Given the susceptibility of tomato plants to pests, the aim of the present study was to understand how hormones are involved in the formation of tomato natural defences against insect herbivory. Tomato hormone mutants, previously introgressed into the same genetic background of reference, were screened for alterations in trichome densities and allelochemical content. Ethylene, gibberellin, and auxin mutants indirectly showed alteration in trichome density, through effects on epidermal cell area. However, brassinosteroids (BRs) and jasmonates (JAs) directly affected trichome density and allelochemical content, and in an opposite fashion. The BR-deficient mutant dpy showed enhanced pubescence, zingiberene biosynthesis, and proteinase inhibitor expression; the opposite was observed for the JA-insensitive jai1-1 mutant. The dpy x jai1-1 double mutant showed that jai1-1 is epistatic to dpy, indicating that BR acts upstream of the JA signalling pathway. Herbivory tests with the poliphagous insect Spodoptera frugiperda and the tomato pest Tuta absoluta clearly confirmed the importance of the JA-BR interaction in defence against herbivory. The study underscores the importance of hormonal interactions on relevant agricultural traits and raises a novel biological mechanism in tomato that may differ from the BR and JA interaction already suggested for Arabidopsis.

-Aiming to evaluate the possible mechanisms of resistance of different tomato genotypes (Lycopersicon spp.) to the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B, assays were performed in greenhouse and laboratory. The evaluated genotypes were 'IAC-Santa Clara' (L. esculentum), PI-127826 (L. hirsutum), PI-134417 and PI-134418 (L. hirsutum f. glabratum), LA-716 (L. pennellii), LA-371 and LA-444-1 (L. peruvianum), LA-1584 and PI-126931 (L. pimpinellifolium). Under greenhouse conditions, LA-716, PI-134417 and PI-134418 were the least attractive to whitefly. The genotype LA-716 expressed high nonpreference level; PI-134417, PI-134418, PI-127826 and PI-126931 were also resistant, but in lower levels. Regarding the whole period of development (eggadult), the genotypes PI-127826, PI-134417, PI-134418 and LA-444-1 increased the life cycle of the insect, indicating feeding nonpreference and/or antibiosis.KEY WORDS: Silverleaf whitefly, Lycopersicon, host plant resistance RESUMO -Visando avaliar os possíveis mecanismos de resistência de diferentes genótipos de tomateiro (Lycopersicon spp.) em relação à mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B, realizaram-se ensaios em casa-de-vegetação e laboratório. Os genótipos estudados foram 'IAC-Santa Clara' (L. esculentum), PI-127826 (L. hirsutum), PI-134417 e PI-134418 (L. hirsutum f. glabratum), LA-716 (L. pennellii), LA-371 e LA-444-1 (L. peruvianum), LA-1584 e PI-126931 (L. pimpinellifolium). Em casa-de-vegetação, LA-716, PI-134417 e PI-134418 foram os menos atrativos à mosca-branca; o genótipo LA-716 expressou elevado nível de não-preferência; PI-134417, PI-134418, PI-127826 e PI-126931 também foram considerados resistentes, porém em níveis mais baixos. Tomando-se o período total de desenvolvimento (ovo-adulto), os genótipos PI-127826, PI-134417, PI-134418 e LA-444-1 prolongaram o ciclo do inseto, indicando a ocorrência de não-preferência para alimentação e/ou antibiose. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Mosca-branca, Lycopersicon, resistência de plantas a insetosA mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) é apontada entre as principais pragas da maioria das plantas cultivadas, incluindo o tomateiro Lycopersicon spp. (Buntin et al. 1993). No Brasil, B. tabaci ganhou maior destaque em meados de 1990/91, quando o biótipo B, também denominado B. argentifolii, foi constatado atacando diversas culturas, com destaque para olerícolas (Lourenção & Nagai 1994, França et al. 1996, Villas Bôas et al. 1997.Em tomateiro, o ataque de B. tabaci biótipo B pode ocasionar perdas de até 100% na produção. Os danos diretos são provocados pela sucção de seiva da região do floema, secreção de substâncias açucaradas (honeydew) e amarelecimento irregular dos frutos, podendo estes ficar internamente com aspecto esponjoso ou "isoporizados". Os danos indiretos são decorrentes da transmissão de geminivírus às plantas, que provocam amarelecimento, nanismo acentuado e enrugamento severo das folhas terminais, com redução acentuada da produção (Brown & Bird 1992, Brown 1994. De acordo com Schuster et al. (1996), ...

No abstract

Foram avaliadas, em condições de laboratório, a repelência, sobrevivência e emergência de adultos de Sitophilus zeamais em grãos de milho tratados com pós de Azadirachta indica A. Juss (frutos), Capsicum frutescens L. (frutos e folhas, separadamente), Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (folhas, flores e frutos, conjuntamente), Eucalyptus citriodora Hook (folhas), Melia azedarach Blanco (folhas) e Ricinus communis L. (folhas). As plantas que provocaram repelência foram E. citriodora e C. frutescens (folhas), com efeito mais pronunciado na primeira espécie. A única planta que afetou a sobrevivência da praga foi C. ambrosioides, que provocou mortalidade total dos insetos infestantes e nenhuma emergência de adultos. Para essa planta, foi também determinado o limiar de atividade inseticida, constatando-se que a dosagem mínima necessária para controle total da população dos insetos foi de 0,1645 g/ 20 g de milho.

Effect of Powders from Vegetal Species on Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Stored Bean ABSTRACT-The evaluation of the bioactivity of powders from 18 plant species on Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) was performed considering the effect of these materials on the insect behavior and survival. The proportion of 0.3 g of powder per 10 g of bean grains was used in all experiments. The repellent activity of each powder was evaluated by using arenas with five circular plastic boxes, being the central box linked to the others with plastic tubes, in the diagonal disposition where adult insects could choose boxes containing treated or not treated grains. The number of insects in each recipient was counted after 24h. Insecticidal activity was determined by maintaining 1-day old adults in plastic boxes containing bean grains mixed with powder from each plant. Boxes containing only beans were used as control. Five days after infestation, the number of dead insects and the number of total and fertile eggs were determined. The most efficient treatment was the powder from the aerial part of Chenopodium ambrosioides d. (derivation) 2 that caused repellence, total adult mortality and no oviposition, followed by rinds of fruits of Citrus sinensis (cv. Pera) and leaves of Lafoensia glyptocarpa. Leaves of Coriandrum sativum were non repellent but caused total adult mortality and no oviposition. Powders from aerial part of C. ambrosioides d.1, from leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora, Mentha pulegium, Ocimum basilicum, O. minimum and Ruta graveolens, from rinds of fruits of Citrus reticulata (cv. Murcote) and from fruits of Melia azedarach and L. glyptocarpa were repellent too.

Avaliou-se, em condições de laboratório, o efeito de diferentes concentrações (peso/volume) de extratos orgânicos (não aquosos) de folhas e ramos de Trichilia pallida Swartz em relação à lagarta-do-cartucho Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Inicialmente, foram testados os extratos acetônico e metanólico nas concentrações de 0,008 a 1% impregnados em folhas de milho, constatando-se, com base na mortalidade larval até os 10 dias, que os extratos acetônicos de folhas e de ramos e o extrato metanólico de ramos apresentaram maior atividade que o extrato metanólico de folhas. Empregando a mesma metodologia, foram testados os extratos acetato de etila e hexânico obtidos pela partição do extrato acetônico bruto, constatando-se que o extrato acetato de etila foi mais efetivo que o hexânico. Comparando-se os quatro solventes, a maior atividade tóxica dos extratos foi obtida com a utilização de acetona, seguindo-se metanol, acetato de etila e hexano.

The mortality of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) larvae that were fed on leaves of Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum (PI 134417, insect resistant) and Lycopersicon esculentum (cultivar Santa Clara, susceptible) treated with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) was evaluated. Feeding on untreated PI 134417 was detrimental to the survival of T. absoluta larvae. When Btk was applied to the two Lycopersicon plants, mortality occurred in all T. absoluta instars. Application of Btk on tomato leaves had synergistic or additive effects with the resistant genotype on larval survival. This effect was dependent on the instar at which the larvae were fed Btk‐treated leaves. Delayed Btk application may cause higher insect mortality if the insects become more susceptible to the pathogen after a longer period of feeding on the resistant crop.

New control methods are necessary for stored grain pest management programs due to both the widespread problems of insecticide-resistance populations and the increasing concerns of consumers regarding pesticide residues in food products. Thus, this study evaluated the bioactivity of extracts and fractions obtained from different structures (leaves, branches, and seeds) of Annona mucosa (Annonaceae) against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which is a primary insect pest of stored cereals in tropical conditions. In the screening assay, the most promising treatments were extracts prepared from the seeds of Annona mucosa in hexane and dichloromethane (LC 90 values of 259.31 and 425.15 mg kg À1 , respectively) and, to a lesser extent, an extract prepared from the leaves in hexane (LC 90 of 1047.15 mg kg À1). Based on these results and the chromatographic profile of the bioactive crude extracts, the extract prepared from the seeds in hexane was fractionated by liquideliquid partitioning. The dichloromethane and hydroalcoholic fractions exhibited insecticidal activity against S. zeamais, and no significant difference was observed between these two fractions. The chemical analyses (1 H NMR, HPLC, and TLC) showed the presence of alkaloids and acetogenins in the bioactive fractions, which are likely related to the observed bioactivity. Thus, A. mucosa, particularly its seeds, is a promising source of compounds that can be used as a prototype model and/or a biorational insecticide for the control of S. zeamais in stored cereals.