Modeling the inactivation of Aspergillus fischeri and Paecilomyces niveus ascospores in apple juice by different ultraviolet light irradiances.

The present work aimed to evaluate and to model the influence of UV-C light treatments with different irradiances (6.5, 13, 21, and 36 W/m2) on Aspergillus fischeri and Paecilomyces niveus ascospores inactivation in clarified apple juice. Approximately 5.0 and 6.0 log CFU/mL spores of P. niveus and A. fischeri, respectively, were suspended in 30 mL of clarified apple juice (pH 3.8, 12 ± 0.1°Brix) and exposed to UV-C light at different irradiances (as above) and exposure times (0 to 30 min). The first-order biphasic model was able to describe the experimental data with good statistical indices (RMSE = 0.296 and 0.308, R2 = 0.96 and 0.98, for P. niveus and A. fischeri respectively). At the highest irradiance level tested (36 W/m2), the UV-C light allowed the reduction of 5.7 and 4.2 log-cycles of A. fischeri and P. niveus ascospores, respectively, in approximately 10 min. P. niveus was the most UV-C resistant mould. The results showed that, to a defined UV-C fluence, a change in the level of either time or UV-C irradiance did not affect the effectiveness of UV-C light for A. fischeri and P. niveus inactivation. Thus, the modeling of the inactivation as a function of the UV-C fluence allowed the estimation of the primary model parameters with all experimental data and, consequently, no secondary models were needed. The model parameters were validated with experiments of variable UV-C fluences. Accordingly, experimental results allowed to conclude that UV-C treatment at the irradiances tested is a promising application for preventing A. fischeri and P. niveus spoilage of juices.

Paecilomyces niveus Stolk & Samson, 1971 (Ascomycota: Thermoascaceae) as a pathogen of Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley, 1841) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Brazil.

Nasonovia ribisnigri is a key pest of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Brazil that requires alternative control methods to synthetic pesticides. We report, for the first time, the occurrence of Paecilomyces niveus as an entomopathogen of the aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri in Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Samples of mummified aphids were collected from lettuce crops. The fungus P. niveus (PaePR) was isolated from the insect bodies and identified by macro and micromorphology. The species was confirmed by sequencing Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA. We obtained a sequence of 528 bp (accession number HQ441751), which aligned with Byssochlamys nivea strains (100% identities). In a bioassay, 120 h after inoculation of N. ribisnigri with pathogenic P. niveus had an average mortality of 74%. The presence of P. niveus as a natural pathogen of N. ribisnigri in Brazil suggests that it may be possible to employ P. niveus to minimize the use of chemical insecticides.

Paecilomyces niveus Stolk & Samson, 1971 (Ascomycota: Thermoascaceae) as a pathogen of Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley, 1841) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Brazil / Registro de Paecilomyces niveus Stolk & Samson, 1971 (Ascomycota: Thermoascaceae) como patógeno de Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley, 1841) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) no Brasil

Abstract Nasonovia ribisnigri is a key pest of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Brazil that requires alternative control methods to synthetic pesticides. We report, for the first time, the occurrence of Paecilomyces niveus as an entomopathogen of the aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri in Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Samples of mummified aphids were collected from lettuce crops. The fungus P. niveus (PaePR) was isolated from the insect bodies and identified by macro and micromorphology. The species was confirmed by sequencing Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA. We obtained a sequence of 528 bp (accession number HQ441751), which aligned with Byssochlamys nivea strains (100% identities). In a bioassay, 120 h after inoculation of N. ribisnigri with pathogenic P. niveus had an average mortality of 74%. The presence of P. niveus as a natural pathogen of N. ribisnigri in Brazil suggests that it may be possible to employ P. niveus to minimize the use of chemical insecticides.

Resumo Nasonovia ribisnigri é uma praga-chave do cultivo de alface (Lactuca sativa L.), exigindo métodos alternativos ao controle químico. Este trabalho registrou pela primeira vez, a ocorrência de Paecilomyces niveus como agente entomopatogenico do afídeo N. ribisnigri em Pinhais, Paraná, Brasil. Amostras de afídeos mumificados foram coletadas em plantas de alface. O fungo P. niveus (PaePR) foi isolado do corpo dos insetos e identificado por macro e micromorfologia e, confirmado por sequenciamento da região ITS do DNA ribossomal. A sequencia parcial de 528 bp (número de acesso HQ441751) apresentou alinhamento com 100% de identidade com sequencias de raças de Byssochlamys nivea. No bioensaio de patogenicidade P. niveus apresentou uma mortalidade média de N. ribisnigri de 74% até 120 horas da inoculação. O registro da presença de P. niveus como um patógeno natural de N. ribisnigri no Brasil sugere o potencial de utilização para minimizar o uso de inseticidas.