-Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are effi cient biological control agents and are thought to be used jointly. In here, we investigated if these entomopathogens could have any side-effects on T. pretiosum. Therefore, 1 x 8 cards containing sterilized eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) that were sprayed with 0.2 ml of B. bassiana or M. anisopliae (1.0 × 10 9 conidia/ml) were offered to a T. pretiosum female for 24h (30 cards/fungus = 30 replicates). Afterwards, females were isolated in glass tubes. The control group was sprayed with sterile distillated water + Tween 80 (0.01%). In addition, 60 cards with sterilized eggs of A. kuehniella were submitted to parasitism by females of T. pretiosum for 24h. Of these cards, 30 were sprayed with B. bassiana or M. anisopliae and 30 with distillated water + Tween 80 (0.01%), and observed daily until parasitoid emergence. Metarhizium anisopliae decreased parasitoid emergence and caused confi rmed mortality. Therefore, fi eld and semi-fi eld experiments should be conducted for a fi nal assessment of the side-effects of these entomopathogens on Trichogramma as a ways to develop a control strategy in which both can be used.

ResumoA fruta de Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) possui alta aceitação no mercado tanto no consumo in natura como na forma processada, devido as suas propriedades nutritivas, sensoriais e biofuncionais. Por outro lado, apresenta uma vida útil muito curta, o que leva a produção de polpas congeladas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade antioxidante e teor de compostos fenólicos presentes na fruta da goiaba (Psidium guajava L.) verde, madura e congelada por 30 e 60 dias. As frutas foram adquiridas em supermercado no 1º estágio de maturação, depois de armazenadas à temperatura ambiente por 5 dias (madura) e levadas para congelamento por 30 e 60 dias. O conteúdo de fenóis totais foi determinado pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteau. A atividade antioxidante dos extratos foi analisada pelo método do sequestro do radical DPPH. O teor de compostos fenólicos variaram de 40,10 a 112,49 mg EAG.100g -1 , respectivamente para goiaba madura e congelada por 30 dias. A capacidade oxidante de inibir os radicais livres variou de 46,53% para congelado por 30 dias a 98,84% para goiaba madura. Todos os extratos apresentaram compostos fenólicos e boa atividade antioxidante. O consumo da goiaba deve ser estimulado pela sua propriedade funcional. Palavras-chave: Psidium guajava; compostos fenólicos; antioxidante. AbstractThe fruit of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) has a high market acceptance in both in natura consumption as in processed form, due to its nutritional, sensory and biofunctionals properties. On the other hand, it shows a very short life spam, leading to the production of frozen pulps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and content of phenolic compounds present in the guava fruit (Psidium guajava L.) green, ripe, frozen for 30 to 60 days. The fruits were purchased in a grocery in the 1st stage of maturation, after stored at room temperature for 5 days (ripe) and taken to freezing for 30 to 60 days. The content of total phenols was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was analyzed by the sequestration of radical DPPH method. The content of phenolic compounds ranged from 40.10 to 112,49 mg EAG.100g -1 , respectively to mature and 30 days frozen guava. The ability to inhibit oxidative free radicals ranged from 46.53% for 30 days frozen to 98.84% for ripe guava. All phenolic compounds and extracts showed good antioxidant activity. Consumption of guava should be encouraged by their functional property.

Clip‐cages are a useful experimental tool for confining small insects to leaves when aiming to study their behaviour and/or other biological parameters. Nonetheless, clip‐cages are usually heavy and may damage the leaves, which renders them less useful for numerous research studies. We propose a very simple clip‐cage, which is cheap, extremely light, and easy to make and handle, and which has less of the negative, damaging nature of traditional clip‐cages. Each clip‐cage was prepared using two discs of foam‐floating tubes: one for support and one for confining the insects. On the upper surface of the latter, a rectangle of microperforated plastic flower sleeve (8 cm2) was glued using a nontoxic glue stick. To bind the two parts to the leaf, four staples (23/13) were used. We tested the clip‐cages by confining Myzus persicae to Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa leaves and then compared the results obtained with those acquired using classic clip‐cages. Each foam clip‐cage was assembled in less than 2 min. Our experiments confirmed the M. persicae escape rate of 6%, which compared favourably with the escape rate of 40% for the classic clip‐cage. Furthermore, the clip‐cages did not interfere with the growth rate of the aphids. The foam clip‐cages are up to 200% cheaper than the classic clip‐cages. They are light, durable, easily put together and transported, and have the potential to be easily used in field experiments.

Induced defence allows plants to manage energy reserves more efficiently by synthesizing defence compounds only when needed. A risk of induced defence is that when plants are challenged by herbivores, they may suffer considerable damage before the defence is mounted. Priming can cause a state of readiness for the induction of the defence response, leading to a reduction in the damage received in an energy-efficient and less costly manner. Our objective was to verify whether seed coating with jasmonic acid (JA) and chitosan (CH) could prime plants against chewing and sap-feeding herbivores by affecting their herbivory of treated plants. We used Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata cv. Derby Day (Brassicaceae) seeds treated with JA and CH, second-instar Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), and newborn nymphs of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). We evaluated life-history, performance, and fecundity traits of the insects. Neither JA nor CH affected B. oleracea leaf area. Both JA and CH affected P. xylostella. JA reduced the mean relative growth rate of P. xylostella and led to 84% pre-imaginal mortality, whereas CH reduced oviposition. JA reduced significantly the intrinsic rate of increase in M. persicae, whereas CH did not differ from the control. Therefore, JA and CH seed coating lead to long-term defence priming in B. oleracea against chewing and sap-feeding insects.

Thaumastocoris peregrinus has become a major pest in eucalyptus. The most promising control method is the use of the parasitoid, Cleruchoides noackae, but little is known about its biology. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the oviposition behaviour of C. noackae in T. peregrinus eggs laid on strips of paper towel in the laboratory. 12 copulated females were placed in a plastic petri dish containing five T. peregrinus eggs and their behaviour was observed for 30 min/female. Several behavioural events were performed: searching for the host, host evaluation, insertion of the ovipositor, internal recognition and oviposition. Time elapsed between the insertion of the ovipositor and its removal varied from two to ten minutes. Learning more about C. noackae biology is very important to understand the dynamics between the parasitoid and its host, aiming at its biological control.

No abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda, fall armyworm, is considered as one of the main pests of corn crops. As an alternative measure to pesticides, the use of insecticidal plants, aside from protecting the environment, reduces production costs and becomes a practice of sustainable agriculture. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the insecticidal action of aqueous leaf extracts of Eucaplyptus robusta, Mikania laevigata and leaves and fruits of Capsicum baccatum, when incorporated into artificial diet for Spodoptera frugiperda, maintained under laboratory conditions (26 ± 2°C, relative humidity of 60 ± 5% and photoperiod of 16 hours). Larval stage duration, daily mortality, weight of larvae on the 10 th day and of pupae after 24 hours were verified, as well as daily mortality of larvae. It was observed that the extracts of E. robusta and leaves of C. baccatum showed higher mortality and lower weight in the larval stage, and are promising for field tests to control this pest. KEYWORDS:Euicalyptus; Capsicum; natural insecticides; Spodoptera frugiperda. RESUMO:Spodoptera frugiperda, conhecida como lagarta-docartucho, é considerada uma das principais pragas do milho. Como medida alternativa aos agroquímicos, o uso de plantas inseticidas, além de preservar o ambiente, reduz os custos de produção e torna-se uma prática adequada para a agricultura sustentável. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a ação inseticida de extratos aquosos de folhas de eucalipto (Eucaplyptus robusta), guaco (Mikania laevigata) e folhas e frutos de pimenta (Capsicum baccatum). Os extratos a 10% foram incorporados em dieta artificial de Spodoptera frugiperda, mantidas em condições de laboratório (26 ± 2°C, umidade relativa de 60 ± 5% e fotofase de 16 horas). Foram utilizados 5 tratamentos com 4 repetições cada, sendo 15 lagartas por repetição. Avaliaram-se a duração da fase larval, mortalidade diária, peso das lagartas ao 10 o dia e das pupas após 24 horas e quantidade de machos e fêmeas. Observou-se que os extratos de E. robusta e folhas de C. baccatum resultaram em maior mortalidade e menor peso na fase larval, sendo promissores para testes em campo no controle dessa praga.

The aim of this investigation was to develop a protocol to be used in asymmetric protoplast fusions with breeding material of melon and cucumber. Efficient methods for plant regeneration from unfused protoplasts of commercial melon lines were established and are reported. Ploidy levels of explant material and plants, regenerated from protoplasts were analyzed. Electrofusion was carried out between melon protoplasts and irradiated and non-irradiated donor protoplasts of cucumber. Although initial plating efficiencies of heterokaryons were high, development stopped after a few divisions. In control experiments, shoots were regenerated at high frequencies. In only two fusion experiments, development continued to the callus stage, but further development was not observed. When analyzed with PCR using arbitrary primers, the majority of these calli DNA were identical to the melon DNA. However, a few of the examined calli, although being mainly homologous to melon, were observed to have new bands corresponding to bands specific for cucumber. Due to sexual incompatibility, successful hybridization between cucumber and melon was never obtained by sexual crosses. We suggest that the failure to regenerate plants in our fused material could be explained partially by an analogous somatic incompatibility reaction. Abbreviations: BA -benzyl adenine; 2,4-D -2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; FDA -fluorescein diacetate; FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate; IAA -indoleacetic acid; MS -Murashige & Skoog; NAA -naphtalene acetic acid; PEG -polyethylene glycol; PE -plating efficiency; RAPD -random amplified polymorphic DNA