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Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen

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Abstract

The use of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in biological control requires a very large number of insects to be released within an area. The storage of host eggs in liquid nitrogen may represent an alternative method in the mass production of Trichogramma. In order to evaluate the efficacy of egg storage in liquid nitrogen, we examined the parasitism, development and reproduction of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman and Platner on eggs of Mythimna sequax Franclemont (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) stored in liquid nitrogen for 0 (control), 30, 60, or 90 days. Females of each species reared on eggs stored were used to assess their reproductive capacity. The parasitism did not differ between control and cryopreserved treatments. Eggs stored for 60 days had the highest parasitism. The storage of M. sequax eggs in liquid nitrogen was an effective method for the mass production of Trichogramma species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for scholarships and Dr. João Batista Tolentino Jr. for statistical support.

Funding

This study was funded by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Grant Number 131168/2008-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Curitibanos, P.O. Box 101, Curitibanos, Santa Catarina, 89520-000, Brazil

    Flavia da Silva Krechemer

  2. Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 19.020, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-990, Brazil

    Luis Amilton Foerster

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  1. Flavia da Silva Krechemer
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  2. Luis Amilton Foerster
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Correspondence to Flavia da Silva Krechemer.

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da Silva Krechemer, F., Foerster, L.A. Mass production of Trichogramma spp. using Mythimna sequax eggs stored in liquid nitrogen. BioControl 61, 497–505 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9741-4

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