Morocco is basically an agricultural country; almost 40% of the workforce is employed in

this sector. Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-inhabiting pathogen which can infect more than

300 plant species, although most host species are symptomless. Until relatively recently,

X. fastidiosa was primarily limited to North and South America, but in 2013 a widespread

epidemic of olive quick decline syndrome caused by this fastidious pathogen appeared in

southeastern Italy, and later several cases of X. fastidiosa outbreaks have been reported

in other European countries (France, Germany and Spain). Following these recently confirmed

findings of X. fastidiosa in the European Union, this bacterium has become a serious

threat to the Moroccan flora. The national phytosanitary authorities have adopted several

measures to prevent the introduction of X. fastidiosa into the national territory by deciding,

inter alia, to suspend importation of host plant species to the bacterium from infected

areas. This paper presents the phytosanitary risk of this bacterium in Morocco.

The species Halyomorpha halys (Stål), which is endemic in East Asia, was first detected in North America in 1996 and was probably introduced into Europe in 2008. The species is polyphagous. It consumes over 170 host plant species and significantly impacts crop production. In Greece the first recording of its presence was in 2014, when it was reported as a nuisance in houses in the region of Athens. The present study describes the systematic spread and damage of this invasive pest, including the first recorded identification in peach and olive cultivations in the prefecture of Imathia in central Macedonia, Greece. Sampling was carried out in representative peach and olive farms during July and August, 2018 and 2019 in which significant levels of fruit damage were recorded, especially during 2018. The population of the species was recorded throughout the winter seasons of 2018 and 2019 in which overwintering adults were systematically recorded in shelters and other constructions near fruit orchards. Given the dynamics of the species and its destructive impact on a wide range of host species, H. halys is expected to be a major pest. Additionally, considering that the prefecture of Imathia is the most important peach growing area of Greece, further studies of the presence and population dynamics of this species along with the establishment of particular management actions to control the population is imperative for the future protection of horticultural production in Greece.

The increased cultivation of highbush blueberry in Poland has been paralleled with enhanced

damage to this crop by different pests and diseases, including soft scales. We have

carried out trials to assess methods for controlling soft scales of the genus Parthenolecanium

in highbush blueberry grown in open fields or under a plastic tunnel, with an approach

based on integrated pest management (IPM) principles. The reduction of Lecanium

scale population using alternative products, with mechanical mechanisms of action, was

similar to that achieved with treatments of different formulations of neonicotinyl-based

pesticides; sometimes they were even more effective on protected crops. Control programs

on plantations with a large population of Lecanium scales based on the application of these

alternative products in spring and at harvest time and chemical compounds in autumn resulted

in a very high efficacy and are considered the most suitable strategies to assure yields

without residues and a reduced impact on the environment.

Pest mites of the family Tetranychidae are commonly reported in several legumes. However, reports of their occurrence in lima beans are insipient, especially in Brazil. The objective of this research was to record the occurrence of mites in lima bean plants and to describe their damage in this Fabaceae. Tetranychus neocaledonicus André and Mononychellus planki McGregor were found in lima bean plants, Phaseolus lunatus (Fabaceae or Leguminosae). The lima bean plants, when infested by these mites, initially exhibit small whitish spots in the leaflets, which with increasing population density rapidly evolve into chlorotic patches, followed by silvering, and may dry out and fall due to their overfeeding. The extent of the damage caused to lima bean plants and the adaptability of the mite to warm and dry conditions indicate that T. neocaledonicus has greater potential as a lima bean pest than M. planki in northeastern Brazil. This is the first record of these mites associated with P. lunatus.

The sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus LeConte is a quarantine intra-stem pest of sunflower, distributed mainly in the United States, and discovered in the Kherson region of Ukraine in 2020. The objective of this study was to establish a possible distribution zone of this species in Ukraine based on the results of bioclimatic modeling. The model was built by using programs DIVA GIS version 7.5.0 and BIOCLIM, which search for areas that are suitable for a particular organism, through geographic information systems and by comparing the world climate with the climate of areas in which it has already been identified. Analysis of the model shows that in Ukraine the pest can acclimatize in the Kherson region only (zone with up to 2.5% probability). Geographically, the territory is limited to 46−47° of north latitude and to 33−34° of north longitude. It is located on the Black Sea Lowland and covers territory lying no higher than 50 meters above the Black Sea level, whose land- -surface temperature in July averages more than 28°С. The North Crimean Canal and Krasnoznaamyansky Canal pass through the territory, which is limited in the south by Sivash, Karkinitsky Bay and Dzharilgatsky Bay of the Black Sea, in the west − by the Dnipro Delta, and in the north − by Kakhovka Reservoir and Kakhovskiy canal. The analysis of values of climatic predictors for the territories which are suitable for acclimatization of a phytophage demonstrated its high ecological plasticity and potential ability to move not only on coastal territories, but also on territories with a continental climate.

Preventive methods of plant protection used currently require a significant number of treatments throughout the season. Research results indicate a possibility of reduction of the number of treatments by halfwithout serious loss of effectiveness if the attack of pathogens has been recorded early enough. Limiting treatments to truly necessary ones means conserving chemicals, fuel and labour and consequently substantial financial savings for the farm. However, early warning requires full analysis of many factors that influence incidence, development and harmfulness of diseases, pests and weeds in relation with their impact on the yield. Such an analysis is beyond the power of the farmer alone. Appropriate models have to be used that utilize weather data and field observations in real time. At the present, due to frequent updating of the databases and sharing of the system by many users, in integrated plant protection the most efficient seem to be internet decision support systems. As of 2000 the Institute of Plant Protection in Poznań together with the Institute Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy in cooperation with the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences conduct a joint research project on development and implementation of an Internet Decision Support System for Integrated Plant Protection in Poland. Various modules of the system are already available on the Internet. Much like similar systems operating abroad, the Polish DSS also takes advantage of weather data utilized in disease models (the weather module). Nevertheless, an important addition to the system are strategically relevant data such as values and statistic distributions of elements of climate and potential yields (the agroclimate module), operation sheets, exploitation data and prices (the technology module) etc., which are important to the formulation and adoption of a particular line of action and risk evaluation in economic terms. When all modules are operational, the information relevant to decision making will be derived from on-line analyses based on cost calculation of different variants of plant protection applicable to the current situation.

The use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control insect pests has already been established in various agronomic and forest crops. It is a bacterium that does not pollute the environment, is safe for mammals and vertebrates, lacks toxicity to plants and specifically targets insects. To date in-depth studies have not been conducted about the use of Bt to control the main pest of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) and other Meliaceae species, the Hypsipyla grandella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Therefore, this study aimed to test the pathogenicity of Bt strains on H. grandella caterpillars, as well to determine the lethal concentration required to kill 50% of the population (LC50) of the most promising strains. Ten strains of Bt toxic to lepidopteran proven in previous trials were used and these were incorporated into a natural diet with mahogany seeds to check their mortality. The LC50 of the top five strains was determined. The results indicate that H. grandella is highly susceptible to Bt toxins and the S1905 strain is highly toxic. Therefore, the use of Bt strains may be a tool to be incorporated into the integrated management of this important pest.

Cabbage seed weevil (Ceutorhynchus assimilis Payk.) is one of the most important and dangerous pests of oilseed rape in Poland and in other European countries. In contrast to another important oilseed rape insect pest – pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus F.), little is known about cabbage seed weevil susceptibility level to insecticide active ingredients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the cabbage seed weevil susceptibility to active ingredients from different insecticide groups. Research, carried out in 2015, 2016 and 2017 revealed very high susceptibility of the pest to organophosphates and all pyrethroid active ingredients, except for tau-fluvalinate, lower susceptibility to thiacloprid and very high resistance to indoxacarb from oxadiazines. This information is a basic element for creating integrated pest management strategies for oilseed rape in Poland.

In this paper we present the first occurrence of the Diabrotica virgifera Le Conte in Poland and the measures taken against this pest. The specimens of western corn rootworm were found in South-Eastern Poland (Podkarpackie voivodeship) at the end of August and in September of 2005.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, an insect of the order Hemiptera which attacks more than 600 species of plants, is one of the most important agricultural pests around the world. The insecticidal Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are useful biological pesticides, and some are toxic to Hemipteran insects. In this study, Colombian native isolates of Bt were functionally characterized at molecular and biological levels. The strains contained between one and five different crystal shapes: round, triangular, amorphous, bipyramidal and squared. The strains presented between three to seven bands of proteins in their electrophoretic pattern that were organized into six groups according to their possible biological activity on insect pests. Cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B and cry1C genes were identified for PCR in the different Bt isolates. Bioassays were performed on tomato leaves whose surface was spread with 3 μg · ml−1 crude extract of Bt toxins. Second instar larvae of whitefly, which were placed on top of leaves and exposed to the toxins for 7 days, exhibited mortalities from 18 to 69%. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of ZBUJTL39, Bt kurstaki HD1 and ZCUJTL9 strains were 1.83, 1.85 and 2.16 μg · ml−1, respectively (p < 0.05). These results show that the native Bt strain ZBUJTL39, which contained the genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cryCa and cryBa could eventually be used for the development of an integrated management program together with other tools for the control of B. tabaci.

The first record of an oriental, alien aphid species belonging to the genus Takecallis, associated with the cold hardy bamboo Fargesia rufa T.P.Yi, collected in Słupsk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, is provided. The increase in worldwide trade of new frost-resistant ornamental bamboo varieties as a source of introducing alien species of insects in Europe and the role of garden centers as potential dispersal sites for these species is discussed.

Rachiplusia nu (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main soybean plague in Argentina. The main strategy employed to control this pest is chemical control, applying different chemical groups regardless of their harmful effects on the environment and human health. Different biological products using entomopathogenic fungi have been developed and are commercially available to control different insect pests worldwide. The objective of this work was to develop and apply, under field conditions, different fungal formulations using entomopathogenic fungi to control R. nu larvae. The mortality percentages in bioassays of R. nu larvae treated with different colonies of fungal entomopathogens ranged between 86.6 ± 8.4% for Beauveria bassiana (LPSc 1098) and 56.6 ± 4.2% for Metarhizium anisopliae (LPSc 907). Under laboratory conditions using fungal formulations of B. bassiana, the formulation 4 (LPSc 1086) exhibited the highest mortality percentage (100%), followed by formulation 5 (LPSc 1098), 97 ± 1.3%. Under field conditions, larval mortalities were 82.4 ± 5.56% for formulation F4 and 61.8 ± 7.5% for formulation F5. The results obtained in this work indicate that although a greater number of tests under field conditions with the fungal formulation F4 are necessary, the results obtained in this work allow speculating that it is possible to use this fungal formulation under field conditions to control R. nu.

The miner fly Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is an insect of economic importance for tomato culture. The conventional control with insecticides is complex due to the mining eating habit that provides protection to the larvae inside the leaves. Therefore, farmers can opt for biological control agents, or substances that provide protection to the plant. Thus, the objective of our research was to evaluate the use of silicon to induce resistance in tomato plants against L. sativae. The results showed that in tomato plants treated with SiO2/F and K2SiO3/F there was a reduction in the net reproduction rate (Ro), in the intrinsic rate of increase in number (rm), in the finite rate of increase (λ), in the average interval between generations (IMG), in the doubling time (TD), in the number of eggs/ female/day and the accumulated egg laying of F1 females of L. sativae. The products SiO2/F and K2SiO3/F gave the tomato a protective effect against injuries caused by L. sativae.

Metcalfa pruinosa (Say, 1830) was recorded for the first time in Poland, in the city of Warsaw. This Nearctic species of the Flatidae family was introduced into Europe in the late 1970s and has expanded its range ever since. We provide data on the first record as well as briefly characterize the insect in terms of its diagnostic features, biology and potential harm to agriculture and the environment.

The future of food security in Africa is being severely threatened due to an exponential increase in population, which is almost three times the increase of food production. Maize production is constrained by stem borers which cause significant yield losses. Yield losses can be further compounded by higher temperatures due to climate changes, which are expected to increase the population of maize stem borers. While several methods have been employed in stem borer management, there is still significant damage caused by maize stem borers. This necessitates better control methods including the adoption of recent biotechnological advancement in RNA interference (RNAi) technology. This review highlights evidence of an increase in the stem borer population as well as the foreseen decline in maize production worldwide due to the effects of climatic changes. Furthermore, we have drawn attention to improved methods that have been used to control stem borers in maize production as well as a reluctant acceptance of traditional biotechnology in Africa. Finally, we suggest the application of alternative RNA interference techniques to breed maize for efficient pest control in order to achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable maize production.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.)], one of the most important crops in Argentina, is commonly infected by Colletotrichum truncatum, the causal agent of anthracnose. Tagetes filifolia essential oil (EO) is presented as a natural approach to minimize the dose of chemical fungicides applied to the crop. The fungus Trichoderma harzianum is used as a biocontrol agent because of its ability to produce secondary metabolites that destroy cell walls of phytopathogenic fungi. However, its performance can be affected when it is exposed to chemical fungicides. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antifungal activity of T. filifolia EO both individually and combined with chemical fungicides against C. truncatum, and its effect on T. harzianum. Fungi were isolated from soybean crops. The following pesticides were assessed: carbendazim (F1), difenoconazole (F2) and trifloxystrobin + cyproconazole (F3). The EO was obtained from native plants and its chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) was determined for each compound. Fungicides were combined with the EO to look for combinations that allowed a reduction of pesticide doses. Among fungicides, F1 showed the strongest antifungal activity against C. truncatum (MFC = 0.25 μl ⋅ l–1) and T. harzianum (MFC = 1.5 μl ⋅ l–1). The sensitivity of both fungi to the EO was lower than to fungicides. The EO presented MFCs of 6,000 and 9,000 μl ⋅ l–1 against C. truncatum and T. harzianum. The EO and F1 affected the growth of T. harzianum at concentrations that controlled C. truncatum (31 and 10%). Eight combinations of fungicides and the EO allowed fungicide concentration reductions of up to 80%, although the growth of the biocontrol strain was also affected. The results demonstrated that T. filifolia EO can be used to control anthracnose and reduce doses of chemical fungicides applied to soybean crops. Its effect on T. harzianum should be considered in the design of integrated pest management strategies.

Annual losses of cocoa in Ghana to insect pests are significant. The use of integrated pest management (IPM) tools is critical for effective pest management. Previous studies on the subject have considered how farmers perceive the economic impact of insect pests on cocoa. These studies however did not investigate farmers’ ability to identify pests, associated damage symptoms and their implications for pest management. The current study, therefore, assessed farmers’ ability to correctly associate insect damage with the pest species that caused it. A total of 600 farmers were interviewed in the Eastern, Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo and Central Regions of Ghana with a structured open and closedended questionnaire. Most farmers (>85%) were unable to correctly identify and associate pests to their damage. The majority (>80%) of farmers also could not link the immature stages of insect pests to their adult stages. Wrong identification of the major pests (>85%) led to a wide variation in the timing of insecticide application amongst farmers. The majority of the farmers (60%) interviewed had not received training in insect pest identification. The study shows that 90% of the farmers, who had received some training, got it from the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). Almost all respondents (98%) agreed that correct pest identification is critical for effective pest control. The importance of pest identification and monitoring as a component of IPM is discussed.

Development and demography of Adalia decempunctata L. were studied under laboratory conditions at seven constant temperatures (12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36°C). First instar larvae failed to develop to second instar at 12°С and no development occurred at 36°C. The total developmental time varied from 47.92 days at 16°C to 15.94 days at 28°C and increased at 32°C. The lower temperature thresholds of 11.05 and 9.90°C, and thermal constants of 290.84 day-degree and 326.34 day-degree were estimated by traditional and Ikemoto-Takai linear models, respectively. The lower temperature threshold (Tmin) values estimated by Analytis, Briere-1, Briere-2 and Lactin-2 for total immature stages were 11.99, 12.24, 10.30 and 10.8°C, respectively. The estimated fastest developmental temperatures (Tfast) by the Analytis, Briere-1, Briere-2 and Lactin-2 for overall immature stages development of A. decempunctata were 31.5, 31.1, 30.7 and 31.7°C, respectively. Analytis, Briere-1, Briere-2 and Lactin-2 measured the upper temperature threshold (Tmax) at 33.14, 36.65, 32.75 and 32.61°C. The age-stage specific survival rate (sxj) curves clearly depicted the highest and lowest survival rates at 16 and 32°C for males and females. The age-specific fecundity (mx) curves revealed higher fecundity rate when fed A. gossypii at 24 and 28°C. The highest and lowest values of intrinsic rate of increase (r) were observed at 28 and 16°C (0.1945 d–1 and 0.0592 d–1, respectively). Also, the trend of changes in the finite rate of increase (λ) was analogous with intrinsic rate of increase. The longest and shortest mean generation time (T) was observed at 16 and 28°C, respectively and the highest net reproductive rates (R0) was estimated at 24 and 28°C. According to the results, the most suitable temperature seems to be 28°C due to the shortest developmental time, highest survival rate, and highest intrinsic rate of increase.

The shipment of cut flowers from Colombia and Ecuador to the United States, the biggest importer of this product in the world, has doubled in the last 20 years. One of the main constraints in cut roses production is the gray mold disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which can destroy the flowers, in the crop, during storage and/or shipping. Since the resistance of the fungus to conventional fungicides has been increasing, as well as the health effects in rose growers, alternative approaches for controlling the disease are needed. The effect of UV-C light on the gray mold development in cut roses was studied. Irradiation with 2,160; 1,080 and 540 J ⋅ m–2 UV-C, every 24 h for 5 days in a humid chamber, did not harm the roses. Instead, as seen by image analysis, a highly significant reduction of the area of the lesions by the disease and of the fungus germination was obtained at 1,080 J ⋅ m–2. The addition of a 4-h dark period to the irradiation did not improve the effect of UV-C on the disease. The results of this work potentiate the use of UV-C light in the agro-industry as a low-cost and non-invasive alternative method to control diseases. They also reflect the application of optical approaches as image analysis in the evaluation of important agricultural features.

Global warming and climate change are some of the most widely discussed topics in today's society, and they are of considerable importance to agriculture globally. Climate change directly affects agricultural production. On the other hand, the agricultural sector is inherently sensitive to climate conditions, and this has made the agricultural sector one of the most vulnerable sectors to the effects of global climate change. Rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere, increased temperature, and altering precipitation patterns all substantially influence agricultural insect pests and agricultural productivity. Climate change has a number of implications for insect pests. They can lead to a decreased biological control effectiveness, particularly natural enemies, increased incidence of insect-transmitted plant diseases, increased risk of migratory pest invasion, altered interspecific interaction, altered synchrony between plants and pests, increase in the number of generations, increased overwintering survival, and increase in geographic distribution. As a consequence, agricultural economic losses are a real possibility, as is a threat to human food and nutrition security. Global warming will necessitate sustainable management techniques to cope with the altering state of pests, as it is a primary driver of pest population dynamics. Future studies on the impacts of climate change on agricultural insect pests might be prioritized in several ways. Enhanced integrated pest control strategies, the use of modelling prediction tools, and climate and pest population monitoring are only a few examples.

The occurrence of three bamboo aphid species of the genus Takecallis was detected. T. arundicolens (Clarke) and T. arundinariae (Essig) were recorded for the first time in Poland, and new localities for T. nigroantennatus Wieczorek were found. Key diagnostic morphological characteristics to help distinguish these species and DNA barcoding to analyze individuals at the molecular level were provided.

Fruit flies belonging to the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex pose a significant threat to mangoes and other crops in the Philippines and worldwide. Identifying cryptic species within this complex is challenging, particularly when relying solely on morphological analysis. In this study, we sequenced two fragments of the nuclear 18S and ITS2-28S rRNA genes from specimens of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel collected in the Philippines to assess their applicability for species diagnostics. Subsequent sequencing and analysis revealed that the 18S and 28S rRNA gene fragments matched B. dorsalis sequences in NCBI but also displayed high similarity with other Bactrocera and insect species. On the other hand, sequences of the ITS2 segment showed hits specific to B. dorsalis. Further analysis of the 18S rRNA gene in fruit flies collected from various sources and host plants in the country suggests conserved sequences among Bactrocera samples, irrespective of collection site and host plant species. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, among the tested nuclear DNA fragments, only the ITS2 demonstrates sufficient species-level nucleotide variation for effective use as a molecular diagnostic marker for B. dorsalis identification.

In the years 2018‒2020, the effectiveness of three synthetic active substances (acequinocyl, fenpyroximate, spirodiclofen), one substance derived from Streptomyces spp. (abamectin), a plant extract (orange oil) and silicone polymers in controlling Phyllocoptes gracilis in two Polish raspberry plantations (v. ‘Glen Ample’) was assessed. All the substances showed high and comparable efficacy against the tested pest, significantly reducing its population. However, their effects occurred at different times after the application. The strongest immediate control was shown by silicone polymers, followed by abamectin and spirodiclofen. The full effect of fenpyroximate application was visible after approx. 2 weeks, while acequinocyl was effective 3‒4 weeks after the application. Moreover, the content of phenolic compounds, sterols and triterpenoids was determined in leaves of plants treated with spirodiclofen, orange oil and silicone polymers. The observed increase in the content of salicylic acid and changes in the content of triterpenoids in leaves may indicate a stimulating effect of the substances to the natural defense processes of plants.

The report includes a detailed analysis of the more recent research findings on the effects of neonicotinoids and their new substitutes and tools to reduce or eliminate future use of pesticides for the control of crop pests. This analysis is a contribution to a wider debate within the Commission and European Parliament as well as Member States on the environmental risk of pesticides. The evidence of the drastic increase in toxic load and the continued insect decline including pollinators as a result of new-generation pesticides argues for a more substantial reduction in the Commission’s 2030 target to reduce pesticide use and risk. We support the Commission’s measures to encourage an agricultural system that regards integrated pest management (IPM) based on biological rather than chemical pest control as a main tool. Substantial economic and cultural barriers exist to IPM and will require coordinated action ranging from research, training, information and advice, extension services, common monitoring, and other services, to financial incentives or regulations. Current pesticide risk indicators should include a more detailed assessment of toxic load, persistence in the environment, and toxicity to non-target organisms especially pollinators and natural enemies of pests to reduce threats to the environment, health, and biodiversity.