pest control – mycolab.ai

Quillaja lancifolia Immunoadjuvant Saponins Show Toxicity to Herbivores and Pathogenic Fungi

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Researchers discovered that saponins from a Brazilian soap tree effectively kill harmful fungi and repel insects and snails, offering a natural alternative to chemical pesticides. These plant compounds work by disrupting the cell membranes of fungi and deterring herbivores from feeding. The findings suggest saponins could be used as environmentally friendly pest management tools in agriculture.

Effect of Rare, Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi on the Survival of Bactrocera oleae Pupae in Laboratory Soil Conditions

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Researchers tested seventeen types of fungi found in Greek olive groves to see if they could kill olive fruit flies, which damage about 30% of olive crops. They applied the fungi to fly pupae in soil and without soil, then tracked how many flies died and how much fungal growth appeared. Several fungi types, especially Aspergillus flavus and A. keveii, were very effective at killing the flies and could potentially replace harmful chemical pesticides used in olive farming.

Black mold in the bag room: First case of Arthrocladium tropicale peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis patient

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A peritoneal dialysis patient contracted a rare fungal infection caused by Arthrocladium tropicale, a mold found in damp environments and associated with ant nests. The infection was diagnosed through microscopy and genetic testing, revealing resistance to one antifungal drug but susceptibility to amphotericin B. Treatment with this antibiotic and removal of the dialysis catheter led to full recovery, highlighting the importance of keeping medical equipment storage areas dry and pest-free.

Toxicity Assay and Pathogenic Process Analysis of Clonostachys rogersoniana Infecting Cephalcia chuxiongica

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A destructive pine forest pest called Cephalcia chuxiongica causes significant damage to forests in China. Researchers discovered that a fungus called Clonostachys rogersoniana can effectively kill this pest by uniquely infecting it through breathing holes called spiracles. This fungus-based biological control offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, potentially protecting China’s forests while reducing chemical pollution.

Microcycle Conidia Production in an Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana: The Role of Chitin Deacetylase in the Conidiation and the Contribution of Nanocoating in Conidial Stability

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This study explores how to produce more fungal spores from Beauveria bassiana, a natural pest control organism, through a process called microcycle conidiation. Scientists found that a specific enzyme, chitin deacetylase, plays a crucial role in this process. They also discovered that coating these spores with nanoparticles made them more resistant to heat and UV light, making them more effective for field application against insect pests like leaf caterpillars. The nanocoated spores maintained their ability to kill pests while being more stable in harsh environmental conditions.

Microcycle Conidia Production in an Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana: The Role of Chitin Deacetylase in the Conidiation and the Contribution of Nanocoating in Conidial Stability

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Scientists studied how a fungus called Beauveria bassiana can produce spores more efficiently for pest control. They found that creating spores directly from other spores (microcycle conidiation) produces five times more spores in less time. Coating these spores with special nano-sized particles made them more stable in heat and sunlight while keeping them deadly to pest insects like the tobacco armyworm.

Effect of Rare, Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi on the Survival of Bactrocera oleae Pupae in Laboratory Soil Conditions

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Researchers tested seventeen types of fungi that infect insects to see if they could control the olive fruit fly, a major pest in Greece that damages olive crops. Using fungi from local Greek soil samples, they exposed young olive fruit flies to different fungal treatments both in soil and without soil. Some fungi, particularly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus keveii, were highly effective at killing the flies and preventing them from reproducing normally. These results suggest that using these naturally occurring fungi could be a safer alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting olive groves.

Evaluating Beauveria bassiana Strains for Insect Pest Control and Endophytic Colonization in Wheat

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Scientists tested three strains of a beneficial fungus called Beauveria bassiana to control crop-damaging insects and promote wheat growth. The best-performing strain, CBM1, successfully killed multiple types of pest insects and colonized wheat plants when applied to the soil. Wheat plants colonized with this fungus grew taller with longer roots and showed significantly better protection against fall armyworms, suggesting this fungus could be a valuable tool for sustainable, pesticide-free crop protection.

Introducing a global database of entomopathogenic fungi and their host associations

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Scientists have created a comprehensive online database called EntomoFun 1.0 that catalogs nearly 1,800 documented cases of fungi that infect insects worldwide. This database brings together information scattered across hundreds of scientific papers and museum collections, showing which fungal species infect which insects and where these interactions occur geographically. This tool will help researchers understand how these fungal pathogens affect insect populations and ecosystems, and may eventually lead to better pest management strategies.

Effect of Rare, Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi on the Survival of Bactrocera oleae Pupae in Laboratory Soil Conditions

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Researchers tested seventeen types of fungi as natural pest control for the olive fruit fly, a major pest that damages olive crops in Greece. They found that several fungal species, especially Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus contaminans, were highly effective at killing fly pupae in soil conditions. These fungi could offer farmers an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemical pesticides, helping improve olive oil quality while protecting beneficial insects.

Research Keyword: pest control