Anatomy and ultrastructure of mites of agricultural and environmental interest

Abstract

Summary of the ProjectThis is a project to support an application for a grant to permit the visit of Dra. Antonella Di Palma, professor and researcher of the University of Foggia, Italy, within the Visiting Researcher Program of Fapesp, at ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, SP for a period of 12 months (1/2/19-31/1/20). Dr. Di Palma is one of the few experts in mite anatomy and ultrastructure in the world, and during her stay she will be engaged in cooperative researches on mites of agricultural and environmental interest at the Departments of Phytopathology and Entomology of ESALQ, and also with the group of acarology at IBILCE/UNESP, campus of São José do Rio Preto. Dra. Di Palma's headquarter during her stay will be the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Dept. Phytopathology, ESALQ, which is equipped with the required instrumentation [light and electron microscopy (transmission and scanning) and peripheral equipments]. With the group of Kitajima, will develop researches on ultrastructural aspects of spermatheca, a organ whose morphology is importante for taxonomy of Brevipalpus (Tenuipalpidae) mites, some of which vector diseases of agricultural impact. These studies will be part of a thematic Project on Brevipalpus mites, supported by Fapesp. With prof. Gilberto J. Moraes, of the Lab. Acarology, Dept.Entomology, Dr. Di Palma will be engaged with Mesostigmata mites, a group being studied by long date by prof.Moraes. Works will envolve redescription of some species of Lasioseius, and also identification of some species of Ascidae, Blattisociidae and Melicharidae. These activities will be part of a thematic Project within Biota Program to evaluatge biodiversity of mites of agricultural and environmental interest, sponsored by Fapesp, coordinated by prof. Moraes. Additionally, Dr. Di Palma will study the gnatosome of the tenuipalpid mite Raoiella indica, a pest of palm trees, recently introduced in the Amazon basin, and rapidly dissemianted into most of the Brazilian territory. This study is expect to subside knowledge on feeding habit of these mites. Another line of work will be made in colaboration with prof. A. Lofêgo, from the Lab. Acarology, IBILCE/UNESP São José do Rio Preto, on modified dorsal setae of some Tarsonemid mites, to understando their function, as part of the line of research maintained by this research group. Besides these research activities, a course on mite anatomy is programmed to be offered by Dr.Di Palma as part of the Acarology course, within the graduate program on Entomology, of ESALQ. Also a series of visits to centers on acarology research in the state of São Palulo, and other states, during which she will divulge her works in seminars. Dr. Di Palma visited Brazil in 2013 for three months, supported by Fapesp when she started a series of cooperative works through the contacts made during the stay, and the presente visting program is a natural consequence of the previous visit. It is expected that Dr. Di Palma may promote interest on mite ultrastructure and anatomy among Brazilian acarology community, as part of the efforts of Brazilian acarologists to better understand biology, ecology and evolution of mites of agricultural and environmental interest, and to consolidate and expand the presente cooperative activities with the Brazilian acarology community. (AU)