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Copyright of Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859), the boxwood moth, is one of the important invasive pests spreading rapidly throughout Europe within a few years. The objective of the current research was to determine an alternative biological control agent for the control of C. perspectalis. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus with high insecticidal activity, was isolated from the larvae of the pest that causes substantial economic losses on boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, and its virulence was tested on it. Based on the morphological data and molecular characteristics, including the partial sequence of ITS (ITS1- 5.8S-ITS2 gene region) and EF1, the fungus was identified as an isolate of B. bassiana (CP1). In larval stage susceptibility tests, it was determined that larval mortality was higher in older stages. In concentration-response experiments using 1 × 104-8 conidia/ml, the LC50 value of the new isolate was calculated to be 1.7 × 104 conidia/ml within 10 days against C. perspectalis 6th instar larvae under laboratory conditions. This is a significant study to describe a novel B. bassiana CP1 isolate, and preliminary data suggests that the fungal isolate has considerable potential as an effective biopesticide for controlling C. perspectalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Poxviridae is divided into two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae of vertebrates and the Entomopoxvirinae of invertebrates. The Amsacta mooreientomopoxvirus (AMEV, Entomopoxvirinae) has the potential to be used in gene therapy, as an expression vector, and as a biopesticide. It was suggested that AMV248 protein is a putative glycosyltransferase (GT) but was also shown to be an attachment protein to host receptors. GTs encoded by some other viruses catalyse the binding of sugars molecules to growth hormones of the host insects rendering the hormones inactive. Consequently, larval development is arrested and frequently results in larval mortality. In this study, AMV248 protein was shown to be a GT and the purified enzyme catalysed the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP) from the substrates UDP‐glucose and UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine. This AMEV enzyme may behave much like the ecdysteroid UDP‐glucosyltransferase of baculoviruses. Various concentrations of the GT enzyme were tested for its insecticidal activity against gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It had varying deleterious effects on all test larvae but L. dispar was the most sensitive to the enzyme. While this enzyme exhibits properties with potential to be developed as an insecticide in biocontrol strategies, investigations are needed to ascertain its value in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dasychira pudibunda is a defoliating forest pest, and it caused an outbreak in oriental beech forests in Bursa, Turkey, in 2019. Examination of collected dead larvae revealed that the body contents were liquefied as in baculovirus infections. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the isolate had many nucleocapsids in an envelope in the occlusion bodies. The isolate was named Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus-T1 (DapuNPV-T1). Host range studies showed that DapuNPV-T1 was virulent to lymantriid insects. The fact that few pests were found in the surveys conducted in the region between 2020-2022 shows that the epidemic was suppressed seriously by DapuNPV-T1 in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua Hübner) is a polyphagous pest that causes significant economic losses and has a large host range that contains 170 plant species from 35 families in many countries. Feeding with leaves and fruits, S. exigua larvae cause plant growth to slow down and decrease, and significant crop losses. While various cultural, chemical, and biological methods are used for pest control, their effectiveness is low and the pest is still harmful to agricultural areas. In this study, we isolated two novel Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) strains from S. exigua larval cadavers collected from provinces of Igdir and Sanliurfa in Turkey, and named them SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U, respectively. Light microscopy confirmed that both cadavers died from baculovirus infection. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U were irregularly shaped. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that OBs of SeMNPV-I and SeMNPV-U were occupied with several virions in which multiple nucleocapsids were packaged by a viral envelope. Sequences and phylogenetic analyzes of polh, lef-8 and lef-9 revealed that these strains are closely related to baculoviruses isolates from Spodoptera species. Dose-response experiments with the isolates at 105-109 OBs/ml concentrations against S. exigua larvae led to varied mortality between 47% to 100%. The results of this study revealed that two local SeMNPV strains both have the potential to be used to control S. exigua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L., Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is one of the most serious pest of various forestal, food and industrial crops worldwide. We have characterized a new Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV-T4) variant, which was isolated from dead L. dispar larvae in Turkey. Scanning electron microscope observations showed that the polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the LdMNPV-T4 were irregularly shaped. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that OBs of LdMNPV-T4 were occupied with several virions in which multiple nucleocapsids packaged by viral envelope. Restriction analysis of the LdMNPV-T4 DNA purified from the viral inclusion bodies yielded BamHI, BglII, EcoRI and HindIII fragments. The mean size estimated for the complete LdMNPV-T4 genome was calculated to be 163.3 kb. Phylogenetic analysis of amplified polh, lef-8 and lef-9 sequences showed its relation to the other NPVs from Lymantria species. Mortality values of the LdMNPV-T4 at four different concentrations against third instar larvae of L. dispar ranged from 45% to 88%. These results suggest that LdMNPV-T4 isolated from Turkey is a promising microbial control agent to be utilized for the biological control of L. dispar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study,Lymantria dispar disparlarvae, collected from three different localities in Turkey, were examined for the presence of inclusion bodies under phase contrast and electron microscopes. Inclusion bodies from infected larvae were subjected to polymerase chain reaction using the conserved primers forpolyhedrin(polh),late expression factor8 (lef-8) andlate expression factor9 (lef-9) genes. Sequence analysis confirmed that larvae collected from the three different localities contained multiple nucleopolyhedrosis viruses (MNPVs). These isolates were designated LdMNPV-T1, LdMNPV-T2 and LdMNPV-T3. Phylogenetic analyses of these isolates were performed using target genespolh,lef-8 andlef-9. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the three geographic isolates withEcoRI andPstI enzymes demonstrated some differences existed among the isolates. According to theEcoRI profile, the mean estimated size for the complete genome of each isolate (LdMNPV-T1, LdMNPV-T2 and LdMNPV-T3) was calculated to be approximately 170, 153 and 170 kb,respectively. Insecticidal activities of each isolate were tested onL. d. disparlarvae using four different viral concentrations between 103and 106 OBs/ml. Results showed that the mortalities for LdMNPV-T1, -T2 and -T3 ranged between 13–53%, 47–100% and 46–93%, respectively. The LC50and LC95values of LdMNPV-T2 were not significantly different from the respective corresponding values of the other two isolates. However, isolate LdMNPV-T2 killed larvae with a LC50value that was lower than the other two isolates. Our results suggested there are promising LdMNPV isolates in Turkey that can be used for microbial control ofL. d. disparlarvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued search and urgent need for renewable fuel sources have necessitated the exploration of microalgae to identify relevant species for making biofuels. The aim of the study was bioprospecting and screening native microalgae strains from freshwater habitats of the Almaty region, Kazakhstan, to assess the potential for producing biofuel. The studied strains demonstrated simultaneous biomass productivity, lipid productivity, suitable fatty acid composition, and biodiesel properties. The sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer partial region and ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL) led to the identification of five microalgae: Monoraphidium griffithii ZBD-01, Nephrochlamys subsolitaria ZBD-02, Ankistrodesmus falcatus ZBD-03, Parachlorella kessleri ZBD-04, and Desmodesmus pannonicus ZBD-05. P. kessleri had the highest biomass production (1.42 ± 0.08 g L−1 day−1), lipid productivity (29 ± 1.2 g L−1day−1), and C 16 –C 18 fatty acid contents (90%), followed by A. falcatus and M. griffithi. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the dominant fatty acids in these strains were palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids. The calculated biodiesel properties of P. kessleri and A. falcatus based on fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profiles showed relatively good fuel properties (cetane numbers - 48 and 50; iodine and saponification values - 83.4 and 103.6 g I₂/100 g oil, 260.8 and 199.5 mg KOH g−1), which correlate well with. Our results suggest that P. kessleri and A. falcatus are promising strains for biodiesel production due to their high lipid productivity, fatty acid profile with relatively high content of oleic acid, and suitable biodiesel properties. The isolated native species of microalgae from natural freshwater bodies of the Almaty region present opportunities for further exploitation for the sustainable production of biomass and biodiesel. [Display omitted] · New native strains of green microalgae were isolated and identified. · Fatty acids composition of microalgae strains was investigated. · Microalgae strains found enriched with saturated fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:0). · These strains are the best candidate for application in biofuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]