Experimental Entomology and Microbiology

Address: Salaspils, Miera street 3, Tel/Fax: +371 67945417; mob.: +371 25615920 e-mail: liga.jankevica@lu.lv Head: Dr. biol. Liga Jankevica Staff: Dr. biol. Ineta Salmane; Dr. biol. Ineta Samsone; Mg. Sc.  Zane Metla; M. Sc. Sandra Minova; B.Sc. Laura Reinberga The main topics are:

• Biocontrol (fundamental and practical aspects).
• Plant- pest- parasitoid/predator and plant- pest- pathogen interactions.
• Environmental microbiology and biotechnology

We have an experience and competence in

• selection of perspective biological agents (bacteria, fungi, insect viruses, acarofagous and entomofagous organisms)
• estimation suitability of biological agents to propagation and application as environmentally friendly plant protection means
• evaluation of biological properties (fungicidous, insecticidous and bactericidous activity) of different plant produced substances, plant extracts, fitopreparations and other products usable in plant protection
• evaluation of microbiological quality of different substrates (soil, peet, sapropel, humus, compost, byproducts of wood prcessing) and products (food, cosmetic, e.t.c).

Methods and equipment at our service:  The laboratory is equipped with the necessary equipment for long-term vegetation experiments, cultivation of plant and insect cultures and carrying on the biotests. Traditional microbiological methods (cultivation and isolation of microorganisms using standard, modified, selective medium), biochemical identification of microorganisms, biochemical testing of soil (respiration, microbial biomass, enzymatic activity), evaluation of soil (water) toxicity, using germination test,  FaxJaz cytometer. Participation in international networks 2001 - 2005 EU COST Action 842 “Biological control of pest insects and mites with special reference to Entomophthorales”. 2007 - 2010  EU COST Action 862 „Bacterial Toxins for Insect Control“. 2010 - 2012 EU COST Action FA0701 "Arthropod symbioses: from fundamental studies to pest and disease management". 2015 - 2018 EU COST Action FA1405 “Using three-way interactions between plants, microbes and arthropods to enhance crop protection  and production “. PATENT Daugavietis M,  Polis O., Korica A., Jankevica L., Bartkevics V., Lepse L., Rancane R. Biologically active composition inhibiting Botrytis cinerea infection and a method for producing it.  Patent.  LV14804 B, 20.05.2014. Selected publications Minova S., Jankevica L., Salmane I., Cekstere G. (2015). Preliminary Studies on Microbial Biomass and the Microarthropod Community as Soil Health and Quality Indicators in Urban Grasslands, Rīga as an Example. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Section B Natural Exact and Applied Sciences 69(3):140-144, DOI: 10.1515/prolas-2015-0020 Minova S., Sešķēna R., Voitkāne S., Metla Z., Daugavietis M., Jankevica L. (2015). Impact of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) bark extracts on important strawberry pathogens, Proceeding of Latvian Academy of Science. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. 69 (1-2): 62–67, DOI: 10.1515/prolas-2015-0008 Volkova J., Laugale V., Lepse L., Baženova A., Jankevica L., Daugavietis M. (2014). Evaluation of spruce biomass extract for control of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in field-grown strawberries. Environmental and Experimental Biology 12: 89–93. Laugale V., Jankevica L., Samsone I., Halimona J., Metla Z., Lepsis J., Daugavietis M., Rancāne R. (2013). Preliminary studies on development of a new environmentally friendly plant protection product against grey mould. Proceeding of Latvian Academy of Science. Section B, Vol. 67, No. 2 (683), pp. 198-202. DOI:10.2478/prolas-2013-0033. Jankevica L., Samsone I., Minova S., Seskena R., Halimona J., Metla Z., Laugale V., Rancane R., Daugavietis M., Zarins I. (2013). Elaboration of new environmentally friendly plant protection product from coniferous trees biomass against plant diseases. SGEM2013 Conference Proceedings, DOI: 10.5593/SGEM2013/BE5.V1/S20.047. Metla Z., Voitkāne S., Sešķēna R., Petrova V., Jankevica L. (2013). Presence of entomopathogenous fungi and bacteria in Latvian population of horse-chesnuth miner Cameraria ohridella. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp. 13 (1):81-88. Jankevica L., Halimona J., Metla Z., Seskena R., Zarins I. (2011). Investigation of nucleopolyhedroviruses and experience of regulation of forest pest populations in Latvia. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin, 66: 457-460.  Petrova V., Samsone I., Jankevica L., Čudare Z. (2008) The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris for control of the strawberry mite Phytonemus pallidus on strawberry runner plants. Proceedings of international scientific conference „Sustainable Fruit Growing: From Plant To Product” Jurmala - Dobele, May 28-31, 2008, 250 -256. Haļimona J., Jankevica L. (2007). An experimental comparison of the virulence of fungal  isolates (Entomophtorales) on Schizaphis graminum. Latvijas entomologs, 44: 95-102. Čudare Z. (2005). Factors affecting viability of entomophthoral fungi. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin, 28 (3), 61-64. Kruzmane D., Jankevica L. & Ievinsh G. (2002). Effect of regurgitant from Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say on wound responses in Solanum tuberosum L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants with special emphasis on ethylene production. Physiologia Plantarum, 115 (4) 577-585.