ABSTRACT
Entomopathogenic fungi may play a crucial role in the regulation of caterpillar populations in soybean crops, either through natural occurrences or applied as mycopesticides. In the present work, we reported the naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus Pandora gammae attacking the caterpillar Chrysodeixis includens, with infection rates in field trials ran in two consecutive years in the 10-35% range. As many chemicals are potentially harmful to entomopathogenic fungi, this work aimed to investigate the potential impact of two chemical fungicides (azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr and trifloxistrobina + prothioconazole) used to control soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) on the natural occurrence of P. gammae and Metarhizium rileyi, as well as the efficacy of the latter fungus applied as different formulations against the soybean caterpillars Anticarsia gemmatalis and C. includens. Under laboratory conditions, fungicides used at field-recommended rates had a considerable negative impact on the germinability of M. riley on the medium surface, and all tested formulations did not protect conidia from damage by these chemicals. This harmful effect also impacted host infectivity, as the larval mortality owing to this fungus was reduced by 30-40% compared to that of the fungicide-free treatments. In field trials conducted in two subsequent years, unformulated and formulated M. rileyi conidia applied to soybean plants produced primary infection sites in caterpillar populations after a single spray. Spraying unformulated or formulated M. rileyi conidia following fungicide application on plants did not affect host infection rates over time. Moreover, the use of M. rileyi-based formulations or chemical fungicide did not interfere with the natural infection rates by P. gammae on its host, C. includens. Although a higher degree of exposure to non-selective fungicides can negatively affect fungal entomopathogens, a single foliar application of fungicides may be harmless to both M. rileyi and P. gammae in soybean fields. Additionally, this work showed that naturally occurring wasps and tachnids also play an important role in the regulation of A. gemmatalis and, notably, C. includens, with parasitism rates above 40-50% in some cases.
Subject(s)
Fungicides, Industrial , Metarhizium , Moths , Animals , Glycine max , Larva/microbiology , Crops, Agricultural , Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Here we present two cases of entomophthoramycosis in young children, these were the first cases ever diagnosed at our center. Both cases represented a diagnostic and treatment challenge. Surgical treatment was key in the management of both patients. Even though atypical disease was encountered, clinical response was obtained after surgical excision and antifungal treatment for a few months.
ABSTRACT
Neozygites floridana is a pathogenic fungus and natural enemy of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), which is an important polyphagous plant pest. The aim of this study was to reveal and predict what combination of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and time that enables and promotes primary conidia production and capilliconidia formation in N. floridana (Brazilian isolate ESALQ 1420), in both a detached leaf assay mimicking climatic conditions in the leaf boundary layer and in a semi-field experiment. In the detached leaf assay, a significant number of conidia were produced at 90% RH but the highest total number of primary conidia and proportion of capilliconidia was found at 95 and 100% RH at 25 °C. Positive temperature and RH effects were observed and conidia production was highest in the 8 to 12 h interval. The semi-field experiment showed that for a >90% probability of N. floridana sporulation, a minimum of 6 h with RH >90% and 10 h with temperatures >21 °C, or 6 h with temperatures >21 °C and 15 h with RH >90% was needed. Our study identified suitable conditions for primary- and capilliconidia production in this Brazilian N. floridana isolate. This information provides an important base for building models of a Decision Support System (DSS) where this natural enemy may be used as a tool in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and a base for developing in vivo production systems of N. floridana.
ABSTRACT
The genus Neozygites has been known in Brazil until now only on mites, and this is its first report on aphids in Brazil. Tree-dwelling aphids (Cinara sp.) on a cypress tree were regularly monitored for entomopathogenic fungi in the city of Terezópolis de Goiás in Central Brazil between July 2014 and April 2015. During the survey, mycosed aphids were found attached to twigs. The fungus was identified morphologically as Neozygites osornensis. No in vitro cultures were established from infected aphids. The finding reported here suggests that special attention should be paid in the future for the possible occurrences of Neozygites species wherever cinaran aphids occur around the globe.
Subject(s)
Aphids/microbiology , Fungi/classification , Fungi/pathogenicity , Animals , BrazilABSTRACT
An entomophthoralean fungus causing epizootics in populations of the cypress aphid, Cinara cupressi Buckton, in Chile is described as a new species, Neozygites osornensis Montalva et Barta. The aphid pathogen is described based on morphological characters. An exhaustive description, illustrations and a comparison with closely related species are provided. The fungus differs from similar Neozygites species by smaller hyphal bodies, nuclei, primary conidia, capilliconidia and capilliphores and by noticeably different shape of capilliconidia. A key to aphid-pathogenic species of Neozygites is also included.
Subject(s)
Aphids/microbiology , Entomophthorales/classification , Entomophthorales/isolation & purification , Animals , Chile , Cupressus , Entomophthorales/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Pandora neoaphidis overwintering had been investigated by monitoring its prevalence in Myzus persicae populations in open fields. Cabbage plants in field plots were weekly taken after mycosis initiation, to count and examine the living and dead aphids infected by P. neoaphidis. Based on the field data, infection levels (I) varied with field temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and aphid count (numbers of living aphids per plant, N) over days (D), fitting well to the modified logistic equation I=0.91/[1+exp(8.5+(2.0H T H RH-20.2NI0)D)] (r²=0.897), where H T indicated daily hours of low temperature (<4°C), H RH daily hours of high air humidity (>90% RH) and I0 primary infection level. The model demonstrated the abiotic and biotic factors influencing P. neoaphidis mycosis development in winter, and also verifies the fungal overwintering by infecting available host aphids without a resting stage. Ultimately, P. neoaphidis mycosis reduced 81.4% of aphid populations, presenting great potential for biocontrol.
Subject(s)
Abiotic Factors , Aphids/pathogenicity , Environmental Monitoring , Fungi , Hibernation , Models, Anatomic , Mycoses , Vegetables , Brassica , Environmental Microbiology , Food Samples , Methods , Prevalence , MethodsABSTRACT
Pandora neoaphidis overwintering had been investigated by monitoring its prevalence in Myzus persicae populations in open fields. Cabbage plants in field plots were weekly taken after mycosis initiation, to count and examine the living and dead aphids infected by P. neoaphidis . Based on the field data, infection levels ( I) varied with field temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and aphid count (numbers of living aphids per plant, N) over days ( D), fitting well to the modified logistic equation I =0.91/[1+exp(8.5+(2.0 H T H RH-20.2 NI 0) D)] ( r (2)=0.897), where H T indicated daily hours of low temperature (<4°C), H RH daily hours of high air humidity (>90% RH) and I 0 primary infection level. The model demonstrated the abiotic and biotic factors influencing P. neoaphidis mycosis development in winter, and also verifies the fungal overwintering by infecting available host aphids without a resting stage. Ultimately, P. neoaphidis mycosis reduced 81.4% of aphid populations, presenting great potential for biocontrol.
ABSTRACT
Pandora neoaphidis overwintering had been investigated by monitoring its prevalence in Myzus persicae populations in open fields. Cabbage plants in field plots were weekly taken after mycosis initiation, to count and examine the living and dead aphids infected by P. neoaphidis. Based on the field data, infection levels (I) varied with field temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and aphid count (numbers of living aphids per plant, N) over days (D), fitting well to the modified logistic equation I=0.91/[1+exp(8.5+(2.0H T H RH-20.2NI0)D)] (r²=0.897), where H T indicated daily hours of low temperature ( 4°C), H RH daily hours of high air humidity (>90% RH) and I0 primary infection level. The model demonstrated the abiotic and biotic factors influencing P. neoaphidis mycosis development in winter, and also verifies the fungal overwintering by infecting available host aphids without a resting stage. Ultimately, P. neoaphidis mycosis reduced 81.4% of aphid populations, presenting great potential for biocontrol.
ABSTRACT
Three species of Entomophthorales entomopathogenic fungi (Zygomycotina: Zygomycetes) have been identified from insects in agricultural crops (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina): Zoophthora radicans Batko (Brefeld); Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu and Pandora gammae (Weiser) Humber. Fungal structure measurements are reported.
Se informa de tres especies de hongos Entomophthorales en insectos encontrados en cultivos agrícolas en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina: Zoophthora radicans Batko (Brefeld); Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu y Pandora gammae (Weiser) Humber. Se incluyen las medidas de las estructuras fúngicas.
Subject(s)
Animals , Entomophthorales/pathogenicity , Insecta/microbiology , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Crops, Agricultural/microbiology , Zygomycosis/microbiology , Argentina , Population Density , Entomophthorales/classification , Entomophthorales/isolation & purification , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Relata-se o resultado de um inventário de patógenos de ácaros plantícolas e edáficos realizado através de um estudo da diversidade de ácaros de importância agrícola, principalmente no estado de São Paulo. Várias espécies de Eriophyoidea foram encontradas infectadas por espécies do fungo Hirsutella sp. Esporos de resistência de fungos Entomophthorales foram observados em ácaros das seguintes famílias: Ascidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tetranychidae e Tydeidae. Uma infecção do eriofiídeo Retracus johnstoni Keifer, associado à palmeira Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman,por Cladosporium sp., também foi observada. Este fungo foi isolado e cultivado em meio artificial. Possíveis usos dos patógenos encontrados para fins de controle biológico são discutidos.
During a study on the diversity of mites of agricultural importance, we made an inventory of pathogens infecting plant inhabiting and edaphic mites, mainly in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Several species of Eriophyoidea were found to be infected by Hirsutella sp. Resting spores of Entomophthorales were observed in mites of the following families: Ascidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tetranychidae and Tydeidae. A Cladosporium sp. infection was noted in the eriophyid Retracus johnstoni Keifer, a pest of the palm tree Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman. The fungus was isolated and cultured in artificial medium. The possible use of the observed pathogens for microbial control purposes is discussed.
ABSTRACT
The germination processes of ARS-1590, ARS-1261 and ARS-1229 isolates of Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko on fifth-instar Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore, 1957) nymphs, at 20ºC and 100% relative humidity were investigated and compared. The primary conidia on the insect germinated within two hours after inoculation for all isolates. The total production of germ tubes tended to be equal to that of capilliconidium on the host body, 12 hours after inoculation. The secondary conidia proportion, among the forms produced by the primary conidia on the insect, did not exceed 25% in all body regions.
Foram analisados e comparados os processos de germinação dos isolados ARS-1590, ARS-1261 e ARS-1229 de Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko sobre ninfas do 5º ínstar de Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore, 1957) a 20ºC e 100% de umidade relativa (RH). A germinação dos conídios primários dos isolados sobre o inseto iniciou-se dentro do período de duas horas após a inoculação. A produção total de tubos germinativos tendeu a se igualar a de capiloconídios sobre o corpo do hospedeiro, doze horas após a inoculação. A proporção de conídios secundários, dentro das formas geradas pelos conídios primários germinados sobre o inseto, não ultrapassou 25% em qualquer das regiões do corpo.
ABSTRACT
The penetration ability of ARS-1590, ARS-1261 and ARS-1229 isolates of Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko on fifth-instar Empoasca kraemeri (Hoss & Moore) nymphs, at 20°C and 100% relative humidity (RH), were investigated and compared. The apressorium formation and isolates penetration began within the six hours after inoculation. The penetration occured in greater proportion in the abdome, followed by the thorax and head, more often through membranes than sclerites.
Foram analisados e comparados os processos de germinação e habilidade de infecção dos isolados ARS-1590, ARS-1261 e ARS-1229 de Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko sobre ninfas do 5º ínstar de Empoasca kraemeri (Hoss & Moore) em ambiente de 20°C e 100% de umidade relativa. A formação de apressório e penetração dos isolados iniciaram-se dentro do período de seis horas após a inoculação. As penetrações dos isolados ocorreram em maior proporção no abdome, seguido do tórax e cabeça do inseto, tendo sido mais frequente nas membranas do corpo do que nos escleritos.
ABSTRACT
The penetration ability of ARS-1590, ARS-1261 and ARS-1229 isolates of Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko on fifth-instar Empoasca kraemeri (Hoss & Moore) nymphs, at 20°C and 100% relative humidity (RH), were investigated and compared. The apressorium formation and isolates penetration began within the six hours after inoculation. The penetration occured in greater proportion in the abdome, followed by the thorax and head, more often through membranes than sclerites.
Foram analisados e comparados os processos de germinação e habilidade de infecção dos isolados ARS-1590, ARS-1261 e ARS-1229 de Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko sobre ninfas do 5º ínstar de Empoasca kraemeri (Hoss & Moore) em ambiente de 20°C e 100% de umidade relativa. A formação de apressório e penetração dos isolados iniciaram-se dentro do período de seis horas após a inoculação. As penetrações dos isolados ocorreram em maior proporção no abdome, seguido do tórax e cabeça do inseto, tendo sido mais frequente nas membranas do corpo do que nos escleritos.
ABSTRACT
The germination processes of ARS-1590, ARS-1261 and ARS-1229 isolates of Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko on fifth-instar Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore, 1957) nymphs, at 20ºC and 100% relative humidity were investigated and compared. The primary conidia on the insect germinated within two hours after inoculation for all isolates. The total production of germ tubes tended to be equal to that of capilliconidium on the host body, 12 hours after inoculation. The secondary conidia proportion, among the forms produced by the primary conidia on the insect, did not exceed 25% in all body regions.
Foram analisados e comparados os processos de germinação dos isolados ARS-1590, ARS-1261 e ARS-1229 de Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko sobre ninfas do 5º ínstar de Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore, 1957) a 20ºC e 100% de umidade relativa (RH). A germinação dos conídios primários dos isolados sobre o inseto iniciou-se dentro do período de duas horas após a inoculação. A produção total de tubos germinativos tendeu a se igualar a de capiloconídios sobre o corpo do hospedeiro, doze horas após a inoculação. A proporção de conídios secundários, dentro das formas geradas pelos conídios primários germinados sobre o inseto, não ultrapassou 25% em qualquer das regiões do corpo.