Entomopathogenic fungi: Natural biocontrol of insects, challenges under climate change, advancements and future prospects in Modern Agriculture.

Insects, the largest group of living entities, cause substantial damage to agriculture commodities, accounting for an estimated 35-40 % losses of annual crop on global scale. While agrochemical industry is playing indespensible role in pest management, however, their overreliance has led to alarming issues such as resistance development, environmental degradation and critical disruption of natural enemies. In light of these challenges, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are among the most successful candidate in the race of biocontrol agents against insects.

Combating desertification: comprehensive strategies, challenges, and future directions for sustainable solutions.

Desertification, a process through which once fertile and productive land is degraded into barren, arid desert, represents a significant environmental challenge with widespread consequences for ecosystems and human populations globally. This review explores the fundamental causes of desertification, its profound environmental and socio-economic impacts, and the strategies employed to combat it. We address the diverse range of approaches aimed at mitigating the effects of desertification, in particular the importance of sustainable land management practices, such as reforestation and soil conservation.

The larval gut of Spodoptera frugiperda harbours culturable bacteria with metabolic versatility after insecticide exposure.

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) poses a substantial risk to crops worldwide, resulting in considerable economic damage. The gut microbiota of insects plays crucial roles in digestion, nutrition, immunity, growth and, sometimes, the degradation of insecticides. The current study examines the effect of synthetic insecticides on the gut microbiome of third instar S.

Biological characterization and fungicide screening of a new causal agent of walnut leaf spot in Guizhou Province, China.

Walnut ( L.) is a widely grown nut plant worldwide, including in Guizhou Province, located in southwest China. The high quality and special taste make Guizhou walnuts, particularly those produced in Hezhang County, a "Chinese National Geographical Indication Product" that substantially contributes to the local economy and grower's income.

Impact of cement waste on soil fertility and crop productivity: a serious concern for food security.

The rapid expansion of urbanization and construction activities has led to a significant increase in cement production worldwide, resulting in a surge in cement waste generation. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the repercussions of cement waste on soil fertility and crop productivity, emphasizing its critical implications for global food security. Through a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing field surveys, laboratory experiments, and statistical modeling, we assess the physicochemical alterations induced by cement waste in agricultural soils.

Potential of melatonin and Trichoderma harzianum inoculation in ameliorating salt toxicity in watermelon: Insights into antioxidant system, leaf ultrastructure, and gene regulation.

Melatonin (MT) is an extensively studied biomolecule with dual functions, serving as an antioxidant and a signaling molecule. Trichoderma Harzianum (TH) is widely recognized for its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent against many plant pathogens. However, the interplay between seed priming and MT (150 μm) in response to NaCl (100 mM) and its interaction with TH have rarely been investigated.

Endophytic insect pathogenic fungi-host plant-herbivore mutualism: elucidating the mechanisms involved in the tripartite interactions.

Various techniques used by crop plants to evade insect pests and pathogen attacks have been documented. Among these, plant defense strategies induced by endophytic insect pathogenic fungi are arguably one of the most discussed. Endophytic fungi frequently colonize plants and inhabit their internal tissues for a portion of their lifespan without producing visible symptoms of the disease.

Recent insights into pesticide resistance mechanisms in Plutella xylostella and possible management strategies.

Insects are incredibly successful and diverse organisms, but they also pose a significant threat to agricultural crops, causing potential losses of up to US$470 billion. Among these pests, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), a devastating insect that attacks cruciferous vegetables, alone results in monetary losses of around US$4-5 billion worldwide. While insecticides have effectively protected plants under field conditions, their use comes with various environmental and mammalian hazards.

Adverse multigeneration combined impacts of micro(nano)plastics and emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment.

Microplastics (1 μm - 5 mm) and nanoplastics (1-100 nm), commonly referred to as micro(nano)plastics (MNPs), are widespread in both freshwater and marine habitats, and they can have significant negative effects on exposed organisms. In recent years, the transgenerational toxicity of MNPs has gained considerable attention owing to its potential to harm both parents and descendants. This review summarizes the available literature on the transgenerational combined effects of MNPs and chemicals, aimed at providing a deeper understanding of the toxicity of MNPs and co-occurring chemicals to both parents and offspring in the aquatic environment.

Baseline Analysis of Endophytic Fungal Associates of Buren from Mounds across Five Counties of Guangdong Province, China.

Red imported fire ants mounds have been suggested as a potential reservoir for beneficial entomopathogenic fungal species that are vital for more complex roles in the ecosystem aside from infecting the insects. In the current study, the assemblage of fungal symbionts of the red imported fire ants (RIFA) were obtained across five cities in Guangdong Province, China. The sampling areas were selected because of high occurrence of fire ants mounds in the regions.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification gene involved in host plant adaptation in .

The fall armyworm (FAW) is a destructive and polyphagous pest of many essential food crops including maize and rice. The FAW is hard to manage, control, or eradicate, due to its polyphagous nature and voracity of feeding. Here, we report the characterization and functional analysis of the detoxification gene and how larvae use a detoxification mechanism to adapt host plants.

Insights into insecticide-resistance mechanisms in invasive species: Challenges and control strategies.

Threatening the global community is a wide variety of potential threats, most notably invasive pest species. Invasive pest species are non-native organisms that humans have either accidentally or intentionally spread to new regions. One of the most effective and first lines of control strategies for controlling pests is the application of insecticides.

Characterization of Indoxacarb Resistance in the Fall Armyworm: Selection, Inheritance, Cross-Resistance, Possible Biochemical Mechanisms, and Fitness Costs.

The fall armyworm, (J.E. Smith), is a voracious insect pest that is difficult to control due to resistance to insecticides and Bt proteins.

Transcriptome analysis reveals differential effects of beta-cypermethrin and fipronil insecticides on detoxification mechanisms in .

Insecticide resistance poses many challenges in insect pest control, particularly in the control of destructive pests such as red imported fire ants (). In recent years, beta-cypermethrin and fipronil have been extensively used to manage invasive ants, but their effects on resistance development in are still unknown. To investigate resistance development, was collected from populations in five different cities in Guangdong, China.

Down-Regulation of P450 Genes Enhances Susceptibility to Indoxacarb and Alters Physiology and Development of Fall Armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The fall armyworm (FAW), (J.E. Smith), is a pest of many important crops globally.

Role of Insect Gut Microbiota in Pesticide Degradation: A Review.

Insect pests cause significant agricultural and economic losses to crops worldwide due to their destructive activities. Pesticides are designed to be poisonous and are intentionally released into the environment to combat the menace caused by these noxious pests. To survive, these insects can resist toxic substances introduced by humans in the form of pesticides.

Comparative low lethal effects of three insecticides on demographical traits and enzyme activity of the Spodoptera exigua (Hübner).

Many species of devastating insect pests have acquired a high degree of resistance to insecticides in the field during the last few decades. Spodoptera exigua, for example, is the most damaging pests of economic crops with a worldwide spread. In a present study, the comparative growth, reproduction, and detoxification enzyme activity were evaluated along with exposure to three insecticides at low lethal doses of lufenuron, indoxacarb, and spinosad as compared to the control.

Enrichment and dissemination of bacterial pathogens by microplastics in the aquatic environment.

Microplastic pollution and associated impacts in the aquatic environment are spreading at an alarming rate worldwide. Plastic waste is increasing in the environment, and microplastics (MPs) are becoming a growing issue because they serve as vectors for pathogen transmission. This is the first comprehensive review that specifically addresses MPs as a source and vector of pathogenic bacteria, mainly associated with genera Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and so on, which are discovered to be more abundant on the aquatic plastisphere than that in the surrounding wastewater, freshwater, and marine water ecosystems.

Comprehensive Detoxification Mechanism Assessment of Red Imported Fire Ant () against Indoxacarb.

The red imported fire ant is one of the deadliest invasive ant species that threatens the world by disrupting biodiversity, important functions within a natural ecosystem, and community structure. They are responsible for huge economic losses in the infested countries every year. Synthetic insecticides, especially indoxacarb, have been broadly used to control for many years.

General Limitations to Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi Use as Plant Growth Promoters, Pests and Pathogens Biocontrol Agents.

The multiple roles of fungal entomopathogens in host plants' growth promotion, pest and pathogen management have drawn huge attention for investigation. Endophytic species are known to influence various activities of their associated host plants, and the endophyte-colonized plants have been demonstrated to gain huge benefits from these symbiotic associations. The potential application of fungal endophytes as alternative to inorganic fertilizers for crop improvement has often been proposed.

Model Application of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Alternatives to Chemical Pesticides: Prospects, Challenges, and Insights for Next-Generation Sustainable Agriculture.

In the past few decades, the control of pests and diseases of cultivated plants using natural and biological measures has drawn increasing attention in the quest to reduce the level of dependence on chemical products for agricultural production. The use of living organisms, predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, has proven to be a viable and sustainable pest management technique. Among the aforementioned, fungi, most importantly the insect-pathogenic species, have been in use for more than 150years.

Impact of invasive ant species on native fauna across similar habitats under global environmental changes.

Biotic invasions can predominantly alter the dynamics, composition, functions, and structure of natural ecosystems. Social insects, particularly ants, are among the most damaging invasive alien species. Invasive ant species are among the supreme threats to ecosystems.

Vertically Transmitted Gut Bacteria and Nutrition Influence the Immunity and Fitness of Larvae.

Symbiotic bacterial communities that colonize the digestive tract of tephritid fruit flies interact with nutrient intake to improve the flies' fitness and immunity. Some bacterial species consistently inhabit the tephritid guts and are transmitted to the next generation vertically. These species contribute significantly to some aspects of their host's physiology.

DNA barcoding of aphid-associated ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in a subtropical area of southern China.

As one of the most abundant and complex groups of terrestrial insects, ants have associations with many other organismal groups, such as hemipteran insects producing honeydew. With the aim of expanding the knowledge base of ant species associated with aphids, this study analyzed mitochondrial COI barcodes of 301 ant samples for 37 aphid-associated ant species in a subtropical area of southern China. Sequence analyses revealed that the intraspecific and interspecific distances ranged from zero to 7.