The loreyi leafworm Mythimna loreyi (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of agriculture that causes particular damage to Gramineae crops in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Low temperature is one of the important environmental factors that limits the survival, distribution, colonization, and abundance of M. loreyi. However, the metabolic synthesis pathways of cold-tolerant substances in M. loreyi and the key genes involved in the regulation under cold stress remain largely unknown. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptomes of three developmental stages (larvae, pupae, and adults) of M. loreyi to discover the molecular mechanisms of their responses to cold stress. In total, sequencing generated 120.64 GB of clean data from 18 samples, of which 19,459 genes and 1740 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that many DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways associated with energy metabolism and hormone metabolism. Among these, genes encoding multiple metabolic enzymes, cuticle proteins (CPs), and heat shock proteins (HSPs) were differentially expressed. These results indicate that there are significant differences among the three developmental stages of M. loreyi exposed to cold stress and provide a basis for further studying the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in insects.

Rice production experiences significant losses due to fungal diseases, particularly rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Despite the intensive and continuous use of synthetic fungicides, diseases severity has not reduced and control has become increasingly challenging; therefore, the search for environmentally friendly and sustainable products has intensified. Here, we conducted a chemical characterization of Xylopia frutescens and using in silico analysis evaluated the interaction of their two major compounds with lectin protein site of R. solani. In vitro tests using increasing concentrations of essential oil against R. solani were performed. Subsequently, in four varieties of rice, five concentrations of X. frutescens essential oils were applied and evaluated the phytotoxicity effect as well the potential of Xylopia frutescens essential oil for controlling, both preventively and curatively, rice sheath blight. We further investigate the selectivity of this essential oil towards the non-target organism, Trichoderma asperellum. Our analysis revealed that trans-pinocarveol and myrtenal are the main compounds of X. frutescens essential oil and interact with the lectin of R. solani, supporting the antifungal properties of X. frutescens essential oil. In in vitro conditions, the highest tested concentrations of X. frutescens essential oil inhibited the pathogen’s sclerotia and mycelial growth. Under greenhouse conditions, the treatments caused low phytotoxicity and effectively reduced disease severity when applied, both preventively and curatively. Furthermore, the biocontrol agent T. asperellum exhibited tolerance to X. frutescens essential oil. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the potential of X. frutescens essential oil for the development of botanical fungicides capable of controlling R. solani without harming beneficial non-target organisms such as T. asperellum.

Ladybird beetles consume a wide variety of non-prey items in their natural habitats, including aphids, fruits, plants, fungi, honeydew, and nectar. These non-prey foods play several critical roles, such as boosting fertility, decreasing mortality during dormancy, supporting migration, and enhancing survival during times when prey is scarce. Larval ladybird beetles have more specialized nutritional needs compared to adults, with simple carbohydrates being crucial nutrients that can improve adult beetle function and reproductive success. Non-prey foods often provide similar or greater nutritional and caloric content compared to prey. Each non-prey item has distinct defense mechanisms and nutritional benefits, influencing its suitability for ladybird beetles. Research comparing diets consisting solely of prey with mixed diets that include non-prey foods revealed that while pollen improved larval and adult performance, a diet high in sugar alone was less effective for reproduction compared to an aphid-based diet. Wheat, which lacks essential nutrients such as proteins, could not adequately support egg production and larval development. Although pollen did enhance overall performance, it could not completely offset the nutritional shortcomings of a diet high in sugar. Adding sugar to a diet did not markedly enhance the performance of ladybird beetles compared to a diet composed entirely of prey. This review underscores the need to understand the varied diet of ladybird beetles within their ecological context, as it has significant implications for the success of conservation-oriented biological control effort.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) can be affected by several diseases, among which anthracnose stands out. Despite its importance, few studies have been conducted on aggressiveness and virulence in cassava-producing areas of northern Brazil. Isolates of three species of Colletotrichum (C. musicola, C. chrysophillum, and C. truncatum) were obtained from collections of diseased cassava plants previously collected in the states of Tocantins and Pará. Inoculation was performed on the leaves of nine cassava cultivars grown in pots. The inoculated plants were kept in a humid chamber for 48 hours at a temperature of 25°C and after two days, the first symptoms appeared on the leaves. All inoculated Colletotrichum species caused symptoms of anthracnose on the leaves. Although C. musicola was, in general, the most aggressive species, there was a significant difference in virulence between C. chrysophillum and C. truncatum. Among the studied cultivars, “Água morna” proved to be more resistant, showing the lowest values for both aggressiveness and virulence measures. The “Lagoão” cultivar was the most susceptible in both variables. Currently, there are no recommendations for the effective control of anthracnose in cassava; however, the results obtained in the present work confirmed the variation in aggressiveness and virulence of Colletotrichum species that infect cassava, as well as the existence of possible sources of resistance. These results provide important information in the management of anthracnose and in the implementation of a genetic improvement program aimed at the development of cultivars resistant to anthracnose in commercial tropical areas.

O milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) tem uma grande importância econômica para o Brasil, devido suas vantagens como aumentar a produtividade agrícola, pois melhora a saúde do solo por fornecer nutrientes para culturas posteriores. Entretanto, a sementes de milheto são armazenadas por um grande tempo em condições propícias para o desenvolvimento de gêneros fúngicos, que promove a deterioração das sementes, por conseguinte, a qualidade final do grão e dificultando a germinação em campo. Diante dessa problemática, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o potencial antifúngico destes óleos essenciais como medidas preventivas ou curativas nas sementes e de doenças fitopatogênicas em milheto. Foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Fitopatologia da Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus de Gurupi. Os ensaios executados foram de sanidade, transmissibilidade e patogenicidade, seguido do efeito do óleo essencial in vitro e em plantas e no tratamento de sementes de milheto. Os resultados demonstraram a presença dos gêneros fúngicos Drechslera sp., Curvularia sp. e Fusarium sp. como os causadores das principais doenças em plantas e de maior incidência nas sementes. O fungo Drechslera sp., causador de manchas foliares foi controlado em plantas pelo óleo essencial de Syzygium aromaticum, porém não foi eficaz no tratamento de sementes. O óleo essencial de S. aromaticum é um potencial antifúngico para o manejo das manchas foliares, entretanto, estudos em sementes de milheto devem ser realizados, considerando outros métodos de aplicação e concentração.

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, possesses horizontally acquired fungal carotenoid biosynthesis genes, enabling de novo production of carotenoids. Although carotenoids are known to contribute to photo-protection and coloration, their potential role in energy metabolism and population fitness under thermal stress is still unclear. This study investigated the interactive effects of temperature and light intensity on energy homeostasis and life-history traits in A. pisum. Using controlled environmental regimes, we demonstrate that light intensity significantly influenced the ATP content, development, and reproductive output of A. pisum at 12 °C, but not at 22 °C. Under cold stress (12 °C), high light intensity (5000 lux) increased ATP content by 240%, shortened the pre-reproductive period by 46%, extended reproductive duration by 62%, and enhanced the net reproductive rate (R₀) and intrinsic rate of increase (rₘ) compared to low light intensity (200 lux). These effects were abolished at the optimal temperature (22 °C), indicating a temperature-gated, light-dependent mechanism. Demographic analyses revealed that carotenoid-associated solar energy harvesting significantly improves fitness under cold conditions, likely compensating for metabolic depression. Our findings reveal a novel ecological adaptation in aphids, where horizontally transferred genes may enable light-driven energy supplementation during thermal stress. This study provides new insights into the physiological mechanisms underlying insect resilience to climate variability and highlights the importance of light as a key environmental factor in shaping life-history strategies in temperate agroecosystems.