Biomaterial Database

Investigating alternatives to traditional insecticides: effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi and Bacillus thuringiensis against citrus thrips and avocado thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). 2013

Deane K Zahn, and Joseph G Morse

Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. dkzahn@dow.com

Citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a plant-feeding pest most widely recognized for causing damage to citrus (Citrus spp. L. [Rutaceae]) and mango (Mangifera indica L. [Anacardiaceae]) fruits. This insect has recently broadened its known host range to become a significant pest of California grown blueberries. Avocado thrips, Scirtothrips. perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a recent, invasive pest of California avocados, Persea americana Mill. (Laurales: Lauraceae). Effective alternatives to traditional pesticides are desirable for both pests to reduce impacts on natural enemies and broaden control options in an effort to minimize pesticide resistance via rotation of control materials. We evaluated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. israelensis proteins (Cyt 1A and Cry 11A, activated and inactivated) and multiple strains (GHA, 1741ss, SFBb1, S44ss, NI1ss, and 3769ss) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against both species. Avocado thrips and citrus thrips were not susceptible to either Bt protein tested, regardless of activation status. All strains of B. bassiana were able to infect both avocado thrips and citrus thrips. However, the commercially available GHA strain was the most effective strain against both species and had a faster rate of infection then the other strains tested. Citrus thrips were more susceptible than avocado thrips to all B. bassiana strains (LC50 and LC95 of 8.6 x 10(4) and 4.8 x 10(6) conidia per ml for citrus thrips, respectively). Investigation of citrus thrips field control using the GHA strain of B. bassiana is therefore justified.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007928	Lethal Dose 50	The dose amount of poisonous or toxic substance or dose of ionizing radiation required to kill 50% of the tested population.	LD50,Dose 50, Lethal
D010572	Pest Control, Biological	Use of naturally-occuring or genetically-engineered organisms to reduce or eliminate populations of pests.	Biological Pest Control,Biologic Pest Control,Pest Control, Biologic,Biologic Pest Controls,Biological Pest Controls,Pest Controls, Biologic,Pest Controls, Biological
D002957	Citrus	A plant genus of the family RUTACEAE. They bear the familiar citrus fruits including oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. There are many hybrids which makes the nomenclature confusing.	Citron Tree,Fruit, Citrus,Lemon Tree,Orange Tree, Bitter,Orange Tree, Mandarin,Orange Tree, Seville,Orange Tree, Sour,Pomelo Tree,Pummelo Tree,Tangerine Tree,Citrus Fruit,Citrus aurantium,Citrus bergamia,Citrus grandis,Citrus hystrix,Citrus limon,Citrus maxima,Citrus medica,Citrus reticulata,Kaffir Lime,Bitter Orange Tree,Bitter Orange Trees,Citron Trees,Citrus aurantiums,Citrus bergamias,Citrus grandi,Citrus hystrices,Citrus medicas,Citrus reticulatas,Lemon Trees,Lime, Kaffir,Mandarin Orange Tree,Mandarin Orange Trees,Orange Trees, Bitter,Orange Trees, Mandarin,Orange Trees, Seville,Orange Trees, Sour,Pomelo Trees,Pummelo Trees,Seville Orange Tree,Seville Orange Trees,Sour Orange Tree,Sour Orange Trees,Tangerine Trees,Tree, Bitter Orange,Tree, Citron,Tree, Lemon,Tree, Mandarin Orange,Tree, Pomelo,Tree, Pummelo,Tree, Seville Orange,Tree, Sour Orange,Tree, Tangerine,Trees, Bitter Orange,Trees, Citron,Trees, Lemon,Trees, Mandarin Orange,Trees, Pomelo,Trees, Pummelo,Trees, Seville Orange,Trees, Sour Orange,Trees, Tangerine,aurantium, Citrus,bergamia, Citrus,hystrices, Citrus,maxima, Citrus,medicas, Citrus,reticulata, Citrus
D004731	Endotoxins	Toxins closely associated with the living cytoplasm or cell wall of certain microorganisms, which do not readily diffuse into the culture medium, but are released upon lysis of the cells.	Endotoxin
D005260	Female		Females
D006460	Hemolysin Proteins	Proteins from BACTERIA and FUNGI that are soluble enough to be secreted to target ERYTHROCYTES and insert into the membrane to form beta-barrel pores. Biosynthesis may be regulated by HEMOLYSIN FACTORS.	Hemolysin,Hemolysins,Hemalysins,Proteins, Hemolysin
D000083722	Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins	Endotoxins produced by BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS used in transgenic plants and insecticides. When eaten by a susceptible insect they are protease activated in the insect midgut resulting in death from bacterial septicemia.	B thuringiensis Toxins,B. thuringiensis Toxins,Bt Toxin,Bt Toxins,Toxin, Bt,Toxins, B thuringiensis,Toxins, B. thuringiensis
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001426	Bacterial Proteins	Proteins found in any species of bacterium.	Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D052982	Beauveria	A mitosporic fungal genus. Teleomorphs are found in the family Clavicipitaceae and include Cordyceps bassiana. The species Beauveria bassiana is a common pathogen of ARTHROPODS and is used in PEST CONTROL.	Beauveria bassiana var. bassiana,Botrytis bassiana,Cordyceps bassiana,Penicillium bassianum,Spicaria bassiana,Tritirachium shiotae,Beauveria bassiana,Beauverias