New strategies for the exploration and use of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of soil pest in sugar cane and other cultures/environments

• Grant number: 17/11021-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Julie Giovanna Chacon Orozco
• Grantee: Julie Giovanna Chacon Orozco
• Company: Rossam Nutrição e Serviços Ltda
• CNAE: Atividades de apoio à agricultura
• City: Santo Antônio de Posse
• Pesquisadores principais: Luís Garrigós Leite ; Mateus Tonelli
• Associated researchers: Ricardo Harakava
• Associated research grant(s): 19/06929-8 - International Congress on Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control & 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, AR.EXT
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/05698-2 - Interaction of the processes involved in the exploration and use of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of soil pests in sugarcane and other crops, BP.PIPE; 18/17078-6 - Effects of the combination of two species of entomopathogenic nematodes on the management of Sphenophorus levis and other soil pests, BP.TT; 18/23373-0 - Interaction of the processes involved in the use of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of soil pests in sugarcane and other crops, BP.PIPE; 18/15776-8 - In vitro commercial production of entomopathogenic nematodes in solid medium (sponge) with addition of agar and formulations, BP.TT; 18/13846-9 - Interaction of the processes involved in the use of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of soil pests in sugarcane and other crops, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane. Among the pests that attack the crop, cane boll weevil, Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has gained prominence in recent years due to its increasing dissemination and the great damages caused to the sugarcane industry. The current methods recommended for the control of this insect, both cultural and chemical application, have not generated satisfactory results, mainly due to the cryptic behavior of the insect. An alternative for the population management of this pest is the use of biological control agents, such as entomopathogenic nematodes (NEPs), but to date there is no commercial product available on the market based on these entomopathogens. Therefore, this project aims to study the aspects related to the development, production and commercialization of a product based on NEPs, which is efficient for the control of soil pests in sugarcane and in other cultures / environments. The proposal is to answer the questions of how agar and aeration can affect the production of NEPs by the sponge process and liquid fermentation; As the combination of two species of NEPs may have an effect on the control of S. levis and other soil pests; And the compatibility of the vinasse with the NEPs for their joint application in the field. Methods used in this study include NEP production assays in sponges and bioreactors; Virulence tests and formulations of NEPs; Besides behavioral tests with S. levis and its attractiveness to vinasse. This project will result in the development of a product capable of meeting the imminent demand for an efficient and ecologically correct alternative for the control of soil pests in sugarcane and others crops, generating positive impacts from the social and economic point of view to the country. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASTELIANI, ALEXSANDRO; MARTINS, LIZANDRA DE FATIMA; MARINGOLI CARDOSO, JORGE FRANCO; OLIVEIRA SILVA, MATEUS SALVIANO; ABE DA SILVA, RAPHAEL SATOCHI; CHACON-OROZCO, JULIE GIOVANNA; BARBOSA CASTELIANI, ANA GABRIELE; PUZA, VLADIMIR; HARAKAVA, RICARDO; LEITE, LUIS GARRIGOS. Behavioral aspects of Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), damage to sugarcane and its natural infection by Steinernema carpocapsae (Nematoda: Rhabditidae). CROP PROTECTION, v. 137, NOV 2020. (17/11021-0, 17/50334-3)

SILVA, MATEUS SALVIANO OLIVEIRA; CARDOSO, JORGE FRANCO MARINGOLI; FERREIRA, MARIA ELIZIA PACHECO; BALDO, FERNANDO BERTON; SILVA, RAPHAEL SATOCHI ABE; CHACON-OROZCO, JULIE GIOVANNA; SHAPIRO-ILAN, DAVID I.; HAZIR, SELCUK; BUENO, CESAR JUNIOR; LEITE, LUIS GARRIGOS. An Assessment of Steinernema rarum as a Biocontrol Agent in Sugarcane with Focus on Sphenophorus levis, Host-Finding Ability, Compatibility with Vinasse and Field Efficacy. AGRICULTURE-BASEL, v. 11, n. 6, JUN 2021. (17/11021-0, 17/50334-3)

MARTINS, LIZANDRA F.; TONELLI, MATEUS; BENTO, JOSE MAURICIO S.; BUENO, CESAR J.; LEITE, LUIS GARRIGOS. Attraction of the sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis, to vinasse and its volatile composition. Chemoecology, v. 30, n. 5, MAY 2020. (17/11021-0, 17/50334-3)

CHACON-OROZCO, JULIE G.; BUENO, CESAR JR.; SHAPIRO-ILAN, DAVID I.; HAZIR, SELCUK; LEITE, LUIS G.; HARAKAVA, RICARDO. Antifungal activity of Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp. against the soybean pathogenic Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1, DEC 26 2020. (17/11021-0, 17/50334-3)