A5019864344- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Research on scale insects
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
- Study of Mite Species
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Irrigation Practices and Water Management
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection
2015-2024
National Research Council
2013-2023
Ospedale generale di zona San Camillo Treviso
2015-2022
University of Turin
2022
University of Naples Federico II
2001
ABSTRACT Bacteria in the genus Rickettsia are intracellular symbionts of disparate groups organisms. Some strains infect vertebrate animals and plants, where they cause diseases, but most vertically inherited invertebrates. In insects known to have diverse effects on hosts ranging from influencing host fitness manipulating reproduction. Here we provide evidence that a symbiont causes thelytokous parthenogenesis (in which mothers produce only daughters unfertilized eggs) parasitoid wasp,...
In the search for native Asian parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii, notorious spotted-wing (SWD), an odd new species Eucoilinae was discovered. Leptopilina lasallei sp. nov. is herein described and diagnosed relative to other eucoilines associated with drosophilid hosts. Morphologically, L. somewhat aberrant within Leptopilina; phylogenetically, sister group core Leptopilina. process investigating lasallei, a de novo molecular phylogeny generated included here. The integrated approach used...
The blue-gum chalcid Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a gall wasp pest of Eucalyptus species, likely native to Australia. Over the past 15 years it has invaded 39 countries on all continents where eucalypts are grown. worldwide invasion blue gum was attributed single thelytokous morphospecies formally described in 2004. Subsequently, however, males have been recorded several and sex ratio field populations found be highly variable different areas. In order find...
Cyantraniliprole is a novel insecticide for control of multiple chewing and sucking insect pest species including the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), which one most important polyphagous pests in tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean regions. This study aims to evaluate effects cyantraniliprole on probing behavior B. tomato. Electrical penetration graph data indicated that plants treated with (foliar application), adult whiteflies genetic variant Q2 were not able reach phloem...
Perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.) is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Brassicaceae with cosmopolitan distribution. Traditionally harvested as spontaneous herb, today it crop species of increasing importance after diffusion ready-to-use salads in vegetable retail markets. Besides relevance food crop, its consumption prompted by consideration traditional medicine several peoples native areas Mediterranean and western Asia based on recognized health beneficial effects....
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), commonly known as Spotted Wing (SWD), is a worldwide serious economic threat to the production of berries and stone fruits. The chemical control widely used against this pest often not able preventing yield losses because wild flora offers an abundance fruits D. where reproduce from it recolonizes neighbouring cultivated fields. Alternatively, within Integrated Pest Management protocols for suzukii, biological could play key role by reducing its populations...
Molecular identification is increasingly used to speed up biodiversity surveys and laboratory experiments. However, many groups of organisms cannot be reliably identified using standard databases such as GenBank or BOLD due lack sequenced voucher specimens by experts. Sometimes a large number sequences are available, but with too errors allow identification. Here, we address this problem for parasitoids Drosophila introducing curated open-access molecular reference database, DROP (Drosophila...
Abstract Encarsia pergandiella H oward, described from N orth A merica ( USA ), and E ncarsia tabacivora V iggiani, South America (Brazil) Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae are two formally recognized taxonomic entities, that have been treated by several authors as synonyms due to lack of strong diagnostic characters. Taxonomy these species is further complicated because populations, geographically separated differing in their biology, included under the concept E. . Among these, a population...
The potential importance of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI)-inducing bacterial symbionts in speciation their arthropod hosts has been debated. Theoretical advances have led to a consensus that role is plausible when CI combined with other isolating barriers. However, the insect model systems Nasonia and Drosophila are only two experimental examples documented. Here, we analyzed components reproductive isolation between parasitoid wasp Encarsia suzannae, which infected by CI-inducing...
Abstract BACKGROUND The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a complex of cryptic species, some which, namely the Mediterranean ( MED ) and Middle East–Asia Minor 1 MEAM1 ), are highly invasive injurious crop pests worldwide able to displace local genotypes. Invasiveness B. may depend on phenotype inherited bacterial endosymbionts. Here, genetic diversity variation that has occurred in recent years southern Italy was examined. Whitefly genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism...
The genus Encarsia Förster includes parasitoid species that are effective natural enemies of whitefly and armoured scale insect agricultural pests. Within this genus, several groups have been recognized on the basis morphological similarity, although their monophyly appears uncertain. It is often difficult to separate morphologically similar species, there evidence some could in fact be complexes cryptic species. Their correct identification fundamental for biological control purposes....
Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is a conditional sterility in numerous arthropods that caused by inherited, intracellular bacteria such as Wolbachia Matings between males carrying CI-inducing and uninfected females, or females infected with different strains, result progeny die during very early embryogenesis. Multiple studies diploid (Drosophila) haplodiploid (Nasonia) insects have shown CI-Wolbachia cause failure of the paternally derived chromatin from resolving into distinct...
Abstract The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius , is a highly polyphagous widespread species, playing major role in the transmission of bacterium Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca agent “Olive Quick Decline Syndrome”. Essential oils (EOs) are an important source bio-active volatile compounds that could interfere with basic metabolic, biochemical, physiological, and behavioural functions insects. Here, we report electrophysiological responses adult P . towards some EOs related plants....
The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera Aphrophoridae), the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. in Europe, has few known natural enemies. endoparasitoid Verrallia aucta (Fallén) (Diptera, Pipunculidae) was first noticed a long time ago but very little is about its biology and prevalence. In this study, presence prevalence V. were investigated different regions northern Italy, both plain–foothill montane zones. Parasitic larvae identified by dissection spittlebug...
For over a decade, the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) has threatened soft-skinned fruit production worldwide, causing increased management costs and yield losses.Current integrated (IPM) exploits different control tools but relies mainly on insecticides.The local natural enemy community is mostly composed by generalist species, such as parasitoids attacking fly puparia, unable to efficiently, in both conservative augmentative strategies.By contrast, native area of D. suzukii,...