This study focuses on interacting with insects and their ectosymbiont (lato sensu) microorganisms for environmentally safe plant production and protection. Some cases help compare ectosymbiont microorganisms that are insect-borne, -driven, or -spread relevant to endosymbionts’ behaviour. Ectosymbiotic bacteria can interact with insects by allowing them to improve the value of their pabula. In addition, some bacteria are essential for creating ecological niches that can host the development of pests. Insect-borne plant pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens interact with their vectors to enhance reciprocal fitness. Knowing vector-phoront interaction could considerably increase chances for outbreak management, notably when sustained by quarantine vector ectosymbiont pathogens, such as the actual Xylella fastidiosa Mediterranean invasion episode. Insect pathogenic viruses have a close evolutionary relationship with their hosts, also being highly specific and obligate parasites. Sixteen virus families have been reported to infect insects and may be involved in the biological control of specific pests, including some economic weevils. Insects and fungi are among the most widespread organisms in nature and interact with each other, establishing symbiotic relationships ranging from mutualism to antagonism. The associations can influence the extent to which interacting organisms can exert their effects on plants and the proper management practices. Sustainable pest management also relies on entomopathogenic fungi; research on these species starts from their isolation from insect carcasses, followed by identification using conventional light or electron microscopy techniques. Thanks to the development of omics sciences, it is possible to identify entomopathogenic fungi with evolutionary histories that are less-shared with the target insect and can be proposed as pest antagonists. Many interesting omics can help detect the presence of entomopathogens in different natural matrices, such as soil or plants. The same techniques will help localize ectosymbionts, localization of recesses, or specialized morphological adaptation, greatly supporting the robust interpretation of the symbiont role. The manipulation and modulation of ectosymbionts could be a more promising way to counteract pests and borne pathogens, mitigating the impact of formulates and reducing food insecurity due to the lesser impact of direct damage and diseases. The promise has a preventive intent for more manageable and broader implications for pests, comparing what we can obtain using simpler, less-specific techniques and a less comprehensive approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Coupling several natural and synthetic lures with aggregation pheromones from the palm weevils Rhynchophorus palmarum and R. ferrugineus reveals a synergy that results in an increase in pest captures. The combined attraction of pure pheromones, ethyl acetate, and decaying sweet and starchy plant tissue increases the net total of mass-trapped weevils. The 2018 entrance of the red palm weevil (RPW) into South America has threatened palm-product income in Brazil and other neighboring countries. The presence of the new A1 quarantine pest necessitates the review of all available options for a sustainable mass-trapping, monitoring, and control strategy to ultimately target both weevils with the same device. The effective lure-blend set for the mass-trapping system will attract weevils in baiting and contaminating stations for entomopathogenic fungi that the same weevils will spread.

Both palm weevils, the South American (Rhynchophorus palmarum) (SAPW) and the red palm weevil (R. ferrugineus, RPW), are present in South America, affecting commercial, ornamental, and native palms. These pests oviposit and thrive on selected Arecaceae. R. palmarum mainly infests coconut (Cocos nucifera), oil palms (Elaeis guineensis), and other ornamental and native palms in America, causing a significant social impact on growers. The weevils fulfill a significant ectosymbiotic macro- and microorganism role in the first period of larval development, worsening the damage which, during this period, is not yet apparent. Palm protection in the Brazilian context suggests the use of indigenous agents for microbiological biocontrol. This research identifies three Brazilian Beauveria bassiana isolates: CVAD01, CVAD02, and CVAD06. The results suggest that the strain’s impact on R. palmarum can also be compared with that of the commercial strain Beauveria bassiana. Phylogenetic analysis allowed the delimitation of species of Beauveria (Hypocreales). Pathogenicity tests caused significant mortality in R. palmarum. The isolates CVAD01, CVAD02, and CVADO6 showed high pathogenicity between 7 and 21 days, with mortality rates between 90 and 100%, suggesting that they may be effective biological control agents of R. palmarum in the field when used, within available means, to mitigate the impact of R. palmarum and R. ferrugineus in South America.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar in vitro la capacidad de los hongos rizosféricos aislados del cactus Opuntia cochenillifera para promover el crecimiento de las plantas. Los aislados fueron sometidos a pruebas de solubilización de fosfato, producción de ácido 3-indol acético (AIA), antagonismo contra fitopatógenos y crecimiento bajo actividad de agua. Todos los resultados de las pruebas se sometieron a análisis estadístico. Los aislados estudiados fueron capaces de solubilizar fosfato, siendo F04 (Aspergillus sp.) y F05 (Coprinellus radians) los que presentaron los mayores índices de solubilización. Sobre la producción de AIA, los que más produjeron fueron F02 (Penicillium sp.) y F07 (Aspergillus sp.). Todos los aislados pudieron inhibir el crecimiento de Colletotrichum sp. e Fusarium sp.. La restricción de agua proporcionó el crecimiento del micelio para todos los aislados. Por lo tanto, estes aspectos les confieren características como promotores del crecimiento en las plantas.

Por meio do presente estudo, propõe-se a investigação acerca da utilização do Podcast como ferramenta de letramento no ensino do componente curricular Química Geral e Analítica no curso de Graduação em Agronomia. Como instrumento analítico, apoiamo-nos na análise de conteúdo, bem como bibliográfica por meio da literatura pertinente ao longo da imersão nas respostas dos estudantes. Por meio dos dados obtidos e análise destes, foi possível detectar a necessidade de aplicação de ferramentas diversas no ensino superior, de modo a suprir e contornar déficits na relação ensino-aprendizagem, bem como fomentar no estudante a capacidade de compreensão de realidades e pensar de modo crítico ante os conteúdos abordados em sala de aula. Ainda, os estudantes destacaram que desenvolver o podcast estimula a autonomia e curiosidade, instrumentos que proporcionaram estímulo ao estudar o componente. Esses fatores são importantes pois, muitos estudantes adentram à Universidade com deficiências relacionadas à componentes curriculares das ciências exatas, como matemática, por exemplo, sendo este um dos componentes que está ligado à química. Importante destacar que os estudantes expõem que o podcast é eficiente no ensino, bem como outras ferramentas de tecnologias da informação e comunicação ainda podem também ser aplicadas para o ensino-aprendizagem.

Foi realizada uma prospecção tecnológica para avaliar a usabilidade de novas tecnologias para o monitoramento de feridas na Atenção Básica. Patentes e artigos científicos foram buscados nas bases WIPO, PATENTINSPIRATION, LATIPAT - ESPACENET, Science Direct, e Scopus, respectivamente. A busca na base WIPO, utilizando o termo “monitoring and diabetic” no campo “página de cobertura” e a opção “nome” PCT, gerou a recuperação de 460 patentes. Foram recuperadas 0 (0%) patentes na base LATIPAT-SPACENET quando utilizado o termo “monitoring and diabetic” no campo “pesquisa inteligente". Na base PATENTINSPIRATION utilizando o termo “monitoring and diabetic” 1.653 patentes recuperadas lidas na íntegra “título” e “resumo” com código IPC e CPC A61, B1/00, porém, nenhuma se refere ao desenvolvimento de aplicativos para o monitoramento de pacientes diabéticos com feridas na atenção básica, indicando o ineditismo do tema proposto em se tratando de patentes depositadas no Brasil e via PCT.