stored eggs emerging earlier than those from stored eggs (H = 67.0858, p<0.0000) (Table 2). The development time of the parasitoids in stored eggs was around 16 days for females reared in stored eggs and for females reared in non-stored eggs, while for parasitoids developed in non-stored eggs, the time was 14 days (Table 2). Although there is no report in the literature, this observation may be explained by there being some physiological alteration in the nutritional components of the eggs during the freezing process. This longer cycle (egg-adult) was also reported by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016. when storing eggs of M. sequax in liquid nitrogen for 30 days, and proves that as the period of egg storage increases, there is a tendency for the development time of the parasitoids to increase.

A comparison of the results of the TPLN and TP females shows that there was no difference for any of the biological parameters under observation. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the technique of cryopreservation of M. sequax eggs for the mass production of T. pretiosum is viable. One of the hypotheses for the successful cryopreservation of eggs of M. sequax in liquid nitrogen may be related to the biochemical composition of the eggs, which include greater lipid reserves in their composition for being a winter host, and which may reflect in a higher tolerance of the eggs to low temperatures (AVANCI; FOERSTER, 2006AVANCI, M. do R. F.; FOERSTER, L. A. Composição de lípidios em ovos de duas espécies de hospedeiros de Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogramatidae) e sua relação com a tolerância a baixas temperaturas. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE ENTOMOLOGIA, 21., 2006, Recife. Anais… Recife: UFPe, 2006. 1 CD.).

This is therefore a pioneering study, as it achieves high rates of parasitism and viability in Trichogramma with noctuid eggs as the host. Studies by Krechemer and Foerster (2016)KRECHEMER, F. S., FOERSTER, L. A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl, v. 61, n. 5, p. 497-505, 2016. have demonstrated that eggs of M. sequax have a storage potential of up to 90 days with a parasitism of 58%. However, our hypothesis is that the high rates of parasitism and emergence may continue for longer periods than those evaluated in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, it can be concluded that:

  1. As little as one female can be used for 10 eggs, without the need to increase the density to obtain a higher rate of parasitism;

  2. The performance of T. pretiosum females reared in eggs stored in liquid nitrogen for three generations does not differ from that of females reared in non-stored eggs.

  • 1
    Parte da tese do primeiro autor apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia- Produção Vegetal, Departamento de Fitotecnia e Fitossanitarismo, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil; pesquisa financiada pelo programa de bolsas da Capes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Learning Personnel (Capes) for the scholarship offered to the lead author. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Edvaldo Silva Trindade and Dr. Stellee Marcela P. Biscay from the Laboratory of Cell Biology for their collaboration in the use of the liquid nitrogen.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Jan-Mar 2018

History

  • Received
    27 Oct 2014
  • Accepted
    07 Mar 2017
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