La résistance aux agents de biocontrôle est un problème majeur dans les cultures du monde entier. Ainsi, le carpocapse du pommier, Cydia pomonella, a développé des résistances contre des traitements répétés au Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) dans plusieurs pays d’Europe. Ces résistances posent la question de la durabilité de ce type de lutte contre les ravageurs. Ce travail porte sur l’étude de plusieurs aspects des interactions granulovirus/hôtes : en premier lieu, sur l’étude des différences de sensibilité au CpGV entre des colonies d’insectes de laboratoire afin de mieux cerner les mécanismes d’apparition de résistances. Concernant le virus, le génome complet de cinq isolats viraux utilisés au cours de ces travaux a été séquencé et une analyse des gènes positivement sélectionnés a été conduite afin de découvrir de nouveaux gènes potentiellement importants pour la valeur sélective du virus. L’adaptabilité du CpGV à un hôte C. pomonella résistant ainsi qu’à un hôte d’une espèce proche, Cydia molesta a également été étudiée. Enfin, l’efficacité, sur différentes colonies d’insectes, de populations de génotypes viraux mélangées ainsi que de leurs générations successives ont été analysés. Ces études nous ont permis de mettre en évidence une diversité génétique très étendue chez le CpGV ainsi que des phénomènes de co-infections d’une même cellule et de recombinaison. Ainsi, s’il semble impossible de certifier une méthode de biocontrôle d’une efficacité constante, il apparait que les capacités évolutives des virus permettront de supporter des phénomènes de résistance des hôtes. Un suivi annuel afin de permettre une évolution dirigée du virus sera toutefois obligatoire. / Resistance to biocontrol agents is a critical issue worldwide in orchards. Thereby the codling moth Cydia pomonella developed resistances under repeated treatments with Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) in several European countries. These resistances raise the issue of the durability of such a pest control. This work aims to investigate various aspects of granulovirus/host interactions: first by studying the susceptibility variations to CpGV infection between different laboratory insect colonies in order to assess the mechanisms of resistances apparition; to investigate the virus diversity, complete genomes of five viral isolates used over this work have been sequenced and an analysis of the positively selected genes has been carried out as to come up with new genes potentially important for the fitness of the virus. The adaptability of CpGV to a resistant C. pomonella host as well as to a related specie, Cydia molesta has also been studied. Finally, the efficiency, on different insect colonies, of mixed populations of viral genotypes as well as their successive offspring have been analyzed. These studies allowed highlighting a wide genetic diversity among CpGVs, together with co-infection within cell and recombination phenomenon. Thus, if it seems impossible to certify a biocontrol method with constant efficacy, it appears that the evolutive capacities of viruses will allow overcoming host resistance phenomenon. However, one will need to keep one step ahead from the virus, which means an annual survey to permit a directed evolution of the virus.

In Mozambique, establishment of aquatic weeds has been enhanced through the increased enrichment of water bodies by nutrient runoffs from human and agricultural wastes that lead to an increase in nitrate and phosphate in the water. The aquatic weeds, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), red water fern ( Azolla microphylla), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and salvinia (Salvinia molesta) were found in most watercourses in Mozambique and are becoming aggressive in some watercourses, especially in the Umbeluzi and Incomati rivers. Farmers and people living along the rivers are aware of the negative impact of the water weeds because the large mats of weeds cause loss of shoreline and navigability along the rivers. Other commonly perceived effects of aquatic invasive plants in Mozambique rivers include: reduced navigable surface area; difficulties for fishermen, which reduces income; increased prevalence of insects and insect-borne disease, and decreased aesthetic value. The methods currently used for the control and management of the aquatic weeds are mechanical and manual control. Both methods are costly, time consuming, and only provide a short-term solution to the problem. The study found that the weevils Neochetina eichhorniae and N. bruchi were effective biological control agents in the study area but their impact is too gradual compared to the aggressive proliferation of water hyacinth. The one year lab-experiment clearly demonstrated that the water lettuce weed had a significant impact on the recruitment of macro-invertebrates to the artificial substrates, and water lettuce contributed to the reduction of oxygen in the water and consequent reduction of macro-invertebrate abundance and diversity. The biodiversity recovered at the same time in the pools containing water lettuce controlled by N. affinis and water lettuce controlled by herbicide, but richness and diversity of macro-invertebrates was higher in the water lettuce controlled by N affinis during the first sampling occasion compared to the water lettuce in pools controlled by herbicide, where macro-invertebrates increased only when DO levels recovered after water lettuce mat decay. The number of taxa recorded in this study is an indication of the significance of macro-invertebrates in an aquatic environment. This therefore emphasizes the need for more research efforts into macrophyte and macro-invertebrate associations in the aquatic system to better understand the implications of habitat modification arising from human activities. It will also enable us to be better equipped with a more appropriate ecological understanding for aquatic resources management.