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Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications

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A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 15512

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giulia Giunti

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: biopesticides; semiochemicals; arthropod-plant interactions; biological control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Francesca Laudani

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Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: pest control; integrated pest management; applied entomology; molecular biology; essential oils; ethnobotany; beetles; coleoptera

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insect-plant interactions have been investigated using several different experimental approaches and techniques, including behavioral, genomic, and metabolomic analyses to investigate plant response to insect feeding, the performances of herbivores on different hosts or the relationship with beneficial insects (i.e., pollinators and natural enemies).

Insect-plant interactions become key factors when the vegetable species is a food crop or an ornamental species with economic importance. Pest control against insect pests has traditionally relied on conventional synthetic insecticides. Nevertheless, in recent decades, the extensive application of these kinds of pesticides has generated serious concerns related to environmental risk and their safety for humans.

Basic knowledge about the interaction and the communication processes between insects (i.e., both pests and beneficial ones) and host plants can be used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, developing ecofriendly alternative control strategies to limit the impact of insect pests on crop production, in addition to reducing the use of conventional insecticides. Furthermore, research concerning (tri)trophic interactions can shed light on direct and indirect plant defense mechanisms, as well as on resistance to pest attack.

This Special Issue welcomes high-quality contributions, both original research papers and reviews, covering all aspects of insect-plant interactions and their applications to improve IPM programs.

Dr. Giulia Giunti
Dr. Francesca Laudani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

integrated pest management
plant defense
behavioral adaptation
trophic interactions
resistance
host location
semiochemicals
beneficial insects

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Not All Field Margins Are Equally Useful: Effects of the Vegetation Structure of Margins on Cereal Aphids and Their Natural Enemies

by Agnès Salat-Moltó, Berta Caballero-López, Nicolás Pérez-Hidalgo, José M. Michelena, Mar Ferrer Suay, Emilio Guerrieri and José M. Blanco-Moreno

Insects 2023, 14(2), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020156 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Differences in the semi-natural vegetation of field margins will affect the biological control services derived from the presence of these semi-natural habitats adjacent to fields. Of the plant functional traits that are most relevant for insects, plant life forms reflect different aspects of plant structure and functioning that can help predict the value of marginal vegetation for arthropods in agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the vegetation structure of field margins on cereal aphids and on some of their natural enemies (parasitoids, hoverflies and ladybugs) in terms of plant life forms. We characterized margin vegetation using the relative cover of each life form and sampled insects in crops along transects parallel to field margins. Our results show that in the studied areas, the abundance of natural enemies was greater near margins dominated by annual plants than in margins dominated by perennial plants. On the other hand, the abundances of aphids and parasitism rates were higher near margins dominated by perennial woody plants than near margins dominated by perennial herbaceous plants. By promoting specific life forms in existing margins, farmers can enhance the conservation biological control and relieve aphid pressure on their crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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15 pages, 2936 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Construction of a Modified Clip Cage and Its Effects on the Life-History Parameters of Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) and Defense Responses of Triticum aestivum

by Xudan Kou, Shichao Bai, Yufeng Luo, Jiuyang Yu, Huan Guo, Chao Wang, Hong Zhang, Chunhuan Chen, Xinlun Liu and Wanquan Ji

Insects 2022, 13(9), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090777 - 28 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2571

Abstract

Clip cages are commonly used to confine aphids or other small insects to a single leaf when conducting plant–small insect interaction studies; however, clip cages are usually heavy or do not efficiently transmit light, which has an impact on leaf physiology, limiting their application. Here, simple, lightweight, and transparent modified clip cages were constructed using punched clear plastic cups, cut transparent polyvinyl chloride sheets, nylon organdy mesh, and bent duck-bill clips. These cages can be clipped directly onto dicot leaves or attached to monocot leaves with bamboo skewers and elastic bands. The weight, production time, and aphid escape rates of the modified clip cages were 3.895 ± 0.004 g, less than 3 min, and 2.154 ± 0.323%, respectively. The effects of the modified clip cage on the growth, development, and reproduction of the English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae Fabricius) in comparison with the whole cage were studied. The biochemical responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to the cages were also investigated. No significant differences were observed in the life table parameters, nymph mortality, and adult fecundity in S. avenae confined to clip cages and whole cages, but the clip cages were more time efficient than whole cages when conducting life table studies. Moreover, the hydrogen peroxide accumulation, callose deposition, and cell necrosis in wheat leaves covered by empty clip cages and empty whole cages were similar, and significantly lower than treatments where the aphids were inside the clip cage. The results demonstrate that the modified clip cages had negligible effects on the plant and aphid physiology, suggesting that they are effective for studying plant–small insect interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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10 pages, 1406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transfer of Copper (Cu) in the Soil–Plant–Mealybug–Ladybird Beetle Food Chain

by Xingmin Wang, Mengting Zhang, Huiyi Cao, Mudasir Irfan Dar and Shaukat Ali

Insects 2022, 13(9), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090761 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1506

Abstract

Copper, an essential trace element, is vital for living organisms’ survival; however, despite its importance, an excessive amount of this micro-nutrient can cause harmful effects to plants and animals. The present study investigates Cu bio-transfer across multi-trophic food chain comprising soil (spiked with various concentrations of Cu), eggplant (Solanum melongena), mealybug (Ferrisia virgata), and ladybird (Nephus ryuguus). Soils were spiked with Cu at rates of 0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg (w/w). A dose-dependent increase in the levels of Cu in plant, mealybug, and ladybird was observed in response to Cu contents of soil. Different Cu amendment caused a significant reduction in the average root and shoot dry weights per plant as well as the average body weights of F. virgata and N. ryuguus. Our findings affirmed the importance of additional research to explain the processes involved in the bio-transfer of copper across the food chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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9 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Chili Pepper Jojutla Morelos (Capsicum annuum L.), CJ-2018: A Variety Resistant to Bactericera cockerelli

by Manuel Silva-Valenzuela, Reyna Isabel Rojas-Martínez and Victor M. Zúñiga-Mayo

Insects 2022, 13(8), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080742 - 18 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1867

Abstract

Chili pepper is a vegetable of worldwide economic and gastronomic importance. The psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, is an economically important pest in this crop, causing considerable losses in its production. Currently, the application of insecticides is the main way to control B. cockerelli. However, the use of varieties resistant to this insect is a viable alternative for its control and management. In this work, the oviposition rate, development, and survival of B. cockerelli in two native varieties of chili were evaluated. Choice and non-choice trials showed that the B. cockerelli oviposition was reduced on CJ-2018 by 92.17 and 80.18%, respectively, compared to the control. In CM-334, the insect showed a behavior similar to the control in the non-choice test, while in the choice test it laid more eggs on CM-334 compared to the control. The development and survival assay showed that only 1.33% of the eggs managed to reach the adult stage on CJ-2018. In contrast, on CM-334 the survival of B. cockerelli was similar to the control. These results suggest that CJ-2018 presented a resistance based on antixenosis and antibiosis against B. cockerelli. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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Graphical abstract

9 pages, 1271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): What Relationships with and Morpho-Physiological Effects on the Plants It Develops on?

by Alessia Farina, Antonio C. Barbera, Giovanni Leonardi, Giuseppe E. Massimino Cocuzza, Pompeo Suma and Carmelo Rapisarda

Insects 2022, 13(4), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040351 - 01 Apr 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

Although many crops have developed several adaptation mechanisms that allow them to defend against limiting factors, some biotic and abiotic stresses may cause reversible or irreversible changes in plants. Among the biotic stresses, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is probably one of the main important pests that negatively affect several vegetable crops that are grown in greenhouses. The present study evaluated its impact on the morphology and physiology of two solanaceous plants, i.e., tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and eggplant (S. melongena L.), under laboratory conditions. The results showed that, for tomatoes, plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and indirect chlorophyll content were strongly reduced in infested plants, compared to the uninfested control, by 39.36%, 32.37%, 61.01%, and 37.85%, respectively. The same has been shown for eggplant, although the reduction percentages of plant height, root dry weight, and indirect chlorophyll content were less marked (i.e., 16.15%, 31.65%, and 11.39%, respectively). These results could represent interesting information for a better understanding of the B. tabaci influence on plant growth, as well as for the development of management strategies to successfully control its infestations in a cropping system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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18 pages, 1648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Timing and Use of an Insecticide on Arthropods in Cover-Crop-Corn Systems

by Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Emily Robinson, Julia Nogueira Duarte Campos and Anthony Justin McMechan

Insects 2022, 13(4), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040348 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1774

Abstract

Cover crops provide a habitat for pests and beneficial arthropods. Unexpected pest pressure in a cover-crop-to-corn system can occur and result in increased use of insecticides. Eight site-years of on-farm field studies were conducted in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of insecticide timing relative to cover-crop termination on arthropod activity in a cover-crop-to-corn system. The treatments consisted of (i) glyphosate to terminate the cover crop, (ii) glyphosate and pyrethroid tank mix to terminate the cover crop, and (iii) glyphosate to terminate the cover crop and pyrethroid application 25 days after the termination. Arthropod activity was measured with pitfall traps before and at each treatment application. A total of 33,316 arthropods were collected. Total arthropods, Collembola, and Aphididae were the only taxa reduced with an insecticide application. The other arthropod taxa were mainly influenced by the sampling period. No significant pest pressure occurred at any site-year. Insecticide applications are not generally needed in a cover-crop-to-corn system. Scouting for pests and applying strategies only when necessary is crucial to conserve potentially beneficial arthropods in the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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Other

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19 pages, 5400 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Semiochemicals Associated with the Western Flower Thrips Attraction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

by Marco A. Díaz, Coralia Osorio, Ericsson Coy-Barrera and Daniel Rodríguez

Insects 2023, 14(3), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030269 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

The study of the semiochemicals of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a relevant topic that spans the last two decades. Approximately a hundred articles published on this subject from 2000 to 2022 can be found in academic databases, representing approximately 5% of the research on this important pest. These topics have generated a platform for novel research with a high potential for development. However, to move on to a new research step, an effectiveness evaluation of the compounds discovered so far is necessary. This review conducted a systematic analysis of the research focused on the semiochemicals (kairomones, pheromones, and attractants) for this pest. Papers from the past three decades on WFT attraction to semiochemicals were collected from databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The number of individuals attracted to compounds was extracted from the papers and compiled for analysis. With this information, an attraction ratio was calculated. Forty-one possible attractants were found in the literature, with methyl isonicotinate being the most-studied compound so far, with the third-highest attraction ratio. δ-Decalactone was the compound with the highest attraction ratio, but it was one of the least studied. A meta-analysis of the WFT choosing proportion was performed for the compounds with more trials found in the literature. The predicted mean choice percentages for methyl isonicotinate (MIN) and Lurem-TR, the MIN’s commercial product, were 76.6% and 66.6%, respectively. There was a convergence among the analyzed studies showing a high degree of research focus on the same group of nitrogen-containing compounds (mainly the pyridine structure). These findings call for future research to diversify the discovery and evaluation of attractive compounds in this relevant study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect-Plant Interactions in Agricultural Applications)

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