Diatraea Saccharalis Research Articles

Methods for Delivery of dsRNAs for Agricultural Pest Control: The Case of Lepidopteran Pests.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism of gene regulation, highly conserved in eukaryotes. Since the elucidation of the gene silencing mechanism, RNAi became an important tool used in insect reverse genetics. The demonstration of effective target-gene silencing by ingestion of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced by transgenic plants indicated the RNAi potential to be used in insect pest management, particularly in agriculture. However, the efficiency of gene silencing by RNAi in insects may vary according to the target taxa, and lepidopteran species have been shown to be quite recalcitrant to RNAi. Developing transgenic plants is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, so alternative oral delivery systems are required to develop and optimize RNAi settings, such as selecting an efficient target gene, and dsRNA design, length, and stability, among other features. We have developed delivery systems to evaluate dsRNAs to silence genes from two important lepidopteran crop pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and sugarcane (Saccharum × officinarum): Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), the South American Tomato Pinworm, and Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), the Sugarcane Borer, respectively. The protocol described here can be used in similar species and includes (a) direct oral delivery by droplets containing dsRNA; (b) oral delivery by tomato leaflets that absorbed dsRNA solution; (c) delivery by Escherichia coli expressing dsRNA; and (d) delivery by transgenic plants expressing dsRNA.

Can Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner replaces Trichogramma galloi Zucchi for Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) control?

Studies on aggressiveness of parasitoids, as assessed by their parasitism against pests, used in biological-control programs are highly important to select the most suitable species and/or strain to control insect pests. The present study investigated whether the egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi, an efficient control agent for sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) in Brazil, could be replaced by Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner, a parasitoid easier to mass-produce, since it has been found parasitizing D. saccharalis eggs in the warmest region of Brazil and Argentina. Three strains of the genus Trichogramma were compared: T. atopovirilia (ATP strain) reared on a factitious host Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller); T. atopovirilia isoline ATP-I, reared on D. saccharalis eggs for six generations; and T. galloi, reared on A. kuehniella eggs. We measured parasitism of each strain for 72 h and for the entire life span, parasitism rate per cluster of D. saccharalis eggs, number of parasitoids emerged (parasitism viability), and parasitoid life span. The results confirmed that T. galloi is the best species for D. saccharalis control, showing higher control potential, since parasitism and emergence rate were higher for this species. Although T. atopovirilia ATP-I performed reliably in all parameters, T. galloi exceeded and was the most indicated for mass-rearing in control programs for sugarcane borer.

ANÁLISE MATEMÁTICA DO MODELO DE INTERAÇÃO ENTRE A BROCA DA CANA DE AÇUCAR (DIATRAEA SACCHARALIS) E O SEU PARASITOIDE TRICHOGRAMMA GALLOI

The sugarcane borer (Diatraea Saccharalis) is considered the main pest in the sugarcane crop due to the great damage it causes to the crop. Its permanence can portray significant losses in productivity and affect the quality of sugar and ethanol production. One of the methods used to manage the borer is through biological control through the insertion of the parasitoid Trichogramma Galloi. Mathematical modeling helps to understand biological control, as it allows us to carry out a qualitative analysis. In this article, we analyze a mathematical model, based on systems of ordinary differential equations, of the interaction between the sugarcane borer, which is represented by the egg and larval stages, and its parasitoid, which is considered in terms of parasitized eggs. In this model, we find equilibrium points and conditions for the stability of each one of them. Numerical simulations show a good approximation for stability.

IN1341] Stem Borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Florida Rice

Three stem borers, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), rice stalk borer, Chilo plejadellus Zincken, and Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), infest rice in the southern United States. They occur in Florida, with the Mexican rice borer being an invasive species recently introduced into the state. This publication briefly describes stem borers and sampling methods and reports results of the first extensive survey conducted to measure their occurrence in Florida rice.

Global exponential stability results for the host‐parasitoid model of sugarcane borer in stochastic environment with impulsive effects via non‐fragile control: An LMI approach

AbstractIn this article, we evaluate how the random environmental fluctuations affect the interplay between the sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) and its egg parasitoid (Trichogramma galloi). In order to procure an optimal control input, we considered the uncertainties in the control agent that leads to a non‐fragile control synthesis. Due to the existence of a stochastic environment and uncertainties in the control agent, the impulsive biological control is introduced to stabilize the situation. By means of the classical Lyapunov method, a new sufficient condition for exponential stability of our proposed population model through non‐fragile control and impulsive biological control is established. With the assistance of linear matrix inequality (LMI) solvers, non‐fragile controllers can be obtained effortlessly. In addition, we provide simulation studies that are primarily based on the sugarcane borer system to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of our proposed model.

Midgut and fat body: Multisystemic action of pyriproxyfen on non-target organism Ceraeochrysa claveri (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Morphological tools can assist in the evaluation of effects of insecticides on non-target insects. Pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog, is known to interfere with growth and metamorphosis of insects. However, there are studies showing indirect effects on natural enemies, including green lacewings. Few prior studies describe morphological effects of pyriproxyfen on target insect organs, especially on natural enemies. Through morphological tools, this study aimed to characterize the midgut and fat body, both important organs of digestion and great metabolic activity respectively, of the predator Ceraeochrysa claveri after chronic exposure to pyriproxyfen. Larvae of C. claveri were fed Diatraea saccharalis egg clusters treated with pyriproxyfen in solution of 50 or 100 mg a.i. L−1 throughout the larval stage. The biological data revealed significant increases in development time, especially in the third instar, and in cumulative mortality from the prepupal into the pupal stage. Morphological analysis of adult midgut (≤24 h old) showed damage including formation of epithelial folds, intercellular spaces, emission of cytoplasmic protrusions. Both fat body regions presented decrease of lipid droplets, vacuolization of trophocytes and mitochondrial injury featuring a multisystemic action. In both organs, pyriproxyfen exposure induced significant oxidative stress by mitochondrial superoxide production. Cytoprotective responses were induced in midgut and fat body cells by augmenting the number of cytoplasmic granules containing calcium and expression of HSP 90. Both organs proved to be efficient in presenting histopathological alterations, showing the sensitivity and applicability of this morphological tool for evaluating other insecticides in non-target organisms.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Castniidae (Lepidoptera) associated to sugarcane in Colombia.

The giant sugarcane borer, Telchin licus, has been reported as an economically important sugarcane pest in Colombia; however, its taxonomic status has been scarcely investigated and previous reports offer an ambiguous characterization of both the immature and adult stages. The objective of this work is to identify Telchin species affecting sugarcane and alternative hosts in different departments of the country by integrating molecular analysis and conventional morphology. To date, T. licus has been found in the departments of Caquetá, Casanare, and Meta, while T. atymnius has been found in Antioquia, Caldas, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca. Sugarcane, Musaceae, and Heliconiaceae have been found to be hosts to both species. Additionally, the species T. cacica has also been registered in the department of Nariño, affecting heliconias and plantains. Genetic variation within the species allowed differentiation at the molecular level of subspecies of T. licus and T. atymnius, confirming that the subspecies present in Colombia are T. licus magdalena, T. atymnius humboldti, and T. atymnius atymnius. The haplotype diversity of populations is closely related to their geographical distribution, indicating low gene flow between populations and possible speciation inside the country. Analysis of genetic variance showed significant differences among and within T. atymnius populations, which may suggest a high genetic structure along the regions where it is found and the possible presence of additional subspecies to those previously reported. To understand the geographical and environmental conditions that determine the pest's distribution in Colombia, this information needs to be complemented with ecological considerations of possible geographical isolation and association of alternative hosts.

Diatraea saccharalis harbors microorganisms that can affect growth of sugarcane stalk-dwelling fungi.

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), the sugarcane borer, spends most of its life cycle inside the galleries it burrows into sugarcane stalk, where two rot-causing fungi Colletotrichum falcatum (Went, 1893) and Fusarium verticillioides (Nirenberg, 1976) are commonly found. Results have shown that microbiota harbored by D. saccharalis inhibits the growth of F. verticillioides and C. falcatum. D. saccharalis larvae were collected from chemical-free field plants, and yeast and bacteria from third and fourth-instar D. saccharalis regurgitate were isolated onto appropriate media. The percentage of F. verticillioides and C. falcatum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded. Out of 32 yeast isolates, 9 exerted 30 to 40% growth inhibition of C. falcatum or F. verticillioides. When 24 bacterial isolates were confronted with rot-causing fungi, six inhibited C. falcatum growth by 30 to 60%, and 24 isolates inhibited 30 to 60% of F. verticillioides growth. Bacteria and yeast isolates were identified through DNA sequencing of part of 16S rDNA and part of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, respectively, revealing an abundance of isolates with sequence similarity to Klebsiella and Bacillus and Meyerozyma, which have been used as biological control agents and their ability to promote plant growth has been demonstrated. We have shown that microorganisms from borer regurgitate inhibit phytopathogen growth in vitro. Still, further investigation of the possible functions of D. saccharalis-associated microorganisms may help understand their ecological role in plant-insect-phytopathogen interaction.

Resistance to the Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Louisiana Sugarcane Cultivars.

Cultivar resistance is a key management strategy for the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), the primary pest in Louisiana sugarcane, but mechanisms of resistance are not well understood. This research evaluated the potential mechanisms of cultivar resistance to D. saccharalis among commercially produced sugarcane cultivars and experimental lines through three field screenings, two greenhouse experiments, and one diet incorporation assay. The resistant standards HoCP 85-845, HoCP 04-838, and L 01-299 were among the cultivars with the lowest D. saccharalis injury levels in both field and greenhouse trials. Cultivars HoCP 00-950 and L 12-201 were among the most heavily injured in both trials. Differences in oviposition among cultivars in the greenhouse choice study were not detected, suggesting adult preference is not a key factor in resistance. This was also supported by the no-choice greenhouse experiment in which up to 9-fold differences in neonate establishment among cultivars were detected. Larval injury among cultivars in greenhouse experiments was consistent with field studies suggesting traits that affect neonate establishment (e.g., rind hardness) help to confer resistance in the field. In the diet incorporation assay, lower larval weights and longer time to pupation were observed on resistant cultivar Ho 08-9003, but no differences were found among current commercial cultivars. Continuous evaluation of cultivar resistance to D. saccharalis is important in developing effective integrated pest management strategies for this pest. More research into plant characteristics (e.g., leaf sheath tightness and pubescence) associated with resistance is needed.

Identity and Host Plant of Diatraea postlineella Schaus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), the Guatemalan Sugarcane Borer

Diatraea postlineella Schaus, 1922, that we call the Guatemalan sugarcane borer, was described from Quirigua, Guatemala, based on one male specimen; the host was unknown. Recently, more specimens of D. postlineella from Guatemala were discovered and reared on sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Based on these specimens, morphological and molecular characters support the status of D. postlineella as a separate species. The DNA sequence from the COI barcode region and host plant are reported for the first time. Diatraea postlineella is closely related to D. crambidoides (Grote) and D. mitteri Solis. Photographs of the adults and their genitalia, a comparison of external characters, and a table of male and female genitalia characters to identify the three species are provided. A distribution map of the three species, which includes holotype localities and specimens used for the neighbor-joining cluster analysis, is provided.

Optimizing chemical control for Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the primary pest of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., in much of North and South America. Control of D. saccharalis can be obtained through judicious application of insecticides, but more research is needed to optimize chemical control strategies. A series of field trials evaluated the duration of protection and influence of application water volume on D. saccharalis control in Louisiana sugarcane from 2018 to 2020. Results across trials demonstrated superior control was achieved with chlorantraniliprole over novaluron and tebufenozide. Analysis of insecticide concentrations present in leaf sheath tissue of the target internode suggests chlorantraniliprole and novaluron are achieving systemic activity, but not tebufenozide. Chlorantraniliprole concentrations remained above lethal levels for more than 8 wk after application. The percentage of bored internodes was 1.3- and 1.9-fold greater following applications with a water volume of 18.7 L/ha relative to those made with 46.7 and 186.8 L/ha, respectively, across insecticides. Collectively, results suggest chlorantraniliprole applied early in the season with sufficient water volume can provide nearly season-long protection of sugarcane against D. saccharalis injury.

Genetic and silicon-induced resistance of sugarcane to Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and silicon effect on nutrient accumulation

Genetic and silicon-induced resistance of sugarcane to Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and silicon effect on nutrient accumulation

Framework for improving agro-industrial efficiency in renewable energy: Examining Brazilian bioenergy companies

Transitioning to a low-carbon economy, a goal referenced in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is possible through strategies: improving energy efficiency, using low-carbon fuels, using geoengineering approaches, capturing and storing CO2, and renewable energy sources. The objective of this study was to propose best practices for improving agricultural and industrial efficiency in production of sugarcane. This study's quali-quantitative method included a two-stage data envelopment analysis and a multi-case study on Brazilian bioenergy companies. A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to select efficient cases and identify variables to be addressed during a multi-case study. The variables were associated with production process of 29 Brazilian bioenergy companies during 2006–2016 harvests. Multiple cases were studied by evaluating these variables among the most efficient sugarcane mills. Fifteen best practices were identified: (i) Agricultural, industrial, and managerial dimensions affect mill performance; managerial dimension is a new contribution. (ii) Each best practice affects variables with some intersections among them. (iii) Correlation between variables and productive chain indicates mill performance depends on field sector. (iv) Climate change affects the field stage as a result of uncontrollable environmental factors, such as rainfall and temperature. The study also verified benchmark values for indicators that support mill management: total reducing sugars must be higher than 16.46 %; dextran should be lower than 665.58 mg/L brix; sugarcane borers must be under 2.29 %; rod-shaped bacteria must be less than 2.53 × 105/mL; impurities should be lower than 0.275 %; and sucrose must be higher than 14.98 %.

Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide

Endoparasitoid wasps use complex biochemical arsenals to suppress the normal humoral and cellular immune responses of their hosts in order to transform them into a suitable environment for development of their eggs and larvae. Venom injected during oviposition is a key component of this arsenal, but the functions of individual venom toxins are still poorly understood. Furthermore, there has been little investigation of the potential biotechnological use of these venom toxins, for example for control of agricultural pests. The endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent reared in biofactories and released extensively in Brazil to control the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The objectives of this work were to reveal venom components produced by C. flavipes and explore the function of a major venom peptide, Cf4. Using a combined proteomic/transcriptomic approach, we identified 38 putative venom toxins including both linear and disulfide-rich peptides, hydrolases, protease inhibitors, apolipophorins, lipid-binding proteins, and proteins of the odorant binding families. Because of its high abundance in the venom, we selected Cf4, a 33-residue peptide with three disulfide bonds, for synthesis and further characterization. We found that synthetic Cf4 reduced the capacity of D. saccharalis hemocytes to encapsulate foreign bodies without any effect on phenoloxidase activity, consistent with a role in disruption of the cellular host immune response. Feeding leaves coated with Cf4 to neonate D. saccharalis resulted in increased mortality and significantly reduced feeding compared to caterpillars fed untreated leaves, indicating that Cf4 is a potential candidate for insect pest control through ingestion. This study adds to our knowledge of endoparasitoid wasp venoms composition, host regulation mechanisms and their biotechnological potential for pest management.

Silicon induces resistance to Diatraea saccharalis in sugarcane and it is compatible with the biological control agent Cotesia flavipes

Silicon induces resistance to Diatraea saccharalis in sugarcane and it is compatible with the biological control agent Cotesia flavipes

Efficacy of Egyptian Parasitic Nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (BA1) and Steinernema carpocapsae (BA2) in Bio-control of Economically Important Pests

Background: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are obligate lethal parasites of insects and are globally used as safe biocontrol agents against a wide range of insect pests. They occur in most agricultural soils all around the world. The insecticidal activity of two native EPNs Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (BA1) and Steinernema carpocapsae (BA2), isolated from the Egyptian soil was examined against eight different economic insect pests under laboratory conditions. These pests are the Greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella; the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littorallis; the cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon; the european corn borer, Osterinia nubilalis; the greater sugarcane borer, Sesamia critica; the apple tree borer, Zeuzera pyrina; the sugar beet fly, Pegomyia mixta and the tortoise beetle Cassida vittatta. Three nematode concentrations (100, 50, and 25 /ml water) of infective juveniles (IJs) were applied per insect. The test was conducted at 25± 2 °C and about 70± 2 % RH. Results: The median lethal concentration (LC50) of H. bacteriophora BA1– was almost– higher than that of S. capocapsae BA2 against the different tested insect pest larvae. The percentage of the cumulative mortality ranged between 46 and 100% in general, according to the tested concentration and/or the nematode species. The comparison between the mortality percentages caused by BA1 and BA2 nematodes to differently treated insect larvae revealed that BA1 was almost more virulent than BA2. Results showed that the lowest LC50 value was found to be 2.15 IJs, for H. bacteriophora BA1 isolate. Conclusions: The results showed that both indigenous EPNs isolates had a good impact in the management of the eight economic insect pests tested in this study had insecticidal properties and could be positively enrolled in integrated pest management programs against different insect pests.

Structural and Evolutionary Analyses of PR-4 SUGARWINs Points to a Different Pattern of Protein Function.

SUGARWINs are PR-4 proteins associated with sugarcane defense against phytopathogens. Their expression is induced in response to damage by Diatraea saccharalis larvae. These proteins play an important role in plant defense, in particular against fungal pathogens, such as Colletothricum falcatum (Went) and Fusarium verticillioides. The pathogenesis-related protein-4 (PR-4) family is a group of proteins equipped with a BARWIN domain, which may be associated with a chitin-binding domain also known as the hevein-like domain. Several PR-4 proteins exhibit both chitinase and RNase activity, with the latter being associated with the presence of two histidine residues H11 and H113 (BARWIN) [H44 and H146, SUGARWINs] in the BARWIN-like domain. In sugarcane, similar to other PR-4 proteins, SUGARWIN1 exhibits ribonuclease, chitosanase and chitinase activities, whereas SUGARWIN2 only exhibits chitosanase activity. In order to decipher the structural determinants involved in this diverse range of enzyme specificities, we determined the 3-D structure of SUGARWIN2, at 1.55Å by X-ray diffraction. This is the first structure of a PR-4 protein where the first histidine has been replaced by asparagine and was subsequently used to build a homology model for SUGARWIN1. Molecular dynamics simulations of both proteins revealed the presence of a flexible loop only in SUGARWIN1 and we postulate that this, together with the presence of the catalytic histidine at position 42, renders it competent as a ribonuclease. The more electropositive surface potential of SUGARWIN1 would also be expected to favor complex formation with RNA. A phylogenetic analysis of PR-4 proteins obtained from 106 Embryophyta genomes showed that both catalytic histidines are widespread among them with few replacements in these amino acid positions during the gene family evolutionary history. We observe that the H11 replacement by N11 is also present in two other sugarcane PR-4 proteins: SUGARWIN3 and SUGARWIN4. We propose that RNase activity was present in the first Embryophyta PR-4 proteins but was recently lost in members of this family during the course of evolution.

Identification of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains for the Management of Lepidopteran Pests

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based bioinsecticides and transgenic plants expressing proteins with insecticidal activity (Cry and Vip) have been successfully used in several integrated pest management programs worldwide. Lepidoptera comprise some of the most economically important insect pests of the major agricultural crops. In this study, the toxicity of 150 Bt strains was evaluated against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae. Eight strains (426, 520B, 1636, 1641, 1644, 1648, 1657 and 1658) showed high insecticide activity against H. armigera and were thereforetested against Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), and Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) larvae. Our results showed that most of the Bt strains were also toxic to these lepidopteran species. The biochemical and molecular analyses of these strains revealed that they had a similar protein profile; however, their cry and vip gene contents were variable. In addition, the median lethal concentration (LC50) of the selected strains indicated that the strains 1636, 1641, and 1658 were the most effective against H. armigera, showing LC50 values of 185.02, 159.44, and 192.98 ng/cm2, respectively. Our results suggest that the selected Bt strains have great potential to control the lepidopteran pests H. armigera, A. gemmatalis, D. saccharalis, S. cosmioides, and C. includes.

Registration of ‘L 11‐183’ sugarcane

Abstract‘L 11‐183’ (Reg. no. CV‐200, PI 698200) sugarcane (interspecific hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was derived from a cross between HoCP 92‐624 as the female and ‘LCP 85‐384’ as the male parent. Early‐stage clonal selection by researchers at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center led to the assignment of a permanent cultivar number in 2011. The cultivar was further evaluated cooperatively with scientists from the USDA–ARS and the American Sugar Cane League. L 11‐183 was jointly released to the Louisiana sugar industry on 11 May 2018. L 11‐183 was released because of its high yield potential compared with ‘HoCP 96‐540’ and ‘L 01‐299’, two of the most widely grown cultivars in Louisiana at the time. In the final testing stage, data were collected from across 12 locations and three crops (plant cane and first and second ratoons) with multiple crop‐years within locations. Combined across locations and crops, L 11‐183 accumulated 5% more cane yield than HoCP 96‐540 but 4% less than L 01‐299. Sucrose yield in L 11‐183 was comparable to that of L 01‐299 but 3% greater than that of HoCP 96‐540. The new cultivar is resistant to smut, moderately resistant to leaf scald, Sugarcane yellow leaf virus, and ratoon stunting, moderately susceptible to brown rust and Sugarcane mosaic virus, and susceptible to the sugarcane borer.

Use of Trichoderma koningiopsis chitinase to enhance the insecticidal activity of Beauveria bassiana against Diatraea saccharalis.

Trichoderma is a well-known soil-borne fungus, highly efficient producer of extracellular enzymes including chitinases. The aim of this study was to recover a chitinase from fermentation waste after harvesting Trichoderma koningiopsis Th003 conidia and assess its potential as an enhancer of Beauveria bassiana insecticidal activity against Diatraea saccharalis. T. koningiopsis was produced by solid fermentation, conidia were harvested, and a crude extract (CE) was recovered by washing the residual substrate (rice:wheat bran). The partially purified chitinase (PPC) (75 kDa product) with N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity was obtained by chromatography to 29.3-fold with optimal activity at pH 5 and 55°C. Both the CE and the PPC were mixed with B. bassiana Bv062 conidia and assessed in a bioassay against D. saccharalis larvae. The CE and PPC from T. koningiopsis Th003 did not affect the germination or viability of B. bassiana conidia and enhanced its insecticidal activity when used at 0.06 U/ml enzymatic activity with a 24.5% reduction in B. bassiana lethal time (LT90 ). This study demonstrated the potential of chitinases produced by T. koningiopsis in solid fermentation to be recovered from the waste substrate and used as an additive to enhance B. bassiana, adding value to the main waste from the Trichoderma biopesticide/biofertilizer industries.