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Forests
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Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests
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Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 June 2024 | Viewed by 1768

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daniela K. Pilarska

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Guest Editor
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Blvd. “Tzar Osvoboditel” 1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: protozoa; insect pathology; microsporidia and entomopathogenic fungi; biological control of pest insects
Prof. Dr. Margarita Georgieva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Game Fauna, Forest Research Institute—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, St. Kliment Ohridski Blvd. 132, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: forest health status; disturbances; invasive species
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Georgi Georgiev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Game Fauna, Forest Research Institute—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, St. Kliment Ohridski Blvd. 132, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: forest entomology; forest protection; insect pests; biological control of the major forest pests; invasive forest insect species; biodiversity in forest ecosystems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests” focuses on the advances in biological control of forest diseases and pests, which have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to reduce the reliance on traditional chemical-based control methods. This Special Issue aims to present the recent advances in the development and use of biological control and bio-based measures against forest pests and pathogens. Moreover, it highlights the potential of these biological control methods to be more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and effective than traditional methods.

The Special Issue covers a wide range of topics, including the use of microorganisms, natural enemies, and genetic engineering to control forest pests and diseases. Integrated insect pest and pathogen management concepts based on natural biocontrol agents will also be encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Daniela K. Pilarska
Prof. Dr. Margarita Georgieva
Prof. Dr. Georgi Georgiev
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biological control
  • forest diseases
  • forest pests
  • microorganisms
  • natural enemies
  • biocontrol
  • beneficial microorganisms
  • pests and pathogens
  • biology of control organisms
  • invasive species

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2637 KiB  
Article
Effects of Antheraea pernyi on Parasitization of Kriechbaumerella dendrolimi by Using Immunology and Metabolomics
by Yuwen Que, Xinyuan Fang, Zhenhui Zhao, Zhenhong Chen, Ciding Lu, Qiufang Zheng, Jiajin Tan, Feiping Zhang and Guanghong Liang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050851 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 325
Abstract
Kriechbaumerella dendrolimi (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) is a dominant pupal parasitoid species of various significant pine caterpillars, including Dendrolimus houi Lajonquiere (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), with great potential for utilization. So far, the mass rearing of K. dendrolimi has been successfully established using Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) [...] Read more.
Kriechbaumerella dendrolimi (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) is a dominant pupal parasitoid species of various significant pine caterpillars, including Dendrolimus houi Lajonquiere (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), with great potential for utilization. So far, the mass rearing of K. dendrolimi has been successfully established using Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) pupae as alternative hosts and released in the forest to suppress D. houi populations. However, the outcome is still expected to be improved due to lower parasitism rates, which might be related to the autonomous immune function of A. pernyi pupae. In our study, we investigated the effects of K. dendrolimi parasitization on the immune responses of A. pernyi pupae by measuring the expression of key immune factors: superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), Attacin, Lysozymes (LYSs), and serine proteases (PRSSs). Our results show that parasitization significantly upregulated these immune factors, with distinct temporal patterns observable between 4 and 48 h post-parasitization. This upregulation highlights a robust immune response, adapting over time to the parasitic challenge. These findings suggest that specific immune mechanisms in A. pernyi pupae are activated in response to K. dendrolimi, shedding light on potential targets for enhancing host resistance. Metabolomic analyses complemented these findings by illustrating the broader metabolic shifts associated with the immune response. Specifically, Attacin was significantly upregulated twice, hypothesizing that the parasitoid’s venom contains at least two parasitic factors. Metabolomics analysis revealed a significant metabolite difference within parasitized A. pernyi pupae. The highest number of differential expression metabolites (DEMs) was observed at 16 h post-parasitism (1184 metabolites), with fewer DEMs at 8 h (568 metabolites) and 32 h (693 metabolites), suggesting a close relationship between parasitism duration and the number of DEMs. These fluctuations reflected the fundamental process of immune interaction. KEGG enrichment results showed that the DEMs were mainly enriched in energy metabolism and immune-related pathways, indicating that parasitism is a process of continuous consumption and immune interaction in the host. These DEMs could also become future targets for regulating the immune functions of A. pernyi pupae and could provide reference data for optimizing mass-rearing techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests)
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Review

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22 pages, 4026 KiB  
Review
Diverse Approaches to Insect Control: Utilizing Brassica carinata (A.) Braun and Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz Oil as Modern Bioinsecticides
by Katarzyna Rzyska, Kinga Stuper-Szablewska and Danuta Kurasiak-Popowska
Forests 2024, 15(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010105 - 5 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1016
Abstract
The forest environment is exposed to a number of harmful factors that significantly reduce the resistance of forest stands, often leading to their extinction. In addition to abiotic and anthropogenic factors, biotic factors pose a significant threat to forests, among which insect pests [...] Read more.
The forest environment is exposed to a number of harmful factors that significantly reduce the resistance of forest stands, often leading to their extinction. In addition to abiotic and anthropogenic factors, biotic factors pose a significant threat to forests, among which insect pests are at the top of the list. Until now, the use of chemical insecticides has been considered the most effective method of pest control, resulting in pesticide residue in the environment. In an effort to minimize the harmful effects of insecticides, the European Union (EU), through EU Commission Implementing Regulations 2022/94, 2021/2081, 2021/795, and 2020/1643, has decided to withdraw from use a number of preparations containing compounds such as phosmet, indoxacarb, alpha-cypermethrin, and imidacloprid, among others. Botanical insecticides appear to be a promising alternative. Among them, plant oils and essential oils have become an innovative solution for controlling pests not only of forests but also of agricultural crops. The purpose of this literature review was to select oilseed plants with great biological potential. The rich chemical compositions of the seeds of Brassica carinata (A.) Braun and Camelina sativa (L.) Cranz predispose them to use as raw materials for the production of biopesticides with broad mechanisms of action. On the one hand, the oil will provide a physical action of covering pests feeding on a plant with a thin film, which will consequently lead to a reduction in gas exchange processes. On the other hand, the bioactive compounds in it or extracts of fat-insoluble compounds suspended in it and derived from the pomace fraction may have deterrent or lethal effects. This paper presents evidence of the potential action of these raw materials. Preparations based on these oils will not pose a threat to living beings and will not negatively affect the environment, thus allowing them to gain social acceptance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests)
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