Maria Jéssica dos Santos Cabral

The sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), is one of the most destructive pests of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] crops worldwide. Current management of the sweet potato weevil relies heavily on conventional pesticides, raising concerns about pesticide residues, environmental impacts, and the development of pesticide resistance. This study evaluated the effects of seven essential oils (EOs): eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), garlic (Allium sativum), marigold (Calendula officinalis), mustard seed (Sinapis alba), peppermint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and thyme (Thymus gobicus) against different life stages of C. formicarius under laboratory conditions. Feeding activity, oviposition, larval mortality, pupal mortality, and adult survival were evaluated using EO concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10%, with acetone and distilled water as control treatments. Each treatment consisted of six replicates, with 10 insects per replicate. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models with a binomial distribution. Significant effects of oil type and concentration were observed as lethal to weevil larval and pupal stages. Similarly, the feeding and oviposition were significantly impacted (p < 0.0001). Peppermint oil exhibited the highest efficacy, causing complete or near-complete mortality of second- and third-instar larvae and pupae at 10%. This also substantially reduced adult survival, feeding activity, and oviposition. Rosemary, thyme, and eucalyptus, at higher concentrations. Most oils almost completely suppressed oviposition. These findings demonstrate that plant-derived essential oils (EOs) exhibit significant insecticidal activity against Cylas formicarius, indicating their promise as sustainable tools for integrated pest management programs in sweet potato production systems.

Bedellia somnulentella (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) is an invasive, leaf-mining, and defoliating pest of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) that has recently established in Brazil. Its colonization and infestation levels in cultivated fields are influenced by the availability of wild Ipomoea species that sustain populations during off-season periods. The objective was to evaluate the biology and life history of B. somnulentella feeding on wild plants of the genus Ipomoea and on I. batatas cv. Beauregard. Vegetative and reproductive parts of Ipomoea plants were collected and cultivated, and the biology and life history of B. somnulentella were studied using twenty adult pairs of the insect per host plant in a climate-controlled room. The wild species Ipomoea hederifolia L., Ipomoea indica (Burm.f.) Merr., Ipomoea purpurea L., and cultivated I. batatas were used for the assays. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with ten replicates. Hatching, larval stages, prepupa, pupa, and adult phases were observed and recorded daily. Variations in the coloration of B. somnulentella larvae feeding on leaves of I. hederifolia, I. indica, and I. purpurea were observed. The survival and development of B. somnulentella were higher on I. batatas and I. hederifolia than on I. indica and I. purpurea, mainly during the larval and adult stages. The results provide information on infestation in alternative wild hosts and on biological aspects of B. somnulentella.

Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., is a major food crop in developing countries and is considered essential for the food security of low-income populations. Among the factors limiting its production is the pest Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae), recently recorded in Brazil, and for which no chemical control methods are available. Therefore, understanding the physiological changes caused by this pest attack is important to support management strategies. The objective was to evaluate chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in eleven sweet potato genotypes subjected or not to B. somnulentella attack. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used, consisting of eleven treatments and twenty replicates. Initial fluorescence (F₀), maximum fluorescence (Fm), maximum/minimum fluorescence (Fm/F₀), variable fluorescence/maximum fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm), and electron transport rate (ETR) were analyzed. In most of the genotypes evaluated, a reduction in F₀ was observed under attack by B. somnulentella, indicating photosynthetic stress, except in genotypes UFVJM 08, 18 and 291. Non-injured plants presented Fv/Fm values between 0.51 and 0.75, while attacked genotypes exhibited reduced values (0.35 to 0.53). ETR was also lower in damaged plants, evidencing photosynthetic stress. The results demonstrated a negative correlation between Fm/F_0, Fv/Fm and F₀. UFVJM 08, UFVJM 18, UFVJM 291, Brazlândia branca and Rubissol genotypes exhibited greater stability, maintaining more balanced fluorescence responses under pest pressure. Physiological differences between genotypes may reflect agronomic responses in the field.

Tephritid fruit flies are serious pests of Ghana’s numerous economically important fruits and vegetables. Their damages include rotting, premature ripening, and dropping of fruits, which lead to severe production losses, reduction in export volumes, trade restrictions, and other health implications when infested fruits are consumed. Due to the activities of these pests, less than 10% of fruits (especially mango) and vegetables produced are exported, and more than 60% of them end up in waste yearly. With current regulatory measures, Ghana has made significant progress in managing fruit flies, especially after the European Union (EU) ban in 2015. However, the pests remain problematic in the sub-region. A more coordinated nationwide approach and investments in postharvest treatment facilities are anticipated to help reduce pest populations, increase trading volumes and incomes, increase access to other markets, including the United States, and boost Ghana’s economy. It is estimated that for every US$1 invested in managing fruit flies, the return on investment is US$93.

The production of biofuels has stood out on the international scene due to its environmentally friendly attributes and potential for promoting rural development in developing countries. In Brazil, the federal program RenovaBio, corresponding to the National Biofuels Policy, aims to provide an important contribution to fulfilling the commitments determined by Brazil under the Paris Agreement, promoting the adequate expansion of biofuels in the energy matrix, with emphasis on a regular supply and ensure predictability for the fuel market, inducing gains in energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the production, commercialization, and use of biofuels. The possibility of expanding raw material sources for bioethanol production benefits Brazilian competitiveness. At the same time, given the vast varieties of raw materials available in this country, it is a challenge to discover which species would be most suitable for this chain. The Ipomoea batatas species (sweet potato) can contribute to the diversification of the energy matrix in Brazil, Latin American countries and around the world. Sweet potatoes have attracted scientific interest due to their high productivity rates, adaptability to diverse soil types, and tolerance to elevated temperatures, facilitating cultivation in flat and sloping terrains. In this sense, this work analyzes the opportunity to produce I. batatas bioethanol as a potential source to contribute to future energy supplies, especially in Brazil. Aspects such as economics, botanical description, extraction, and compositions, in addition to the production of bioethanol using sweet potatoes as raw material, are covered comprehensively throughout the manuscript.

The black caterpillar, Dione juno juno (Cramer, 1779) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is one of the main pests of Passiflora edulis Sims (Passifloraceae), with high population densities, especially in the winter and summer months, can completely defoliate its plant host, reducing its productivity ( Boiça Júnior et al., 1999 ).

Fabaceae plants are important crops, and their grains are widely used in human and animal nutrition ( Ruiz-Santiago et al., 2021 ). The fava bean Phaseolus lunatus L. (Fabales: Fabaceae), is an essential grain in nutrition and food security ( Lustosa-Silva et al., 2023 ). This plant is cultivated mainly in family farming in several regions, especially in the Northeast Brazil ( Araújo et al., 2010 ).