Eugenio Oliveira

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Verified

Eugenio verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at Federal University of Viçosa

Cinnamon is a common spice that has been used for several centuries by different cultures around the world. It is obtained from different parts of a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. Various reports have dealt with the numerous properties of cinnamon and its major components not only for human health but also for agricultur...

The exceptional abilities of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to colonize a diverse group of plants have been attributed to the feeding behaviors and the functions of the salivary complex of these insects. Here, we describe the ultrastructure of the salivary glands of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, which is a major component...

The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), is a major pest of coconut plantations. In Brazil, the control of A. guerreronis, when accomplished, is heavily dependent on applications of conventional acaricides, which further increases the risks associated with pest resistance, hazards to human health and environmental contamina...

The backswimmer Buenoa tarsalis (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) is a naturally occurring predator of immature stages of mosquitoes. These aquatic predators can suffer from non-targeted exposure to insecticides that are commonly used in aquatic environments to control mosquitoes. Here, we evaluated whether insecticide formulations containing the bacterium...

Non-native insect pests are often responsible for important damage to native and agricultural plant hosts. Since Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) has become an important pest in North America and Europe (i.e., in 2008), the global production of soft thin-skinned fruits has faced severe production losses. In the southern Neotrop...

Brazil leads global soybean production, Glycine max (L.) Merr., meeting 36% of the world’s demand. Soybeans are useful as a vital source of vegetable protein, catering to diverse industries including food, biodiesel and meat production. However, the expansion of soybean cultivation faces challenges due to phytosanitary threats, particularly stink b...

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a relevant pest affecting berries and stone fruits globally, including in the Neotropical region, where its invasion was reported about a decade ago. Despite chemical control being the main management method for D. suzukii, data on insecticide susceptibility in Neotropical D. suzukii populations are scarce. Here, w...

Synthetic insecticides are widely used against mosquitoes, but misuse has led to environmental and health concerns. Plant-derived alternatives, such as essential oils, seem to offer a safer option, minimizing these problems without compromising efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the essential oil from Siparuna gesnerioides (Kunth) A.DC., a Neotr...

Diflubenzuron is a growth regulator insecticide and acaricide commonly used to control the immature stages of agricultural pests and mosquitoes that vector relevant animal diseases. Despite the beneficial effects of diflubenzuron, residues of these molecules can reach the aquatic ecosystems, which may lead to detrimental effects on aquatic non-targ...

Corn (Zea mays L.) productivity is often compromised by phytosanitary challenges, with fungal disease like Curvularia leaf spot being particularly significant. While synthetic fungicides are commonly used, there is growing interest in exploring alternative compounds that are effective against pathogens, ensure food safety, and have low toxicity to...

For this article, we evaluated whether wounds would affect the pathogenicity and virulence of Colletotrichum sp. isolates on Musa spp. banana cultivars. We further assessed the potential of cross-colonization with other fruit species and investigated the molecular and phylogenetic characterization of the most virulent isolates. Firstly, we collecte...

Mosquito control still relies heavily on synthetic molecules, which can lead to the selection of resistant populations and undesirable environmental problems. This study described the preparation of a nanoparticle of the plant-derived molecule, β-myrcene, with chitosan, and the assessment of its toxicity against larvae of the yellow fever mosquito,...

Elephant grass, Cenchrus purpureus, exhibits high efficiency in sequesting atmospheric CO2 during photosynthesis, leading to significant biomass production. As a C4 plant, it holds immense potential for alternative biodiesel production and serves as fresh feed for cattle (Negawo et al. 2018). Field observations in commercial pastures planted with e...

Chikungunya and Mayaro fevers are viral infectious diseases characterized by fever and arthralgia, for which there are currently no effective vaccines or treatments. The urgent need for novel antiviral agents against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) has led to interest in plant-based compounds that can disrupt the viral replication...

Controlling anthracnose in crops usually depends on synthetic chemicals, but essential oils offer a promising alternative with a potentially lower risk to human health and the environment. This study examines the use of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) essential oil for preventive and curative control of anthracnose in cassava plants. Extracted from ri...

The corn stunt disease complex, caused by the mollicutes Spiroplasma kunkelii (Css) and the maize bushy stunt (MBS) phytoplasma, is a major phytosanitary issue for corn production in the neotropical region of Brazil. In this study, we investigated the presence of alternative hosts for S. kunkelii (Css) in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and explored th...

Este livro de resumos apresenta os principais conteúdos discutidos durante a terceira edição do Simpósio Ecotoxicologia e Ecofisiologia Animal da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (III SEEA-UFV), um evento que abordou as preocupações emergentes sobre contaminações ambientais e riscos ecotoxicológicos na região Neotropical. Em um contexto onde o cresci...

Simple Summary With the growing demand for sustainable and safe agricultural practices, plant compounds emerge as a solution for the alternative management of large crops. Here, we assessed the potential of using the essential oil of Morinda citrifolia to induce plant resistance and angico gum (Anadenanthera colubrina) to control phytopathogens (Cu...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple crop widely cultivated by small farmers in tropical countries. However, despite the low level of technology required for its management, it can be affected by several diseases, with anthracnose as the main threat. There is little information about the main species of Colletotrichum that infect cassava...

The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors play pivotal roles in the transmission of neuronal information in the nervous system of insects, which has led these proteins to be targeted by synthetic and natural products. Here, we assessed the insecticidal potential of the essential oil of Pectis brevipedunculata (Gardner) Sch. Bip., a neotropical Aster...

Bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) is a native palm tree from Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This tree produces a small, rounded fruit with dark skin and approximately 1.5 mm thick pulp, extensively utilized for palm heart extraction, juices, and jellies (De Cól et al. 2021). However, several diseases can adversely impact fruit yield and qualit...

The protection of soft-skinned fruits against Drosophila suzukii has relied primarily on the efficacy of a few synthetic molecules. Despite their short-term efficacy, these molecules can cause environmental pollution, unintendedly affect non-target organisms, and fail to provide sustainable control. The shortfalls of using synthetic pesticides warr...

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive species that causes serious damage to soft-skinned fruits. The use of plant-based biorational insecticides (plant extracts and essential oils) to control this pest has grown extensively. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the current status, trends, an...

Cheese mites environment infestations have been recurrent and well‐known for a long time. Nevertheless, studies aiming to evaluate consumption safety have not yet been conducted, causing legislation in many countries to prohibit and destroy this type of product when detected. Here, we evaluated whether feeding upon cheeses ripened with Tyrophagus p...

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is known for its Cry and Vip3A pesticidal proteins with high selectivity to target pests. Here, we assessed the potential of a novel neotropical Bt strain (UFT038) against six lepidopteran pests, including two Cry-resistant populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. We also sequenced and analyzed the genome of...

The Curvularia leaf spot, caused by the phytopathogen Curvularia lunata L., is one of the most relevant foliar diseases in Neotropical fields of corn, Zea mays L. The management of C. lunata infection still is heavily dependent on the use of synthetic compounds. However, due to increasing numbers of control failure reports and the unintended enviro...

Simple Summary Drosophila suzukii is an insect of global economic importance, including in the Neotropical region. Due to the difficulty in controlling this insect pest with conventional insecticidal molecules, it is necessary to search for novel alternatives. Here, we present the potential of synthetic lactone-based insecticides to control D. suzu...

Ethiprole, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, has been increasingly used in the Neotropical region to control stink bug pests in soybean and maize fields. However, such abrupt increases in use may have unintended effects on non-target organisms, including those inhabiting freshwater ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the effects of acute (96 h) sublethal ex...

Pectis brevipedunculata are native species and widely available in dry and semi-arid ecosystems showing high biotechnological potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the circadian and seasonal chemical variation of the essential oil (EO) of P. brevipedunculata, as well as its acaricide effect on Rhipicephalus microplus larvae. Aerial...

The use of imidacloprid is a common pest control practice in the Neotropical region. However, the imidacloprid unintended sublethal effects on Neotropical aquatic non-target arthropods and undesirable consequences for aquatic environments remain unclear. Here, we assessed the susceptibility of Chironomus columbiensis (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae...

The combination of genomic and proteomic analyses is a useful tool for the study of novel Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains, as these approaches allow the accurate identification of pesticidal proteins and virulence factors produced. Here, we isolated and evaluated the potential of a novel Neotropical Bt strain (TOD651) for controlling larvae of...

Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz), is a staple crop widely cultivated by small farmers in developing countries. However, despite the low required level of technology required for its management, it can be affected by several diseases, with anthracnose as the main threat. There is little information about the main species of Colletotrichum that in...

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a biological alternative to the indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides in agriculture. Due to resistance development on insect pests to Bt crops, isolating novel Bt strains is a strategy for screening new pesticidal proteins or strains containing toxin profile variety that can delay resistance. Besides, the combi...

The phosphate-solubilizing microorganism is essential for soil quality and plant development and can serve as an alternative to reduce such Brazilian needs for importing phosphate overseas. Here, we isolated and selected bacteria from Brazilian Cerrado soils capable of solubilize phosphate. We obtained 53 bacteria isolates, of which 23 could solubi...

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, immobile, aerobic nosocomial opportunistic coccobacillus that causes pneumonia, septicemia, and urinary tract infections in immunosuppressed patients. There are no commercially available alternative antimicrobials, and multi-drug resistance is an urgent concern that requires emergency measures and new the...

The widespread use of insecticide can lead to the resistance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and adverse effects on non-target organisms, such as humans, other animals, and insects. In this sense, nanotechnology associated with natural products is a promising alternative to obtaining safer and more sustainable insecticide formulations against this ve...

The identification of resistance of plants to pathogens is crucial for the development of hybrids by breeding programs. To achieve that, it is of great relevance to establish effective inoculation methods for characterizing genotypes with adequate plant resistance levels. Several inoculation methods have been investigated in the search for resistan...

In insect‐resistant populations, adaptive fitness is intimately related to the physiological responses of males and females to different stressors. By using laboratory‐selected imidacloprid‐resistant individuals of the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros , one of the most prevalent pests in soybean fields in the Neotropical region, we eval...

The use of formulations containing botanical products for controlling insects that vector human and animal diseases has increased in recent years. Plant extracts seem to offer fewer risks to the environment and to human health without reducing the application strategy’s efficacy when compared to synthetic and conventional insecticides and repellent...

The use of plant-based products has been shown to efficiently inhibit fungi-mediated diseases in agricultural crops. Here, we extracted and evaluated the composition of noni, Morinda citrifolia L., essential oil and assessed its activities against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum in Cucumis melo L. Using in silico molecular approaches, potential in...

Pyriproxyfen is a juvenile hormone analogue that is commonly used to control the immature stages of mosquitoes in both artificial and natural water reservoirs. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the community effectiveness of pyriproxyfen in preventing vector-transmitted diseases. Such concerns have been based on the unintended effects o...

Fungal metabolites have shown promising potential as alternative tools for controlling mosquito larvae. Here, we evaluated the insecticidal activities of secondary metabolites (smAf) obtained by solid-state fermentation (SSF) of maize substrate inoculated with spores of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and evaluated the smAf toxicity against Aedes aegy...

Plant essential oils are promising tools for the management of insect infestations in stored beans. However, how these biorational products exert their insecticidal actions remains unknow. Here, we evaluated the insecticidal and repellent potential of Bursera graveolens essential oil against the bean weevil species Acanthoscelides obtectus and Zabr...

Control of devastating phytopathogens such as the pineapple black rot causing-pathogen fungus, Thielaviopsis ethacetica, remains dependent on synthetic pesticides despite the detrimental implications of such conventional strategies. Here, attempting to identify and develop cleaner and more sustainable tools to control T. ethacetica, we evaluated th...

We examined the fitness costs of resistance to transgenic Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a globally invasive pest species. Using Bt-resistant and -susceptible populations of similar genetic backgrounds, we compared insect life-history traits and population growth rates on the foliage...

RNA interference (RNAi)-based pesticides are promising novel pest management products that might reduce environmental impacts compared to other pesticides. Their sequence-guided mode of action facilitates a high species-selectivity, preventing harm on non-target organisms. However, there is currently no consensus on the minimum needed sequence simi...

Simple Summary The number of honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies has reduced around the globe, and one potential cause is their unintended exposure to sublethal stressors such as agricultural pesticides. The quantification of such effects at colony level is a very complex task due to the innumerable collective activities done by the individual w...

Sublethal exposure to insecticides can trigger unintended responses in non-target insects that may disrupt reproductive and developmental performances of these organisms. Here, we assessed whether sublethal exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin in early life had sublethal and transgenerational effects on the reproduction (i.e., fecund...

BACKGROUND Use of pyrethroid insecticides is a pivotal strategy for mosquito control globally. Commonly known for their insecticidal activity by acting on voltage‐gated sodium channels, pyrethroids, such as bioallethrin and transfluthrin, are used in mosquito coils, emanators and other vaporizers to repel mosquitoes and other biting arthropods. How...

The iota toxin (ITX) is a binary enterotoxin produced as a protoxin by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type E that is activated by proteolytic enzymes in the small intestine of infected animals. By depolymerization of the actin filaments, ITX causes cytoskeleton disorganization of cells promoting the increase of the cell permeability. Here...

Simple Summary Mosquitoes are one of the greatest threats to human lives; they transmit a wide range of pathogens, including viruses that cause lethal diseases. Mosquitoes are found in both aquatic (as larvae or pupae) and terrestrial (as adults) environments during their complex life cycle. For decades, insecticides have been systematically used o...

The iota toxin (ITX) is a binary enterotoxin produced as a protoxin by Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type E that is activated by proteolytic enzymes in the small intestine of infected animals. By depolymerization of the actin filaments, ITX causes cytoskeleton disorganization of cells promoting the increase of the cell permeability. Here...

Rhipicephalus microplus, known as the cattle tick, is a cause of great economic losses for dairy cattle farming because of its high frequency of occurrence and the difficulty in controlling it. This research characterized the chemical profile and evaluated the in vitro toxicity of crude Lithraea brasiliensis extract and its isolated compound agains...

Pyriproxyfen is a juvenile hormone analogue that is commonly used to control the immature stages of mosquitoes in both artificial and natural water reservoirs. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the pyriproxyfen community effectiveness in preventing vector-transmitted diseases. Such concerns have been based on the unintended effects on n...

The spittlebug Mahanarva spectabilis economically challenges cattle production of neotropical regions, due to its voracious feeding on tropical grasses. Here, we evaluated biochemical responses of the interaction between M. spectabilis and the widely cultivated tropical grasses Brachiaria spp. (i.e., brizantha and decumbens) and elephant grasses (c...

Chikungunya and Mayaro fevers are viral infectious diseases, without vaccine or treatment, that causes fever and arthralgia. Establishing novel antiviral tools capable of preventing or treating Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Mayaro virus (MAYV) infections are needed. The use of plant-based compounds that affect the replication cycles of these virus...

Background Volatile pyrethroid insecticides, such as transfluthrin, have received increasing attention for their potent repellent activities in recent years for controlling human disease vectors. It has been long understood that pyrethroids kill insects by promoting activation and inhibiting inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. However, t...

Pyrethrum extract from dry flowers of Tanacetum cinerariifolium (formally Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) has been used globally as a popular insect repellent against arthropod pests for thousands of years. However, the mechanistic basis of pyrethrum repellency remains unknown. In this study, we found that pyrethrum spatially repels and activates ol...

BACKGROUND Using plant‐based extracts and their constituents has been suggested as an alternative tool to replace or integrate with the synthetic compounds used to manage insect pests. Here, we evaluated the potential of extracts obtained from Ficus carica Linn (Moraceae) branches and leaves against the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros...

The use of botanical fungicides has been presented as a promising tool to replace the use of synthetic compounds, as the former seems to offer reduced risks to the environment and human health. Here, we characterized the major constituents and evaluated the potential of essential oils of Noni, Morinda citrifolia L. plants for controlling stem-rot d...

Recent agricultural expansion into regions of the Brazilian savannah or Cerrado has improved agricultural knowledge and management practices. Under this biome’s favorable conditions, the incidence of diseases such as gummy stem blight (GSB) could be a limiting factor for some crops (i.e., Cucumis melo L.), due to high losses in productivity and fru...

Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) produce volatile chemical substances in the scent glands, with unpleasant odors that function as alarm and defense signals against natural enemies. The contents of the scent glands of the predatory Podisus nigrispinus and its prey, the phytophagous Euschistus heros were used to evaluate the behavioral interactions between...

Pyrethrum extracts from flower heads of Chrysanthemum spp. have been used worldwide in insecticides and repellents. While the molecular mechanisms of its insecticidal action are known, the molecular basis of pyrethrum repellency remains a mystery. In this study, we find that the principal components of pyrethrum, pyrethrins, and a minor component,...

The management of the Neotropical brown stinkbug Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean fields has been heavily dependent on the application of neonicotinoid insecticides. Neonicotinoids act primarily by impairing the function of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of the nervous system. These compounds also target specific organs...

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) have been shown to impact the behavior and physiology of insects. Recent studies have highlighted the need for more research to determine more specifically how they affect flying insects. Here, we ask how locust flight is affected by acute exposure to 50 Hz EMFs. We analyzed the flights of i...

Due to the production facilities and great functionalities, the starch extracted from Cassava plants' (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots is one of the most abundant and inexpensive raw materials used in food- and non-food industries. The utilization of starches to encapsulate plant essential oils is a relevant advance in the control of insect pests,...

Many environmental stressors are currently implicated in the decline of flying insects in general, and important pollinator species such as the honey bee. Recent studies have shown that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) affect many aspects of insect behaviour and cognition which raises the potential that ELF EMFs could inter...

Despite being effective in controlling mosquito larvae and a few other target organisms, the application of insecticides into aquatic systems may cause unintended alterations to the physiology or behavioral responses of several aquatic non-target organisms, which can ultimately lead to their death. Here, we firstly evaluated whether the susceptibil...

Developmental changes in target-pest susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins matter to resistance management in Bt crops, especially in certain refuge modalities. We determined the cumulative, lethal and sublethal effects of Bt corn hybrids during the larval stages of Bt-resistant populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Le...

Stingless bees such as Partamona helleri Friese play important roles in pollination of native plants and agricultural crops in the Neotropics. Global concerns about declining bee populations due to agrochemical pollutants have, however, been biased towards the honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus. Here, we analysed the unintended effects of commercia...

Complaints of severe damage by whiteflies in soybean fields containing genetically engineered (GE) varieties led us to investigate the role of transgenic soybean varieties expressing resistance to some insects (Cry1Ac Bt toxin) and to herbicide (glyphosate) on the population growth and feeding behavior of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) MEAM1 (Hemiptera...

Proteases present in the salivary glands of phytosuccivorous insects are responsible for the initial breakdown of dietary protein into the amino acids necessary for insect growth and development. Here, we characterised the total proteases and trypsin‐like activities in the salivary glands of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.) an...

Fishes can change their physiological responses when threatened by the presence of predators. Such physiological plasticity, however, usually implies costs that may impede organismal development and reproduction and reduce the ability to cope with other biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we evaluated the growth and stress biomarker responses in sex...

The development of herbivore insects is influenced by the quality of their host plants. Elevated CO2 alters plant metabolism, which may change the nutritional quality of the plant, modifying the life history and feeding behaviour of herbivore insects. Understanding how insect pests respond to increasing CO2 concentration is essential for predicting...

BACKGROUND The use of insecticidal solutions containing sodium chloride (NaCl) has been proposed as a more environmentally friendly alternative to managing stink bug infestations of Neotropical soybean fields. The potential sublethal and undesirable effects of this practice have, however, been overlooked, especially with novel insecticides. Here, w...

Cheese ripening in the presence of mites is a common practice in some European countries. In Brazil, this practice is incipient and it is still unknown whether the mite diversity and mite-mediated processes in the production of Brazilian cheeses are important for product differentiation. Here, we conducted chemometric evaluations of the volatile or...