Biological control of weevils pests of agricultural crops
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StatusThe thesis was presented on the 25 February, 2021Approved by NCAA on the 27 April, 2021 Abstract – 0.92 Mb / in romanianThesisCZU
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Keywords
Sitona lineatus, Hypera postica, Protapion apricans, Curculionoidea, fungal microflora, biological control, Republic of MoldovaSummary
Structure of the thesis: introduction, 4 chapters, general conclusions and recommendations, bibliography of 533 titles, Annexes, 140 pages of main text, 66 figures, 10 tables. The research results have been published in 18 scientific publications.
Research goal: investigation of the fungal microflora of the Sitona lineatus L., Hypera postica Gyll. and Protapion apricans (Hbst.) pests (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea), selection of biological control agents and characterization of the physiological properties of native fungal strains for the local production of biopesticides and their application in agroecosystems.
Research objectives: isolation and identification of native strains of micromycetes from the microflora of the species S. lineatus, H. postica and P. apricans; investigation of S. lineatus, H. postica and P. apricans susceptibility to the infection with isolated fungal strains with potential for use as biological control agents; determining the insecticidal activity of the selected entomopathogenic fungal strains against target pests S. lineatus, H. postica and P. apricans; characterization of the particularities of growth and development of fungal strains with increased insecticidal activity under different environmental conditions to develop the procedure for obtaining the insecticidal preparation and application recommendations.
Scientific novelty and originality: in the microflora of the investigated curculionoid beetles, 55 fungal strains were highlighted, being identified at species level based on the molecular markers 18S rRNA gene sequence and ITS. For the first time, the presence of entomopathogenic fungi of the genera Beauveria and Isaria was detected in the microflora of S. lineatus and H. postica pest insects, on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. For the first time, the fungal microflora of the species P. apricans was investigated. The presence of phytopathogenic species in the fungal microbiota of insects involves the investigation of targeted pests as potential vectors. The fungal strain Beauveria bassiana CNMN-FE-01 showed increased insecticidal activity (MD 4560 patent), and advantageous properties for the formulation and application of bioinsecticides.
The result that contributes to solving an important scientific problem consists in: highlighting the new native fungal strains with insecticidal activity, selection of the strain with increased virulence, physiological and biochemical properties of technological importance, establishing the bioactive agent of the insecticide preparation which led to the elaboration of the procedure for obtaining and applying the bioinsecticide preparation and its integration into agricultural production systems.
Theoretical significance: new data were obtained on the fungal communities that constitute the microflora of pests of agricultural crops; pest species have been highlighted as potential vectors of phytopathogenic fungi emphasizing the importance of developing efficient and harmless methods of their control; the potential application of native strains of Beauveria bassiana as a bioactive agent for the local production of insecticide preparations has been scientifically argued; the procedure for obtaining the insecticide preparation intended for the biological control of curculionoid beetles has been proposed.
Applicative value: a process for obtaining a natural insecticidal preparation based on the new native strain of Beauveria bassiana CNMN-FE-01 is proposed for the biological control of the species Sitona lineatus. The strain showed promising physiological and biochemical properties that will allow the development of biopesticides and their wide application for the protection of Fabaceae crops.
Implementation of scientific results: the results are used as teaching material for training
students in the specialties of Biology, Molecular Biology (bachelor's degree), Applied Biological
Sciences (master's degree), in the training courses provided to trainers and farmers in the field of
organic agriculture and biological methods of pest control.
Oficial Reviewers
- Leonid Voloşciuc
doctor habilitat, professor, Institute for Plant Protection and Ecological Agriculture of the ASM - Liliana Cepoi
doctor, associate professor (docent), Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the ASM
Council's Members
- Valeriu Rudic, president
doctor habilitat, professor, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the ASM - Tatiana Chiriac , secretary
doctor, associate professor (docent) - Dumitru Erhan, member
doctor habilitat, professor, Institute of Zoology - Svetlana Codreanu, member
doctor, associate professor (docent), Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the ASM - Oleg Chiseliţa , member
doctor, associate professor (docent) - Galina Buşmachiu, member
doctor, associate professor (docent), Institute of Zoology
Theses
