G. Smagghe

Lse-novel_mir23 Directly Targets LsPI3K21B and Contributes to Pupal–Adult Metamorphosis in the Cigarette Beetle Lasioderma serricorne

The insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway is central to insect growth and metamorphosis, yet its post-transcriptional regulation in stored-product insects remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the function of LsPI3K21B and its potential regulation by microRNAs during the pupal–adult metamorphosis of t...

Identification of β-ionone as an oviposition preference cue in Spodoptera litura using SlitPBP3-based reverse chemical ecology.

BACKGROUND Screening and identifying compounds that modulate oviposition by female Spodoptera litura moths is a promising strategy for the selective management of this pest. Reverse chemical ecology provides an efficient and target-oriented approach for identifying bioactive semiochemicals by exploiting the functionall...

Receptor-like kinase RLK15 binds a fungal RNase effector to enhance autophosphorylation and activate host defense

Multigenerational sulfoxaflor selection induces tolerance but reduces fitness and predatory performance in the biological control agent Coccinella septempunctata.

BACKGROUND Assessing the long-term compatibility of insecticides with biological control agents is essential for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM). While the acute toxicity of sulfoxaflor to beneficial arthropods has been widely studied, its multigenerational effects on predator fitness and biological contro...

Morphological identification and biological observations of Lopheucoila mexicana (Hymenoptera, Figitidae, Eucoilinae), a parasitoid of Neosilba batesi (Diptera, Lonchaeidae) in avocado

The lance fly Neosilba batesi (Curran, 1932) (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) has traditionally been regarded as a secondary colonizer of damaged fruits, yet recent observations suggest it may infest developing avocado ( Persea americana Miller, 1768) fruits and contribute to premature fruit drop. Despite its potential eco...

Egg volatiles of oak silkworm mediate defense against parasitoid wasps.

Most insects protect their eggs from natural enemies via physical coverings, yet defensive mechanisms of exposed eggs (i.e., those without such coverings), particularly those lacking toxins, remain largely unexplored. The oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) lays such exposed eggs, yet these eggs exhibit less parasitism tha...

In Vitro Analysis Reveals Functional Diversity, Nutrient Mobilization and Antifungal Potential of Rice Endophytic Bacteria

Endophytic bacteria play a pivotal role in plant health by modulating nutrient availability, growth regulation, and resistance to phytopathogens. However, the functional diversity and ecological significance of the endophytic bacteria in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants remain incompletely understood. Here, we functionall...

MicroRNA-driven regulatory networks in aphid ecological adaptation: integrating stress tolerance, dispersal plasticity, and population expansion.

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are important agricultural pests and exhibit strong ecological adaptability, allowing them to persist under stress, disperse to new habitats, and rapidly increase population size. Recent advances in functional genomics have identified microRNAs (miRNAs) as key post-transcriptional regulato...

Male reproductive genes influencing mating and fertility: enhancing the sterile insect technique and genetic control of Diptera pests.

A synthesis of male reproductive genes and regulatory pathways in Diptera according to the reproductive processes they control and the failure modes caused by their disruption can inform target prioritization, strain maintenance, and quality control of irradiated males, thereby enhancing the refinement of SIT and relat...

Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities of Two Coastal Halophytes Under Salinity–Flooding Stress

It is suggested that coexisting halophytes are associated with divergent rhizosphere bacterial community patterns under saline–alkaline and flooding-associated habitat conditions.

Valorization of Ficus carica Pruning Residues as Selective Botanical Insecticides: Optimized Furanocoumarin Extraction, Efficacy Against Neotropical Stink Bugs, and Mechanistic Insights via Molecular Docking

It is demonstrated that valorizing agro‐industrial waste from F. carica can yield potent, selective, and environmentally safer insecticidal agents, combining effective pest control with a favorable safety profile for pollinators.

Nanoparticles as Innovative Tools for Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Supporting Integrated Disease Management in Oil Crops

Abiotic stresses are major constraints on oil crop productivity worldwide, causing significant yield losses and increasingly threatening global edible oil security. These stresses also weaken plant defense capacity, indirectly increasing vulnerability to pests and diseases and challenging the effectiveness of integrate...