Orientador: Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto / Resumo: Para o controle de pragas, contínuamente se faz o uso de elevadas quantidades de agroquímicos que muitas vezes possuem efeitos adversos tanto para o ambiente quanto para a saúde humana. Este fato tem motivado a busca por alternativas menos impactantes. Neste cenário, diversos mecanismos estão sendo estudados a fim de minimizar estes danos, como por exemplo, o desenvolvimento de sistemas carreadores utilizando polímeros biodegradáveis e proteínas. Aliado a isto, a utilização de inseticidas botânicos também tem demonstrado potencialidade para o combate a pragas, devido aos possíveis menores impactos causados por esses produtos de origem natural. Portanto, o presente trabalho descreve o preparo e caracterização de um nanobiopesticida baseado em nanopartículas de zeína carreadas com óleo de neem junto com a avaliação da sua toxicidade contra organismos não alvos (usando Allium cepa, microbiota do solo envolvida no ciclo do nitrogênio e Caenorhabditis elegans) e da sua fitotoxicidade (usando Phaseolus vulgaris). Ademais, a atividade biológica desse novo sistema em pragas agrícolas (Acanthoscelides obtectus, Bemisia tabaci and Tetranychus urticae) também foi investigada. As nanopartículas esféricas apresentaram diâmetro médio de 278 ± 61,5 nm, alta eficiência de encapsulação (> 80%) e boa estabilidade durante os experimentos. Nos ensaios de toxicidade com A. cepa, as nanopartículas de zeína carregadas com óleo de neem mitigaram o aumento do índice de danos relativo ao DNA causado p... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:57:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3367.pdf: 2685500 bytes, checksum: 1145f361da493228758e656f7ae215a0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-11-12 / The neem oil obtained from the Azadirachta indica plant, plus formulations containing the fungus Beauveria bassiana and Metharizium anisopliae, were used to control the spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata in organic cultivation of sugarcane. The action of these products was compared with natural mortality of the insect, through parcels without use of any products. The experiment was conducted at Santo Antônio Plant in Sertãozinho-SP, in variety RB 85 5536 in the period from March to May 2008. It was employed the statistical design of subdivided parcels, with seven treatments, three repetitions and four periods. It wasn t observed significant statistical differences between the treatments studied either generally or in different periods evaluated. The natural mortality ranged from 55,5% to 80,81% suggesting that the action of environmental agents was sufficient, it laid off any kind of products, even the alternative. / O óleo de nim obtido da planta Azadirachta indica, mais as formulações contendo os fungos Metharizium anisoplae e Beauveria bassiana, foram empregados para o controle da cigarrinha das raízes Mahanarva fimbriolata em cultivo orgânico de cana-de-açúcar. A ação desses produtos foi comparada com a mortalidade natural do inseto, através de parcelas sem o emprego de qualquer tipo de produto. O experimento foi conduzido na Usina Santo Antônio em Sertãozinho-SP, em variedade RB 85 5536 no período de março a maio de 2008. Empregou-se o delineamento estatístico de parcelas subdivididas, com 7 tratamentos, 3 repetições e 4 épocas. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas significativas entre os tratamentos estudados de forma geral ou nas diferentes épocas avaliadas. A mortalidade natural variou de 55,5% a 80,81% sugerindo que a ação dos agentes ambientais seja suficiente, dispensando o emprego de qualquer tipo de produto, mesmo os alternativos.

L'anthracnose constitue pour plusieurs productions végétales une maladie importante qui engendre des pertes post récoltes considérables. Colletotrichum musae est le responsable de cette maladie chez la banane dessert. L'utilisation d'antimicrobiens naturels comme le système lactoperoxydase (LPS) représente une voie naturelle de lutte intéressante contre l'anthracnose. Dans cette étude, nous avons amélioré le LPS en ajoutant de l'iode dans le système existant ou en substituant le thiocyanate par de l'iode. La substitution du thiocyanate à l'iode a permis d'avoir un effet fongicide du LPS. De plus, d'autres substances comme la lactoferrine, le Bioxeda® et l'huile de Neem ont été étudiées pour leur effet antifongique. Les deux dernières substances ont donné une inhibition supérieure respectivement à 90% et à 40%., tandis qu'il n'y a eu aucun effet de la lactoferrine / Postharvest diseases are a major concern for several plant products, leading to considerable postharvest losses. Colletotrichum musae is responsible for anthracnose and is also involved in crown rot, the two main postharvest diseases of bananas. The use of natural anti-microbial agents such as the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) represents an interesting alternative to the use of fungicides for the control of postharvest diseases of bananas. This study consisted on optimization of the LPS by adding iodide or substituting the thiocyanate by iodide. Moreover, other substances like lactoferrin, Bioxeda® and Neem oil were analyzed for their antifungal effect. The last two compounds gave an inhibition higher than 90% and 40% respectively. No effect of lactoferrin was observed

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel, is an economic tephritid that invaded Senegal in 2004 (Vayssieres et al. 2011). This work determined 1) Impact of B. dorsalis on mango crop production and value, and marketing practices, 2) Effect of neem and kaolin on its behavior and development (laboratory and field), and 3) Effect of treated soil with neem seed cake (NSC) and neem seed powder (NSP) on the larval-pupal survival and development (laboratory and field). Results revealed crop value (price/kg) was associated with infestation levels. P<0.0001, crop value decreased in highly infested orchards. Southern Orchards were heavily infested than northern orchards. Early harvest, orchard sanitation, decreasing the purchase quantity, sorting infested mangoes and lowering prices were strategies used by growers and traders. Laboratory bioassays showed females landed and spent time on fruit identically on control and neem. On kaolin there were fewer landings and less time spent. P<0.0001, mean pupae was higher in control than in treated mangoes. In the field, percent of infested mangoes was higher in neem than in control and kaolin. However, the number of emerged flies was higher in the control than in either the neem or kaolin-treated fruit. Treated soil with NSC and with NSP did not have effect on pupation; all larvae pupated in the lab. However, treated soil decreased significantly the number of emerged flies. In the field, there were no significant differences between untreated and treated soil in number of emerged flies. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in improving the growth of a vast majority of plants. Past researchers have discovered that agricultural practices have a significant negative effect on the diversity of AMF. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are reported to enhance plant nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and soil aggregate formation which are key aspects of productive low-input farming. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of four pesticides on the ability of AMF to colonize the roots of okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus). The pesticides being tested include two synthetic chemicals (glyphosate and carbaryl) and two organic chemicals (neem oil and citrus oil). The tested parameters included crop yield, plant biomass, leaf matter CNP, and the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization in roots. The results of this study show that the organic chemicals had no significant effect on AMF colonization while the synthetic chemicals did have somewhat of a negative effect on colonization.