Biotechnological potential of Chromobacterium subtsugae: a short review on the biological management of pest arthropods

Abstract

Chromobacterium subtsugae is a gram-negative bacterium that has been used in agriculture, in recent years, in the management of several species of arthropod-pests, due to its toxic metabolites. Despite advances in its use, information about its pathogenicity in Brazil is scarce. Thus, the present literature review aims to compile the most recent data (2011-2021) on the general characteristics of C. subtsugae, its mode of action and the results in the biological management of different pest arthropods. The bibliographic review was carried out on Google Scholar, Periodics Capes and Science Direct platforms, with a filter for the period 2011-2021, using the combination of words: Chromobacterium subtsugae, entomopathogenic bacteria and biological control. C. subtsugae shows several effects on insect pests such as oral toxicity, repellency, reduced fecundity in females and oviposition, and inhibition of feeding in individuals of the orders Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Acari (phytophagous mites), being its mechanism of action considered complex, being able to synthesize during the fermentation, three insecticidal factors: chromamide A, violacein and an unidentified compound. In the face of such elucidations, the importance of this bacterium in the development of new products aimed at the management of various insect pests is verified, mainly due to its broad spectrum of action. Furthermore, it is expected that the data collected will serve as a reference for future research with C. subtsugae, both in field and laboratory experiments in Brazil, since there is no commercial insecticide containing this bacterium as an active ingredient.