Scientific visit of Dr. Leellen Solter for the development of research on microsporidia as biological control agents of agricultural and forest pests

• Grant number: 10/10752-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: February 13, 2011
• End date: February 19, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Italo Delalibera Júnior
• Grantee: Italo Delalibera Júnior
• Visiting researcher: Leellen Felton Solter
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Microsporidia are unicellular eukaryotes that are unique among entomopathogenic fungi for presenting genetic relationship, but few common morphological characteristics (Solter & Becnel who edited Tookie, 2007). The microsporidia are a significant portion of the primary pathogens, insects and produce a considerable impact on population dynamics of some pest and beneficial species. However, few species have been used in biological control programs. During the visit the researcher's scientific Leellen F. Solter will be carried out activities related to the pathology and microbial control of insects involving the phylum Microsporidia. Among these activities are listed: visits to laboratories, production and marketing of Cotesia flavipes and the Department of Entomology and Acarology (ESALQ/USP), meeting with students of the Laboratory of Pathology and Microbial Control of Insects; Microsporidia workshop whose theme will be the biological control agents of agricultural and forest pests; demonstration of laboratory techniques with microsporidia, presentation of a seminar of the Post-graduate in Entomology titled Broad picture of 20 years of research heading to classical biological control introductions against gypsy moth, and meeting to discuss data and developing a collaborative research project and search for funding sources. (AU)