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Wang X, Ding X, Yuan Z, Jia Z, Fu K, Zhan F, Guo W, Zhou L, Li H, Dai J, Wang Z, Xie Y, Yang X. Analysis of the virulence, infection process, and extracellular enzyme activities of Aspergillus nomius against the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Virulence 2023; 14:2265108. [PMID: 37941402 PMCID: PMC10653701 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2265108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The control of Ostrinia furnacalis, a major pest of maize in Xinjiang, is challenging owing to the occurrence of resistant individuals. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are natural insect regulators used as substitutes for synthetic chemical insecticides. The fungus Aspergillus nomius is highly pathogenic to O. furnacalis; however, its virulence characteristics have not been identified. This study aimed to analyse the lethal efficacy, mode of infection on the cuticle, and extracellular enzyme activity of A. nomius against O. furnacalis. We found that the mortality and mycosis of O. furnacalis were dose-dependent when exposed to A. nomius and varied at different life stages. The egg-hatching and adult emergence rates decreased with an increase in conidial suspension. The highest mortality (83.33%, 7 d post-infection [DPI]) and mycosis (74.33%, 7 DPI) and the lowest mortality response (8.52 × 103 conidia mL-1) and median lethal time (4.91 d) occurred in the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that numerous conidia germination and infection structure formation may have contributed to the high pathogenicity of A. nomius against O. furnacalis. There were significant correlations between O. furnacalis mortality and the activities of extracellular protease, lipase, and chitinase of A. nomius. This study revealed the infection process of the highly pathogenic A. nomius against O. furnacalis, providing a theoretical basis and reference for strain improvement and field application of EPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowu Wang
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Xinhua Ding
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Zihan Yuan
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Zunzun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Kaiyun Fu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Faqiang Zhan
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Wenchao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Liuyan Zhou
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Haiqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Ürümqi, PR China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Jinping Dai
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Zhifang Wang
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Yuqing Xie
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
| | - Xinping Yang
- Institute of Microbiology Applications, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ürümqi, PR China
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Mathulwe LL, Jacobs K, Malan AP, Birkhofer K, Addison MF, Addison P. Characterisation of Metarhizium majus (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) isolated from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240955. [PMID: 33606688 PMCID: PMC7894866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important soil-dwelling entomopathogens, which can be used as biological control agents against pest insects. EPF are capable of causing lethal epizootics in pest insect populations in agroecosystems. During a survey of the orchard soil at an organic farm, different EPF species were collected and identified to species level, using both morphological and molecular techniques. The EPF were trapped from soil samples taken from an apricot orchard. The traps, which were baited in the laboratory, used susceptible host insects, including the last-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (wax moth larvae) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm larvae). The potential pathogenicity of the local Metarhizium majus isolate was tested and verified using susceptible laboratory-reared last-instar T. molitor larvae. The identification of the M. majus isolated from South African soil was verified using both morphological and molecular techniques. The occurrence of M. majus in the South African soil environment had not previously been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letodi L. Mathulwe
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Karin Jacobs
- Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Antoinette P. Malan
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany
| | - Matthew F. Addison
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pia Addison
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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