Due to the interest in the production and trading of yateí (Tetragonisca angustula) honey in the province of Misiones, Argentina, in this work we assessed microbiological and physicochemical parameters in order to contribute to the elaboration of standards for quality control and promote commercialization. Results showed that yateí honey samples had significantly different microbiological and physicochemical characteristics in comparison to established quality standards for Apis mellifera honey. Thus, we observed that values for pH (3.72), glucose (19.01 g/100g) and fructose (23.74 g/100g) were lower than A. mellifera quality standards, while acidity (79.42 meq/kg), moisture (24%), and mould and yeast count (MY) (3.02 log CFU/g) were higher. The acid content was correlated with glucose (R2=0.75) and fructose (R2=0.68) content, and also with mould and yeast counts (R2=0.45) to a lesser extent. The incidence of microorganisms in yateí honey samples reached 42.85% and 39% for Clostridium sulfite-reducers and Bacillus spp., respectively. No C. botulinum or B. cereus cells were detected. Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. incidence was similar (ca. 7.14%), whereas Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were not detected. We conclude that the microbiological and physicochemical properties of yateí honey are different from those of A. mellifera honey; hence, different quality standards could be implemented to promote its commercialization.

We analyzed the genetic relationships between 51 fungal isolates previously identified as

Paraguay tea is a native crop of southern Brazil and is also socioeconomically important in Paraguay and Argentina. One of the main pests of this crop is Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). As there are no registered insecticides for this pest in Brazil, the use of entomopathogenic fungi is an alternative method for its control. This study aimed to evaluate and characterize isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria spp., Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria spp. and Lecanicillium spp. on G. spegazziniana. For this purpose, 5 th instar nymphs were transferred to Paraguay tea seedlings, followed by spraying of conidial suspensions (1 × 10 9 conidia mL -1 ) and then placing the seedlings in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cages and maintaining them in a temperature-controlled room (26 ± 1°C, 12h00 photophase, 60 ± 10% R.H.). Insect mortality was evaluated daily for 10 days, and the selected isolates were characterized according to their vegetative growth, conidial production in synthetic culture medium and rice and insecticidal activity as well as through molecular analyses, including sequencing the rDNA-ITS region and RAPD analysis. The genus Beauveria spp. was the most efficient, particularly the Unioeste 44 isolate, which caused the greatest total mortality of G. spegazziniana (81.7%) and showed among the highest conidial production levels on rice, indicating a significant potential to be used in an integrated management program for this pest. Molecular analysis of the rDNA-ITS region allowed the isolates to be identified as B. bassiana and B. brongniartii, and RAPD markers were found to be associated with virulence. Key words: Biological control, Ilex paraguariensis, rDNA-ITS ResumoA erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) é uma cultura nativa do Sul do Brasil, tendo grande importância socioeconômica também para o Paraguai e Argentina. Uma das principais pragas da cultura é a Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), e pelo fato de não existirem inseticidas registrados para essa praga no Brasil, o uso de fungos entomopatogênicos pode ser uma alternativa para o seu controle. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar isolados dos fungos entomopatogênicos Beauveria spp., Metarhizium anisopliae, Isaria spp. e Lecanicillium spp. sobre G. spegazziniana. Para tal, ninfas de 5 o ínstar foram transferidas para mudas de erva-mate, seguido da pulverização das suspensões de conídios (1 × 10 9 conídios mL -1 ), e então as mudas foram acondicionadas em gaiolas de PVC (cloreto de polivinila), e mantidas em sala climatizada (26 ± 1°C; 12h00 de fotofase e U.R. 60 ± 10%). A mortalidade dos insetos foi avaliada diariamente, por 10 dias, e os isolados selecionados foram comparados entre si por meio do crescimento vegetativo, produção de conídios em meio sintético e em arroz, atividade inseticida e análises moleculares, utilizando-se o sequenciamento da região rDNA-ITS e marcadores RAPD. O gênero Beauveria spp. foi o mais eficiente, em especial o isolado Unioeste 44 que apresentou a maior mortalidade total s...

This study aimed to morphologically isolate, identify and characterize entomopathogenic fungi present in soils cultivated with Paraguay tea (Ilex paraguariensis). A survey of native entomopathogenic fungi was conducted from 40 soil samples grown with Paraguay tea in the province of Misiones, Argentina, from May 2008 to June 2010. The soil dilution plate methodology on selective culture media was used to isolate microorganisms. Taxonomic identification was performed using macroscopic and microscopic characters and specific keys. Twenty nine strains, belonging to the species Beauveria bassiana (n = 17), Metarhizium anisopliae (n = 2) and Purpureocillium lilacinum (n = 10) were isolated and identified.