Low cost and high efficiency cellulolytic cocktails can consolidate lignocellulosic ethanol technologies. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a low cost agro-industrial residue, and its use as a carbon source can reduce the costs of fungi cultivation for enzyme production. Chrysoporthe cubensis grown under solid state fermentation (SSF) with wheat bran has potential to produce efficient enzymatic extracts for SCB saccharification. This fungus was grown under submersed fermentation (SmF) and SSF with in natura SCB, pretreated with acid or alkali and with others carbon sources. In natura SCB induced the highest carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), xylanase, β-xylosidase, α-galactosidase and mannanase activities by C. cubensis under SSF. In natura and washed SCB, inducers of enzyme production under SSF, did not induce high cellulases and hemicellulases production by C. cubensis in SmF. The C. cubensis enzymatic extract produced under SSF with in natura SCB as a carbon source was more efficient for lignocelulolic biomass hydrolysis than extracts produced under SSF with wheat bran and commercial cellulolytic extract. Chrysoporthe cubensis showed high potential for cellulases and hemicellulases production, especially when grown under SSF with in natura SCB as carbon source.

No abstract

The coffee red mite [Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor, 1917)] (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) is one of the main causes of conilon coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre & Froehn) crop damage due to its phytophagous habit. Nowadays, environment and human harmful synthetic pesticides are used to control this pest. In this context, plant-derived bioactive compounds have been studied as a sustainable alternative for the pest mite management in crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the castor (Ricinus communis) seed oil action on eggs, larvae, nymph (protonymph and deutonymph) and adults of O. ilicis. Coffee leaf discs (4 cm in diameter) containing 12 individuals of O. ilicis were sprayed with castor seed oil at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% (v/v) using airbrush. The ovicidal and mortality activity of this extract were evaluated against O. ilicis. The effective concentration of castor oil to cause 50% inhibition of O. ilicis larvae hatching (LC 50) was 1.26% (v/v). Oligonychus ilicis treated with this oil at a concentration of 3.0% presented a larvae hatching percentage of 29.3%, lower than that obtained for the control treatment (79.1%). Castor seed oil 3.0% (v/v) was highly toxic to nymphs and adults of O. ilicis with mortality of 96 and 88%, respectively. Castor seed oil was effective for larvae hatching inhibition and nymphs and adults mortality of O. ilicis, being promising for the coffee red mite sustainable biocontrol.

Tetranychus urticae is an important phytophagous and cosmopolitan pest, affecting several cultures worldwide, such as papaya, strawberry, cotton, beans and soybeans. Chemical pesticides for mite control pollute the environment, poison humans and select resistant mite populations. Ricinus communis cake is a by-product of biodiesel production, containing compounds, such as ricinin and some fatty acids, described as toxic to arthropods. The objective of this work was to evaluate the castor bean cake acaricide potential on the spider mite, T. urticae. Ricinus communis dried seeds were pressed for oil extraction. Subsequently, the cake obtained after the oil extraction was ground in a knife mill to produce a fine powder. After, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 grams of castor bean cake powder were mixed into 100 mL of Tween 80 aqueous solution 0.05 % v v-1, stirred (30 minutes, at 25 °C) and left to rest (20 minutes) to decant the solid particles. Finally, the supernatant (castor cake extract) was separated from the solid part by simple filtration. For direct application, 6 mL of castor cake extract were sprayed onto 10 T. urticae females dispersed on a 4 cm diameter Canavalia ensiformis leaf. For indirect application, 10 T. urticae females were placed in discs leaf, previously immersed in castor bean extract. Ten replicates were used for each treatment, evaluating the mortality parameter as a time function (24, 48 and 72 hours) for both application forms. The obtained data were submitted to linear regression analysis. T. urticae mortality did not show a dose-dependent behavior as a function of the castor bean cake extract concentrations for both forms of application (direct and indirect). Castor bean cake extract at 2.5 % w v-1 caused the highest mortality T. urticae females treated directly or indirectly (95 or 88 %, respectively) than this extract in the other evaluated concentrations. The average mortality of T. urticae females treated directly or indirectly with this extract at the different concentrations evaluated were 88.4 and 77.7 %, respectively. The results showed that the castor bean cake extract, applied directly or indirectly in T. urticae, caused high mortality of females of this mite, being a promising alternative for the spider mite sustainable management.

No abstract