Establishment Probability of Anastrepha grandis and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Brazilian Semiarid Based on Thermal Requirements.

The quarantine pests, Anastrepha grandis (Macquart) and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), are economically important for the fruit fly-free area in Brazilian semiarid, an area in which they are not yet present. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the probability of establishment of A. grandis and Z. cucurbitae based on the estimate number of generations in different climatic regions of the Brazilian semiarid. For scenarios of future projections, it was estimated the number of generations with increase of 1°C (low radiative forcing scenario) and 4°C (high radiative forcing scenario) in the air temperature. Finally, we also estimate the quarantine period to eliminate the invading population of cucurbit fruit flies in Brazilian semiarid. For this, the average historical air temperature of 32 semiarid municipalities was used and the biology data of fruit flies (thermal threshold of development and thermal constant) were used. The fruit flies are able to present several generations per year in Brazilian semiarid. Anastrepha grandis can present from 7.99 (Sergipe) to 9.66 (Piauí) generations. The melon fly Z. cucurbitae may present from 31.25 (Sergipe) to 40.66 (Piauí) generations. The estimation of species multiplication is accentuated in any season, with greater amplitude in spring and summer. The municipalities of Piauí, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte presented the highest estimates of fruit fly generations. The increase of air temperature in a future scenario may favor the quarantine pests, A. grandis and Z. cucurbitae, in Brazilian semiarid. In conclusion, the species A. grandis and Z. cucurbitae can be established in Brazilian semiarid, with particular concern for the fruit fly-free area.

Richness of endophytic fungi isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. (Cactaceae) and preliminary screening for enzyme production.

Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. (forage cactus) is farmed with relative success in the semi-arid region of the Brazilian northeast for commercial purposes, particularly as forage and food. Endophytic microorganisms are those that can be isolated inside plant tissues and can be a new source to production of enzymes with different potentialities. The objective of this study was to describe the richness of endophytic fungi from O. ficus-indica and to detect the capacity of these species to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Forty-four endophytic fungi species were isolated. Among them, the most commonly found were Cladosporium cladosporioides (20.43%) and C. sphaerospermum (15.99%). Acremonium terricola, Monodictys castaneae, Penicillium glandicola, Phoma tropica and Tetraploa aristata are being reported for the first time as endophytic fungi for Brazil. The majority of isolated fungi exhibited enzymatic potential. Aspergillus japonicus and P. glandicola presented pectinolytic activity. Xylaria sp. was the most important among the other 14 species with positive cellulase activity. All 24 isolates analysed were xylanase-positive. Protease was best produced by isolate PF103. The results indicate that there is a significant richness of endophytic fungi in O. ficus-indica, and that these isolates indicate promising potential for deployment in biotechnological processes involving production of pectinases, cellulases, xylanases and proteases.