Valorization of Hesperidin from Citrus Residues: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Hesperidin-Mg Complex and Their Insecticidal Activity (2022)
Journal Article
da Silva, D., Bomfim, J., Marchi, R., Amaral, J., Pinto, L., de Oliveira, R., …Fernandes, J. (2022). Valorization of Hesperidin from Citrus Residues: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Hesperidin-Mg Complex and Their Insecticidal Activity

The aim of the current study was the valorization of hesperidin, the dominant flavonoid in citrus processing waste, by microwave-assisted synthesis of hesperidin-Mg complex, improving its antioxidant activity and insecticidal potential. Here we show,... Read More about Valorization of Hesperidin from Citrus Residues: Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Hesperidin-Mg Complex and Their Insecticidal Activity.

Wild potato ancestors as potential sources of resistance to the aphid Myzus persicae (2022)
Journal Article
Bruce, T. J., Ali, J., & Sobhy, I. S. (2022). Wild potato ancestors as potential sources of resistance to the aphid Myzus persicae. Pest Management Science, 78(9), 3931-3938. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6957

BACKGROUND: Plant resistance to insects can be reduced by crop domestication which means their wild ancestors could provide novel sources of resistance. Thus, crossing wild ancestors with domesticated crops can potentially enhance their resistance ag... Read More about Wild potato ancestors as potential sources of resistance to the aphid Myzus persicae.

Optimising Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Monitoring Tool Design. (2022)
Journal Article
Fezza, E., Roberts, J., Bruce, T., Walsh, L., Gaffney, M., & Pope, T. (2022). Optimising Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Monitoring Tool Design. Insects, https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010080

Vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important insect pest of horticultural crops. To identify an effective and reliable monitoring system for adult vine weevil, this study investigated the influence o... Read More about Optimising Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Monitoring Tool Design..

Evaluation of African Maize Cultivars for Resistance to Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae (2021)
Journal Article
Chiriboga Morales, X., Tamiru, A., Sobhy, I., Bruce, T., Midega, C., & Khan, Z. (2021). Evaluation of African Maize Cultivars for Resistance to Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae. Plants, 392 - 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020392

The fall armyworm (FAW) has recently invaded and become an important pest of maize in Africa causing yield losses reaching up to a third of maize annual production. The present study evaluated different aspects of resistance of six maize cultivars, c... Read More about Evaluation of African Maize Cultivars for Resistance to Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae.

Zucchini Plants Alter Gene Expression and Emission of (E)-ß-Caryophyllene Following Aphis gossypii Infestation (2021)
Journal Article
Vitiello, A., Rao, R., Giorgini, M., Molisso, D., Digilio, M., Corrado, G., …D'Agostino, N. (2021). Zucchini Plants Alter Gene Expression and Emission of (E)-ß-Caryophyllene Following Aphis gossypii Infestation. Frontiers in Plant Science, 592603 - ?. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.592603

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) is widely cultivated in temperate regions. One of the major production challenges is the damage caused by Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae), a polyphagous aphid, which can negatively affect its host plant, both direct... Read More about Zucchini Plants Alter Gene Expression and Emission of (E)-ß-Caryophyllene Following Aphis gossypii Infestation.

Three Aphid-Transmitted Viruses Encourage Vector Migration From Infected Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Plants Through a Combination of Volatile and Surface Cues (2020)
Journal Article
Mutuku, J., Cunniffe, N., Pickett, J., Carr, J., Woodcock, C., Gilligan, C., …Bruce, T. (2020). Three Aphid-Transmitted Viruses Encourage Vector Migration From Infected Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Plants Through a Combination of Volatile and Surface Cues. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, Article 613772. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.613772

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are important pathogens of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a crop vital for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. These viruses are vectored... Read More about Three Aphid-Transmitted Viruses Encourage Vector Migration From Infected Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Plants Through a Combination of Volatile and Surface Cues.

Genome wide association analysis of a stemborer egg induced "call-for-help" defence trait in maize (2020)
Journal Article
Tamiru, A., Khan, Z., Pickett, J., Paliwal, R., Manthi, S., Odeny, D., …Bruce, T. (2020). Genome wide association analysis of a stemborer egg induced "call-for-help" defence trait in maize. Scientific reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68075-2

Tritrophic interactions allow plants to recruit natural enemies for protection against herbivory. Here we investigated genetic variability in induced responses to stemborer egg-laying in maize Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae). We conducted a genome wide assoc... Read More about Genome wide association analysis of a stemborer egg induced "call-for-help" defence trait in maize.

Behavioural and Electrophysiological Responses of Female Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes to Volatiles from a Mango Bait (2020)
Journal Article
Okumu, F., Tripet, F., Bruce, T., Sobhy, I., Roberts, J., & Meza, F. (2020). Behavioural and Electrophysiological Responses of Female Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes to Volatiles from a Mango Bait. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 387-396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01172-8

Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) are used in a "lure-and-kill" approach for management of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, but the active chemicals were previously unknown. Here we collected volatiles from a mango, Mangifera indica, juice bai... Read More about Behavioural and Electrophysiological Responses of Female Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes to Volatiles from a Mango Bait.

Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes in Feeding Behavior of Specialist and Generalist Aphids on Common Bean That Are Likely to Enhance Virus Transmission (2020)
Journal Article
Gilligan, C., Pickett, J., Tungadi, T., Murphy, A., Pate, A., Woodcock, C., …Donnelly, R. (2020). Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes in Feeding Behavior of Specialist and Generalist Aphids on Common Bean That Are Likely to Enhance Virus Transmission. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 1811. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01811

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) cause serious epidemics in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a vital food security crop in many low-to-medium income countries, particularly i... Read More about Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes in Feeding Behavior of Specialist and Generalist Aphids on Common Bean That Are Likely to Enhance Virus Transmission.

Infestation by Myzus persicae Increases Susceptibility of Brassica napus cv. "Canard" to Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 (2018)
Journal Article
Drizou, F., Bruce, T. J. A., Ray, R. V., & Graham, N. S. (2018). Infestation by Myzus persicae Increases Susceptibility of Brassica napus cv. "Canard" to Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, Article ARTN 1903. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01903

Activation of plant defense pathways can be influenced by the presence of different species of attacking organisms. Understanding the complicated interactions triggering plant defense mechanisms is of great interest as it may allow the development of... Read More about Infestation by Myzus persicae Increases Susceptibility of Brassica napus cv. "Canard" to Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1.

Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Induces Changes in Host Plant Volatiles that Attract Vector Thrips Species (2018)
Journal Article
Bruce, T., Subramanian, S., Mwando, N., Tamiru, A., Nyasani, J., Obonyo, M., & Caulfield, J. (2018). Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Induces Changes in Host Plant Volatiles that Attract Vector Thrips Species. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 681-689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-018-0973-x

Maize lethal necrosis is one of the most devastating diseases of maize causing yield losses reaching up to 90% in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is caused by a combination of maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any one of cereal viruses in the P... Read More about Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Induces Changes in Host Plant Volatiles that Attract Vector Thrips Species.

Finding the right connection: what makes a successful decision support system? (2018)
Journal Article
Rose, D., & Bruce, T. (2018). Finding the right connection: what makes a successful decision support system?. Food and Energy Security, https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.123

Farmers require evidence-based guidance to make optimal decisions, enabling them to reduce costs by increasing the efficiency of input use. We discuss how decision support systems could be improved and made more useful for the farmer.

Priming of cowpea volatile emissions with defense inducers enhances the plant's attractiveness to parasitoids when attacked by caterpillars (2018)
Journal Article
Sobhy, I., Bruce, T., & Turlings, T. (2018). Priming of cowpea volatile emissions with defense inducers enhances the plant's attractiveness to parasitoids when attacked by caterpillars. Pest Management Science, 966-977. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4796

BACKGROUND: The manipulation of herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds (HI-VOCs) via the application of the inducers BTH [benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester] and Laminarin [ß-1,3-glucan] is known to enhance the attracti... Read More about Priming of cowpea volatile emissions with defense inducers enhances the plant's attractiveness to parasitoids when attacked by caterpillars.

Evaluation of synthetic oviposition stimulants to enhance egg collection of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) (2017)
Journal Article
Kempraj, V., Aurade, R., Kamala Jayanthi, P., & Bruce, T. (2017). Evaluation of synthetic oviposition stimulants to enhance egg collection of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Pest Science, 781 -786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-017-0845-0

Tephritid flies are pests of horticultural importance throughout the globe. The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is particularly feared because it attacks many commercial fruits and vegetables causing huge economic losses. The steril... Read More about Evaluation of synthetic oviposition stimulants to enhance egg collection of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Development of high-throughput methods to screen disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in oilseed rape (2017)
Journal Article
Bruce, T., Ray, R., Drizou, F., & Graham, N. (2017). Development of high-throughput methods to screen disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in oilseed rape. Plant Methods, 45 -?. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-017-0195-1

BACKGROUND: Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn) is a soil-borne, necrotrophic fungus causing damping off, root rot and stem canker in many cultivated plants worldwide. Oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) is the primary host for anastomosis group (AG) 2-1 of R.... Read More about Development of high-throughput methods to screen disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in oilseed rape.

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles. (2016)
Journal Article
Ogah, E., Smart, L., Woodcock, C., Caulfield, J., Birkett, M., Pickett, J., …Bruce, T. (2016). Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 13 - 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-016-0788-6

African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, is a major pest of rice in Africa. Depsite its economic importance, its chemical ecology is not well understood. Here, we assessed behavioral and electrophysiological responses of O. oryzi... Read More about Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles..

Aphid Infestation Increases Fusarium langsethiae and T-2 and HT-2 Mycotoxins in Wheat (2016)
Journal Article
Drakulic, J., Ajigboye, O., Swarup, R., Bruce, T., & Ray, R. (2016). Aphid Infestation Increases Fusarium langsethiae and T-2 and HT-2 Mycotoxins in Wheat. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 6548 - 6556. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02343-16

Fusarium langsethiae is a fungal pathogen of cereal crops that is an increasing problem in northern Europe, but much of its epidemiology is poorly understood. The species produces the mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2, which are highly toxic. It was hypothesiz... Read More about Aphid Infestation Increases Fusarium langsethiae and T-2 and HT-2 Mycotoxins in Wheat.