Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.) is a medicinal plant as it contains high concentrations of colchicine. In this study, we reported that the ground powder of autumn crocus bulb is highly toxic to invasive Solenopsis invicta Buren, commonly referred to as red imported fire ants (RIFAs). Ants fed with sugar water containing 5000 mg/L of bulb powder showed 54.67% mortality in three days compared to 45.33% mortality when fed with sugar water containing 50 mg/L of colchicine. Additionally, the effects of short-term feeding with sugar water containing 1 mg/L of colchicine and 100 mg/L of autumn crocus bulb powder were evaluated for RIFAs’ colony weight, food consumption, and aggressiveness, i.e., aggregation, grasping ability, and walking speed. After 15 days of feeding, the cumulative colony weight loss reached 44.63% and 58.73% due to the sublethal concentrations of colchicine and autumn crocus bulb powder, respectively. The consumption of sugar water and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) was substantially reduced. The aggregation rates decreased 48.67% and 34.67%, grasping rates were reduced to 38.67% and 16.67%, and walking speed decreased 1.13 cm/s and 0.67 cm/s as a result of the feeding of the two sublethal concentrations of colchicine and autumn crocus bulb powder, respectively. Our results for the first time show that powder derived from autumn crocus bulbs could potentially be a botanical pesticide for controlling RIFAs, and application of such a product could be ecologically benign due to its rapid biodegradation in the environment.

Fusarium solani KMZW-1 is recognized for its potential as a biocontrol agent against agricultural and forestry pests, particularly due to its compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study aimed to investigate the complete genome of F. solani KMZW-1 and assess its pathogenicity against Bactrocera dorsalis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 47,239,278 bp, comprising 27 contigs, with a GC content of 51.16% and fungus identified as F. solani KMZW-1. The genome completeness was assessed as 97.93% using BUSCO analysis, the DFVF sequence identifier was Fusarium 0G092560.1, and AntiSMASH analysis identified 35 gene clusters associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis, providing insights into the genetic basis of its pathogenic mechanisms and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomic analysis found 269 unique genes for F. solani KMZW-1, and collinearity analysis exhibited a high degree of synteny with Fusarium solani-melongenae. The pathogenicity of F. solani KMZW-1 was assessed using concentrations ranging from 1 × 10⁴ to 1 × 10¹¹ conidia/mL. Higher concentrations (1 × 10¹⁰ to 1 × 10¹¹ conidia/mL) resulted in significantly increased cumulative mortality rates of B. dorsalis adults compared to the control group. Notably, the pathogenicity was higher in male adults than in females. Probit analysis yielded LC₅₀ (50% lethal concentration) values of 5.662 for female and 4.486 for male B. dorsalis adults. In summary, F. solani, KMZW-1 exhibits strong insecticidal activity against B. dorsalis and shows potential as a biocontrol agent with IPM strategies. These findings provide robust genomic evidence supporting the use of F. solani KMZW-1 in managing against B. dorsalis populations.

Climate is changing globally nowadays because of extensive crucial human activities. This state along with stark in weather measures ultimately affecting the development and growth of crops due to various kinds of stressful field condition at the same time including biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, various biotic factors including pathogens, weeds and pests and abiotic factors including temperature, humidity and drought etc. are involved in reduction of cotton yield due to which cotton production significantly reduced. Various biotic factors have direct effect on the cotton production and caused significant reduction in cotton crop yield estimated up to 10 to 30%, while as abiotic factors are even worse than biotic stresses and could cause 50% reduction. So, effective agronomic practices, optimal climate and integrated pest management leads to fruitful crop production to cover this yield gap. This chapter will be broadly useful to design projects aimed with inter and intra-disciplinary collaboration for sustainable cotton production.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are molecular chaperones involved in many normal cellular processes and environmental stresses. At the genome-wide level, there were no reports on the diversity and phylogeny of the heat shock protein family in Procecidochares utilis. In this study, 43 HSPs were identified from the genome of P. utilis, including 12 small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), 23 heat shock protein 40 (DNAJs), 6 heat shock protein 70 (HSP70s), and 2 heat shock protein 90 (HSP90s). The characteristics of these candidates HSP genes were analyzed by BLAST, and then phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the spatiotemporal expression patterns of sHSPs and HSP70s in P. utilis after temperature stress. Results showed that most sHSPs could be induced under heat stress during the adult stage of P. utilis, while a few HSP70s could be induced at the larval stage. This study provides an information framework for the HSP family of P. utilis. Moreover, it lays an important foundation for a better understanding of the role of HSP in the adaptability of P. utilis to various environments.

The bio-prospecting of bioactive phytochemicals from invasive flora presents a sustainable paradigm for the ecologically conscious management of major invasive pest S. invicta. Ageratina adenophora, while recognized for its allelopathic insecticidal properties, exhibits poorly characterized toxicological profiles and mechanistic underpinnings against S. invicta, warranting systematic investigation to elucidate its mode of action. This study elucidates the bioactive insecticidal compounds of A. adenophora and their toxicological impacts on S. invicta, including behavioral, metabolic, and enzymatic perturbations, via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) profiling. The ethanol extracts of the roots, stems, and leaves of A. adenophora have shown control effects on S. invicta, with an LC₅₀ (50% lethal concentration) of 331.847, 188.256, and 166.253 mg/mL at 48 h, respectively. Metabolite profiling of A. adenophora revealed that safranal and dihydrocoumarin are relatively high in plant leaves, and they showed significant insecticidal activity and behavioral inhibitory effects on S. invicta with LC₅₀ 349.042 mg/L and 118.336 mg/L at 48 h, respectively. Notably, these two bioactive compounds disrupted the normal energy production through glucose metabolism and the citrate cycle, which eventually led to the death of S. invicta. Further, these two compounds also activated the detoxification metabolic pathway of S. invicta. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the use of these bioactive compounds in the integrated management of S. invicta and may lead to the development of a new biopesticide.