ABSTRACT Purpose: To describe the microsurgical anatomical aspects of the extratemporal facial nerve of Wistar rats under a high-definition video system. Methods: Ten male Wistar rats (12–15 weeks old), without veterinary diseases, weighing 220–280 g, were used in this study. All animals in this study were submitted to the same protocol and by the same surgeon. A 10-mm incision was made below the bony prominence of the right or left ear, and extended towards the angle of the mandible. The dissection was performed and the main branches of the facial nerve were dissected. Results: The main trunk of the facial nerve has a length of 0.88 ± 0.10 mm and a length of 3.81 ± 1.03 mm, measured from its emergence from the stylomastoid foramen to its bifurcation. Seven branches originating from the facial nerve were identified: posterior auricular, posterior cervical, cervical, mandibular, buccal, temporal, and zygomatic. Conclusions: The anatomy of the facial nerve is comparable to that of humans, with some variations. The most observed anatomical division was the distribution in posterior auricular, posterior cervical, cervical, mandibular, buccal, temporal, and zygomatic branches. There is no statistical difference between the thickness and distance of the structures compared to the contralateral side.

RESUMO: O presente estudo atualiza a posição sistemática e a nomenclatura dos lepidópteros associados com a cultura da soja na Argentina, Brasil, Chile e Uruguai. A literatura científica relaciona 69 espécies de Lepidoptera cujas larvas se alimentam de soja. As espécies incluem representantes das Superfamílias Noctuoidea (31), Pyraloidea (13), Hesperioidea (12), Tortricoidea (5), Geometroidea (5), and Bombycoidea (3). A diversidade dos lepidópteros associados com a cultura, as injúrias em diferentes partes da planta e alterações na composição das espécies são discutidas considerando mudanças no manejo de doenças da cultura, a introdução de plantas expressando proteínas Bt e a recente introdução de Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) como uma nova praga da soja.

ABSTRACT: The present research updates the systematic position and nomenclature of Lepidoptera associated with soybean crops in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Scientific literature lists 69 species of Lepidoptera feeding on soybean plants. These species are representatives of the Superfamilies Noctuoidea (31), Pyraloidea (13), Hesperioidea (12), Tortricoidea (5), Geometroidea (5), and Bombycoidea (3). Diversity of Lepidoptera associated to crop, injury in different parts of the plant, and changes in species composition are discussed considering the changes in plant disease management, introduction of plants expressing Bt proteins, and the recent introduction of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) as a new crop pest.

Biotic potential and reprodutcive parameters of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in the laboratory: This study aimed to evaluate the biotic potential and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photophase). The longevity, pre-, post- and oviposition periods, fecundity and fertility of 15 couples was evaluated. The longevity of females (10.80 days) was not significantly higher than those of males (9.27 days). The mean durations of the pre, post and oviposition periods were 2.067, 0.600 and 8.133 days, respectively. The mean fecundity per female was 1,398 eggs and the mean fertility was 1,367.50 larvae. On average, females copulated 1.133 times. A strong positive correlation was observed between the number of mating and fecundity (r = 0.881, P <0.001). However a strong negative correlation was observed between the number of copulations and the duration of the pre-oviposition period (r = -0.826, P = 0.002) and longevity (r = -0.823, P = 0.001). The biotic potential of S. eridania was estimated at 1.894 x 10(25) individuals/female/year. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 560.531 times per generation and the mean generation time (T) was 35.807 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.177, with a finite rate of increase (l) of 1.193, per week

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a produção de proteases dos tipos subtilisina [Pr1] e tripsina [Pr2] por duas linhagens do fungo entomopatogênico Nomuraea rileyi e a correlação entre a atividade de Pr1 e a patogenicidade contra Anticarsia gemmatalis. O crescimento do fungo foi realizado em meio mínimo contendo nitrato e suplementado com a cutícula ou exúvia de A. gemmatalis, ou com substrato não cuticular caseína. Em meio contendo nitrato, nenhuma atividade de Pr1 foi detectada nos sobrenadantes das culturas. Entretanto, as duas linhagens de N. rileyi produziram Pr1 em meio suplementado com fonte exógena de nitrogênio, e alta atividade foi verificada na presença da cutícula do inseto. A atividade de Pr2 foi inferior à atividade de Pr1. A análise de correlação entre a atividade de Pr1 da linhagem NR458 e mortalidade de A. gemmatalis sugere uma correlação positiva para essas variáveis. A avaliação da atividade de enzimas em diferentes condições pode ajudar na compreensão do processo infeccioso de N. rileyi em A. gemmatalis.

Nomuraea rileyi represents an important natural control agent of Anticarsia gemmatalis preventing populations from reaching economic threshold levels in soybean. During the processes of host infection, entomopathogenic fungi produce extracellular proteases, which degrade the host cuticle and are suggested to be virulence determinants. It was examined the production of subtilisin-like (Pr1) and trypsin-like (Pr2) proteases in two strains (NR458 and CG434) of N. rileyi and its possible role in the process of pathogenicity to this caterpillar. Fungal growth was performed in a mineral medium containing nitrate, and supplemented with the cuticle or exuviae from A. gemmatalis, or with the non-cuticular substrate casein. In medium containing nitrate as sole nitrogen source, no detectable Pr1-like activity occurred in the culture supernatants of the two fungal strains. However, both strains of N. rileyi produced Pr1-like protease in all medium amended with exogenous nitrogen source, and it was highly expressed in the presence of insect cuticle. Pr2-like activity was significantly inferior to Pr1-like activity and it was detected only in some of the media culture and incubation periods tested. In the NR458 culture supernatant the highest activity was observed in medium containing nitrate as nitrogen source. Correlation analysis between the percentage of A. gemmatalis mortality in bioassays and Pr1-like protease activity of strain NR458 suggests a positive correlation for these variables.

Este fungo foi isolado pela primeira vez de lagartas de L. obliqua de uma agregação em plátano (Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Wild - Platanaceae), em Bento Gonçalves, RS, Brasil. Após isolamento, purificação e caracterização, realizou-se um teste de patogenicidade com lagartas sadias de L. obliqua para corroborar, sua infectividade pelo postulado de Koch. Constatou-se correspondência morfológica e molecular entre o inóculo e o reisolado, comprovando sua patogenicidade a L. obliqua.

It is recorded for the first time the occurrence of the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria javanica (Frieder. & Bally) Samson & Hywell-Jones (Fungi: Sordariomycetes) infecting Lonomia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) caterpillars. This fungus was isolated from L. obliqua individuals collected from Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Wild- Platanaceae in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. After isolation, purification and characterization, fungal conidia were inoculated on healthy L. obliqua caterpillars and from dead caterpillars the fungal isolates were again obtained. New isolates and the original isolate did not differ when compared by morphological and molecular tests.

Caracterizaram-se cinco linhagens de N. rileyi por análise de RAPD, avaliação da virulência e atividade enzimática (quitinolítica e proteolítica). Pela técnica de RAPD foi possível distinguir, entre as cinco linhagens avaliadas, dois grupos com similaridade 0,76: grupo I (linhagens SA86101, GU87401, SR86151) e grupo II (linhagens VA9101 e CG128). O TL50 variou de 165 horas com a utilização da linhagem VA9101 a 246 horas com GU87401. Todas as linhagens apresentaram atividade quitinolítica e proteolítica, destacando-se quanto à produção de quitinases a linhagem VA9101 (com 0,0040 mimol/mL/min a 40ºC) e em relação à protease, a linhagem SA86101. Não foi possível evidenciar relações entre virulência, análise genética e atividade enzimática.

The characterization of entomopathogenic microorganisms is important for the selection of more effective strains for use in integrated pest-control programs. Five Nomuraea rileyi strains (SA86101, GU87401, SR86151, CG128 and VA9101) were characterized using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, virulence studies and assessment of chitinolytic and proteolytic activity. RAPD analysis divided the strains into two groups with a similarity coefficient of 0,76%, group 1 consisting of strains SA86101, GU87401 and SR86151 and group 2 of strains CG128 and VA9101. The LT50 varied from 165h with strain VA9101 to 246h with strain GU87401. Chitinolytic and proteolytic activity of the fungi after 144h growth in minimal medium were tested using colloidal chitin as substrate. All strains exhibited enzyme activity, with strain VA9101 having the highest chitinase activity (0,0040 mumol/mL/min the 40ºC) and strain SA86101 the highest proteolytic activity. No relationship was found between RAPD analysis, virulence and chitinase or protease activity.

Este trabalho objetivou determinar a CL50 de um peptídeo produzido pelo fungo N. rileyi, para larvas de 3º ínstar de A. gemmatalis. O peptídeo foi produzido através de fermentação aerada, em meio SMY, sob condições controladas por 12 dias. O metabólito foi purificado, utilizando-se de sistemas de cromatografia. Os cristais obtidos foram então armazenados a baixa temperatura para posterior análise da atividade biológica. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em 3 repetições, com tratamentos que consistiram de soluções com 0,0001; 0,001; 0,01; 0,1; 0,2 e 1,0 mg/mL. Através de análise de regressão chegou-se a equação da reta Y = 6,81176 + 1,01382 * LOGx e um valor para CL50 de 0,0163 mg/mL.

The entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson produced a peptide active against Anticarsia gemmatalis 3rd instar larvae. To produce this peptide, N. rileyi was cultivated aerobically in Saboraud, maltose, yeast-extract broth at 26 ± 1ºC for 12 days, after which the medium was filtered and separated in a liquid/liquid extractor, concentrated and the peptide purified chromatographically. The crystals obtained were kept refrigerated until needed for LC50 analysis. The LC50 of this peptide against A. gemmatalis 3rd instar larvae was determined in triplicate experiments using solutions containing 1.0, 0.2, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001 mg/ml of N. rileyi peptide. The results of these experiments were used to calculate a linear equation in which Y = 6,81176 + 1,01382 * LOGx , giving a LC50 value of 0.0163 mg/ml.

Fungos entomopatogênicos do genêro Metarhizium são empregados no controle biológico de pragas agrícolas por meio da dispersão de seus conídios no campo. Embora a produção de conídios em M. anisopliae esteja bem estudada, poucas pesquisas a respeito existem na espécie M. flavoviride. O presente trabalho foi realizado para avaliar o efeito de três meios de cultura, batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA), Czapek-ágar (CZP) e meio completo (MC), e três regimes de luminosidade, claro contínuo, alternância com luz do dia/escuro e luz negra/escuro, sobre o crescimento miceliano e esporulação do fungo entomopatogênico Metarhizium flavoviride var. flavoviride. O experimento foi realizado em câmara de incubação à temperatura de 27 ± 2°C. Empregou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 3°C 3 (meios de cultura e regime de luminosidade) com quatro repetições. As melhores condições para o crescimento miceliano e esporulação foram conseguidas tanto no meio de cultura BDA como no MC quando combinados com o regime claro contínuo (P <= 0,05).

Entomopathogenic fungi from the genus Metarhizium are largely used for the biological control of agricultural pests by conidia spreading on the field. Although conidia production is well studied in M. anisopliae, only few research studies were done in M. flavoviride. The present work was carried out alming to evaluate the Mycelial growth and sporulation of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride var. flavoviride growing at 27 ± 2°C on Potato-dextrose-agar (PDA), Czapek-agar (CZP) and a complete agar medium (CM) under three lighting regimes, (continuous illumination, light/dark cycle and an black light/dark cycle) were investigated. A completely randomized 3 × 3 (culture media × lighting regime) factorial design with four replicates was used. The best mycelial growth and sporulation occurred on the PDA and CM media under continuous illumination (P <= 0,05).

O presente trabalho foi conduzido com a finalidade de avaliar a virulência de conídios de três linhagens do fungo Nomuraea rileyi produzidos em arroz, sorgo e soja estocados por 3 meses a 4°C. Verificou-se que conídios armazenados apresentaram baixas taxas de mortalidade de Anticarsia gemmatalis.

The present work was carried out aiming to estimate the conidia virulence of three strains of Nomuraea rileyi fungi. Conidia produced in rice, sorghum and soybean was stored at 4°C for three months. It was observed that stored conidia caused the Anticarsia gemmatalis death rate reduction.