Virulence of entomopathogenic bacterias and toxicity of its secondary metabolites on mites (Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychidae) and the Mediterranean fly (Ceratitis capitata, Tephritidae)

• Grant number: 19/10334-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Luís Garrigós Leite
• Grantee: Fernando Berton Baldo
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/50334-3 - Institutional research development plan (PDIp): modernization and adequacy of strategic multi-user units of the Instituto Biológico, AP.PDIP

Abstract

Pests are one of the main obstacles of current Agriculture, causing a reduction in the volume of production, damages to the quality of products and, depending on the situation, the death of plants or even decimation of whole crops, as well as great economic losses. Among the pests are tetranychid mites and fruit flies that attack a wide range of cultivated host plants, have relatively short life cycles and high reproductive rates, occurring in several regions of the planet. In Brazil, the mite (Tetranychus urticae) and the Mediterranean Fly (Ceratitis capitata) are economically important for attacking a wide range of hosts. The control of these pests is traditionally carried out by spraying insecticide cover or applying toxic baits. Agriculture presents challenges, including the reduction of chemical pesticides. Looking for a more sustainable Agriculture, alternative methods have been studied to control these pests, with emphasis on biological control. For many decades, naturally occurring insect pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, microsporids, protists, viruses and nematodes have been considered non-chemical alternatives for pest suppression. Bacteria have proven toxic activity for several families of insects and mites, with advantages for presenting innocuousness to vertebrates and plants. Some studies have highlighted these bacteria as potential agents also for the control of mites and fruit flies. More recently, the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacillus sp. and Bacillus sp. were found to cause high levels of mortality in larvae of the Anastrepha grandis, A. fraterculus and C. capitata fruit flies, reared under laboratory conditions. These bacteria were isolated, multiplied and tested on larvae of the last instar (pre-pupae) of C. capitata, causing up to 90% of insect mortality. The objective of this project is to select isolates of bacteria that are proven to be effective for the control of mites (Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychidae) and the Mediterranean Fly (C. capitata, Tephritidae). With the development of this research, it is expected to select efficient bacteria for the control of T. urticae and C. capitata, and that act as endophytes (inhabit the interior of plants), by contact or ingestion. (AU)