Due to its role in the transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, a pathogen associated with huanglongbing, a catastrophic disease of citrus in the world, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) has become a very dangerous invasive pest. To contribute to increasing alternatives for its management, we evaluated against D. citri adults the pathogenicity of conidia and blastospores of 8 Mexican strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella citriformis Speare (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae). Furthermore, we conducted tests with non-target insects that included the predators Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Experiments in the laboratory included the application of the fungus by contact and through liquid sprays. Strains were collected from citrus areas of Mexico. They were grown in PDAY media and applied at 1 × 106 conidia per mL. All bioassays were conducted under controlled co... Resumen Debido a su función en la transmisión de Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, un patógeno asociado al Huanglongbing, una enfermedad catastrófica de los cítricos en el mundo, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liividae) se ha convertido en una plaga invasiva muy peligrosa. Para contribuir a incrementar las alternativas para su manejo, evaluamos la patogenicidad de conidias y blastosporas de 8 cepas mexicanas del hongo entomopatógeno Hirsutella citriformis Speare (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) contra adultos de D. citri; además realizamos pruebas contra insectos no blanco, los depredadores Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) y Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Los experimentos en laboratorio incluyeron aplicación del hongo por contacto y mediante aspersiones. Las cepas fueron colectadas en diferentes áreas citrícolas de México, cultivadas en medio PDAY y asperjadas a 1 × 106 conidia/mL; todos los bioensayos fueron conducidos bajo cond...

Culture conditions affect the production of secondary metabolites in endophytic fungi. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the yield and anticancer and antioxidant activity of endophytic fungi extracts from the cactus Lophocereus marginatus, under different culture conditions. The strains Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus versicolor, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Cladosporium sp. were fermented in different culture media (potato dextrose agar, Czapeck broth, and malt broth), types of inoculums (spore or mycelium), and shaking conditions (150 rpm or static) for one week. Methanol extracts were obtained from mycelia, which was followed by determining their yields and evaluating their effect on L5178Y-R murine lymphoma cells growth and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) viability, using the 3-[4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl]2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction colorimetric assay. In addition, antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test. We determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of tumor cell growth inhibition, the selectivity index (SI), and the antioxidant activity, as compared with the healthy cells control. The best yields were obtained with the Czapeck broth medium in all the evaluated strains, reaching values of 50.3%. Of the 48 extracts evaluated, only seven significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited tumor cell growth (IC₅₀ < 250 µg/mL). A. versicolor extract showed the highest anticancer activity, after culturing spores (IC₅₀ = 49.62 µg/mL; SI = 15.8) or mycelium (IC₅₀ = 69.67 µg/mL; SI = 12.2) in malt broth, under static conditions. Extracts did not present significant antioxidant activity. In conclusion, we showed that culture conditions influenced the anticancer activity of L. marginatus endophytic fungi.

Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important destructive pest in forage sorghum in Nuevo León, Mexico. This study was conducted to identify predatory and parasitoid insect species associated with this pest in Nuevo León, and their impact on its biocontrol. During the monitoring period, identified insects indicated the coexistence of 8 coccinellid species, 2 syrphid species, and 1 chrysopid species. In addition, 2 hymenopteran species were identified. After the insecticide applications, sugarcane aphid population was reduced by about 20.6% (about 14 nymphs per cm2); when the sampling ended, population was reduced by about 70.6% (about 5 nymphs per cm2), thus indicating predator and parasitoid biocontrol. Collected data allowed us to conclude that the biological controllers were responsible for the principal pest population reduction. Overall, results showed that yellow sugarcane aphid predatory and parasitoid species may play an important role in the pest management in sorghum crops in Nuevo León, Mexico.

Jessica Jaimes-Orduña, Francisco Zavala García, and Orquídea Pérez-González (2018) Chilocorus spp., Potential Natural Enemies for Melanaphis sacchari at Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Southwestern Entomologist: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 413-416. https://doi.org/10.3958/059.043.0212

Identification of new sources of compounds with anticancer and antioxidant potential is essential for cancer treatment. Rhizospheric bacteria have emerged as a promising source of these agents. This study is aimed at investigating the anticancer and antioxidant properties of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Lophocereus marginatus . Six rhizobacteria of L. marginatus were isolated and molecularly identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and MALDI‐TOF. We evaluated the inhibitory activity of methanol (MeOH) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts obtained from rhizobacteria against the murine lymphoma cell line L5178Y‐R, as well as normal Vero monkey kidney cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Compared with those of normal cells, the MeOH extract of Paenibacillus sp. PMS‐B023 showed selective anticancer activity against lymphoma, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC ₅₀ ) values of 117.5 μ g/mL and a selectivity index (SI) > 2.1, as compared with those of normal cells. L‐Pro‐L‐Val cycle, gageostatin B, cinnamic acid, parvifloracin, daidzein, genistein, actinomycin D, actinomycin Y4, and surfactin C were detected in the MeOH extract, which may be responsible for its antilymphoma activity. We did not find significant antioxidant activity in any of the extracts evaluated using the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl technique (IC ₅₀ > 250  μ g/mL). The results showed that Paenibacillus sp. PMS‐B023 has antitumor potential and selective activity against L5178Y‐R lymphoma cells. The presence of anticancer compounds was also demonstrated, as previously described in the literature.