Guy Smagghe – författare

Crop Protection, Volume 55, the latest release in the Advances in Insect Physiology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on RNAi Plus, where microbes enhance RNAi: Mechanism and Applications, Symbionts in whiteflies, miRNAs from the microbiome as drivers in the insect, a critical view on insect microbiome data analysis and interpretation, Insect-microbe interactions and transmission as shaped by future climate changes, Intestinal bacteria of the German cockroach and its interaction with entomopathogenic fungus, and Beyond Baculovirus: Alternative biotechnological platforms and pest control based on insect viruses.

Ecdysone is the steroidal prohormone of the major insect moulting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. It groups with its homologues the steroidal molting hormones in arthropods, but they also occur in other phyla where they can play different roles. Besides ecdysteroids appear in many plants mostly as protection agents (toxins or antifeedants) against herbivorous insects.

The important developments and achievements in modern ecdysone science since the first edition in 1989 by J. Koolman have led to this new revised, expanded and retitled reference work. New chapters in this edition include RNA interference, the ecdysone receptor crystal structures and structure activity relationships, etc. Each article may also be read independently, as a review of that particular subject.

Complete up-to-date coverage of many important topics - the book is divisible into five conceptual areas: (1) Distribution and diversity of ecdysteroids in the two kingdoms is still basis, (2) In the post-genomic era, ecdysteroid genetic hierarchies in insect growth and reproduction, (3) Role of cross talk of genes and growth factors in ecdysteroid titers and signaling, (4) Ecdysteroids function through nuclear and membrane receptors, and (5) Ecdysteroids in modern agriculture, medicine, doping and ecotoxicology. Each of the 23 chapters is written by scientists active in the reviewed research area and a truly distinguished international team of contributors has been chosen.

Ecdysone, Structures and Functions will be of immense use and contains essential information for scientists, students, and professionals alike in entomology, endocrinology, physiology, chemistry, and agricultural, plant, biomedicine and environmental sciences.

This book focuses on entomovectoring, also known as apivectoring, the method used for managing pollinators to increase crop yields and employ strategies of biocontrol in greenhouses and open fields. It is written by experts working in academia and industry from the different continents of the world. Over the past 25 years Research and Development has successfully investigated the potential of pollinators to perform two tasks: dispersal of biological control agents (BCOs) and their pollination service. This book provides a basic overview of the current literature on the different aspects and factors of this novel technology. It explains and presents practical cases of enhancing pollination coupled with the suppression of plant pathogens and pests under various agricultural production practices from greenhouse to open field conditions and crops ranging from orchard fruits, to small and tender berries, vegetables and oil seeds

The book covers the advanced concepts and creative ideas on the postgenomic tool of RNAi that received the Nobel Prize in 2006. Emphasis was placed on the mechanisms of RNAi, the core machinery and the applications in agriculture. This book covers contributions from academia, industry and Goverment regulatory authorities. Applications to control major important pest insects, as for example western corn rootworm with use of transgenic plant RNAi. But also attention was given to the use of RNAi as a spray (non-transgenic plant approach) or tree-injection. Examples include the control of Colorado potato beetle and treatment of citrus trees to control Asian citrus psyllid. Additionally, the aspect of biosafety and risk assessment were also covered in the book with input from the bioinformatics and risk assessment testing, combined with regulatory input from EPA-USA and EFSA-EU. 

In summary, the editors believe that this book provides for the first time an invaluable vast source of basic and applied information for a plethora of scientists in academia, industry, and regulatory, as well as a textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.