Sofia Isabel Martins Branco
@cense.fct.unl.pt
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, PT
Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research (CENSE), Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, PT
Sofia Branco main research area is Chemical Ecology, studying behavioural responses of insects and their parasitoids to semiochemicals and volatile organic compounds released by the host plants and conspecifics, in order to develop innovative biotechnical approaches for the control of insect pests. Her PhD project achieved the full decoding of the chemical ecology of the eucalyptus weevil (Gonipterus platensis), which causes economic damage to eucalyptus plantations worldwide and of its main agent of control, the egg parasitoid, Anaphes nitens. At present, her research targets three species considered crucial pests of portuguese forests: 1) the Western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, 2) the flathead cork oak borer Coreobus undatus, and 3) the Eucalyptus tortoise beetle, Trachymela sloanei. She also worked at Instituto Superior de Agronomia (UL), in the EU Horizon 2020 funded project “HOMED- Holistic Management of Emerging Forest Pests and Diseases”.
EDUCATION
BSc graduation in Biology- Branch of Terrestrial Environmental Biology,
Master degree in Medical Parasitology
PhD in Environment and Sustainability.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Insect Science, Forestry, Organic Chemistry
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Sofia Branco, Jacob C. Douma, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Mireia Gomez-Gallego, Benoit Marcais, Simone Prospero, José Carlos Franco, Hervé Jactel, and Manuela Branco
Pensoft Publishers
When a non-native species succeeds in establishing in a new habitat, one of the possible responses is to attempt its eradication. In the present study, we analysed European eradication programmes against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants (PPWP) from 1945 to date. Our main goal was to identify which factors affect the success of an eradication programme, reinforcing guidelines for future eradication of PPWP. Data on eradication campaigns were obtained from online databases, scientific and grey literature, and Plant Protection Organizations’ reports. Factors influencing eradication success for both arthropods and pathogens were analysed with LASSO regression and decision tree learning. A total of 848 cases officially declared as eradication attempts were documented in our database (8-fold higher than previous reports). Both the number of programmes and their rate of success increased sharply over the last two decades. Only less than 10% of the non-native organisms affecting woody plants were targeted for attempted eradication despite the high economic and ecological impacts caused by some species for which no efforts were undertaken. Almost one-third of the officially declared cases of eradication concerned organisms that were still restricted to the material with which they were introduced. For these cases the success rate was 100%. The success rate of established species was only 50% for arthropods and 61% for pathogens. The spatial extent of the outbreak was the factor that most affected the outcome of eradication campaigns. The eradication success decreased abruptly above 100 ha for arthropods and 10 ha for pathogens. Additionally, other variables were shown to influence the outcome of eradication programmes, in particular the type of environment, with the highest eradication success rate found in nurseries and glasshouses, with successful outcomes increasing if quarantine measures were applied and when monitoring included asymptomatic plants. Particular species traits may reduce eradication success: parthenogenetic arthropods, saprotrophic pathogens, wind dispersal, the possibility to remain asymptomatic indefinitely, and the existence of resting spores or stages. In conclusion, small affected areas, quick response, and efficient implementation of quarantine restrictions, together with particular species traits, may allow a high probability of eradication success. Preparedness at the country and European level would allow a larger number of target species to be included in future eradication programmes.
Davide Mendes, Sofia Branco, Maria Rosa Paiva, Stefan Schütz, Eduardo P. Mateus, and Marco Gomes da Silva
MDPI AG
Multidimensional gas chromatography is, presently, an established and powerful analytical tool, due to higher resolving power than the classical 1D chromatographic approaches. Applied to multiple areas, it allows to isolate, detect and identify a larger number of compounds present in complex matrices, even in trace amounts. Research was conducted to determine which compounds, emitted by host plants of the eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus platensis, might mediate host selection behavior. The identification of a pheromone blend of G. platensis is presented, revealing to be more attractive to weevils of both sexes, than the individual compounds. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), MonoTrapTM disks, and simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE). Combining one dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) chromatographic systems—comprehensive and heart-cut two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC and H/C-MD-GC, respectively) with mass spectrometry (MS) and electroantennographic (EAD) detection, enabled the selection and identification of pertinent semiochemicals which were detected by the insect antennal olfactory system. The behavioral effect of a selected blend of compounds was assessed in a two-arm olfactometer with ten parallel walking chambers, coupled to video tracking and data analysis software. An active blend, composed by cis and trans-verbenol, verbenene, myrtenol and trans-pinocarveol was achieved.
Sofia Branco, Massimo Faccoli, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Géraldine Roux, Hervé Jactel, Nicolas Desneux, Emmanuel Gachet, Raphaelle Mouttet, Jean-Claude Streito, and Manuela Branco
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sofia Branco, Eduardo Pires Mateus, Marco Diogo Richter Gomes da Silva, Davide Mendes, Maria Manuela Araújo Pereira, Stefan Schütz, and Maria Rosa Paiva
Wiley
AbstractThe eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus spp. Schoenherr, 1833 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is considered a major pest of eucalyptus plantations. In regions where control is achieved, success is usually brought by the action of the solitary egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Girault, 1928) (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae). Research was conducted to ascertain which cues might mediate female wasp host location and selection. In Petri dish arenas, females were attracted to Gonipterus platensis Marelli, 1927 egg capsules, to G. platensis mated female faeces and to leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière, 1799. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry electroantennographic detection analysis was conducted using extracts obtained from leaves of E. globulus, from G. platensis egg capsules, as well as from adults of both sexes and their faeces, in order to detect and identify compounds perceived by the wasp's olfactory system. The parasitoids were shown to detect a wide range of compounds emitted by each one of these sources, and for 31 compounds, antennal response was confirmed by dose‐response tests. Further behavioural trials were conducted in Petri dishes in order to decode the effect, on parasitoid behaviour, of selected compounds emitted by E. globulus and of the pheromones, emitted by the weevils on parasitoid behaviour. Attraction was observed to two compounds emitted by E. globulus, namely 1,8‐cineole and γ‐terpinene, and to the main component of the male sex/aggregation pheromone, cis‐verbenol. To our knowledge, this is the first report of attraction of a parasitoid from the family Mymaridae to a component of its host's sexual/aggregation pheromone. Similarly, to other egg parasitoid species, A. nitens females are likely to use the host plant volatiles as long‐range host location cues and to adopt the ‘infochemical detour’ strategy in order to get in the vicinity of their hosts.
Sofia Branco, Eduardo Pires Mateus, Marco Diogo Richter Gomes da Silva, Davide Mendes, Maria Manuela Araújo Pereira, Stefan Schütz, and Maria Rosa Paiva
Wiley
AbstractThe eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is a major pest of eucalyptus plantations worldwide. To date, no pheromones have been identified for this species, despite their valuable potential as tools in monitoring or control strategies. Here we report the detection and identification of pheromones candidates of G. platensis. The weevil's volatile compounds were collected by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and monolithic material sorption extraction (MMSE). Using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, eleven insect specific compounds were detected and identified: verbenene, cis‐verbenol, trans‐verbenol, verbenone, 2‐oxo‐1,8‐cineole, 9‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole, 2‐α‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole, 3‐oxo‐1,8‐cineole, 2‐β‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole, 3‐α‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole and 7‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole. Three of these compounds, verbenene, cis‐verbenol and trans‐verbenol, were shown to be male‐specific. Antennal sensitivity towards ten compounds emitted by G. platensis was detected using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry/Electroantennographic Detection (GC‐MS/EAD). Extracts from virgin males proved to be attractive to virgin females in olfactometer bioassays. Further behavioural bioassays showed that both virgin females and virgin males were attracted to the male‐specific compound cis‐verbenol and that virgin females were attracted to trans‐verbenol. Verbenone was attractive to mated females. Regarding 2‐α‐hydroxy‐1.8‐cineole and 2‐oxo‐1,8‐cineole, which are produced by both sexes, the alcohol was attractive to virgin males and both the alcohol and the ketone were repellant to mated females. This is, to our knowledge, the first identification of pheromones candidates in Gonipterus spp. and also the first evidence of cineole metabolites acting as semiochemicals.
Sofia Branco, Eduardo P. Mateus, Marco D. R. Gomes da Silva, Davide Mendes, Sílvia Rocha, Zvi Mendel, Stefan Schütz, and Maria Rosa Paiva
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sofia Branco, Nuno Videira, Manuela Branco, and Maria Rosa Paiva
Elsevier BV
S. Branco, C. Alves-Pires, C. Maia, S. Cortes, J.M.S. Cristovão, L. Gonçalves, L. Campino, and M.O. Afonso
Elsevier BV
RESEARCH OUTPUTS (PATENTS, SOFTWARE, PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS)
Patent: Composição para atrair insetos do género Gonipterus e método de uso. PT115530A