FI-1045: A Profile of a Commercially Useful Isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae

The isolate FI-1045 is the basis of a mycoinsecticide, BioCane TM granules recently registered for the control of greyback canegrub, Dermolepida albohirtum (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) in Australian sugarcane fields. The isolate was obtained from a naturally infected larva of D. albohirtum collected from Tully in north Queensland. The isolate can be distinguished from others infecting the same insect and also other species of canegrub by means of RAPD patterns and sequence data from the ITS region. A comparison of a stored FI-1045 isolate with three derived isolates which had different histories of host-passage, showed no variation in RAPD pattern. All isolates grew well at temperatures between 20 and 30°C but did not grow at 35°C and grew slowly at 15°C. However, on potato dextrose agar, the original FI-1045 grew more rapidly and did not produce as much pigment as the derived isolates. It is speculated that this difference was due to the storage method used with the original FI-1045 being stored at -70°C and the other isolates being freeze-dried. Bioassays against third instar greyback canegrubs gave a mean LC 50 of 8.7 ×10 4 conidia g -1 peat substrate after 10 weeks. Using Tenebrio molitor as a host, it was found that conidia taken directly from the infected insect were similar in virulence to the cultured FI-1045. Using injection of culture filtrate as the assay method, it was found that FI-1045 produced destruxins. In laboratory host range tests, a dose of 10 6 conidia g -1 peat killed 96% of southern oneyear canegrubs, Antitrogus consanguineius , 85% of Lepidiota picticollis and less than 30% of the other five species of canegrub tested.     

Effect of fungicides and insecticides applied during planting of sugarcane on viability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> and its efficacy against white grubs

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin is used for control of white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in sugarcane fields in Queensland, Australia. Eight fungicides and three liquid insecticides are currently registered for application to sugarcane at planting, and may come into contact with M. anisopliae during its application from cane planters. Seven of these were tested for deleterious effects on two isolates of M. anisopliae, FI-147 and FI-1045, in laboratory and field experiments. In growth studies on medium, the four most commonly used fungicides were much more harmful to growth of M. anisopliae than the three insecticides. In a field experiment, where rice granules covered with spores of M. anisopliae were sprayed with each of four fungicides and two insecticides at very high rates and then covered with soil, only the fungicide Shirtan (methoxy ethyl mercuric chloride) showed any toxic effect on spore viability, with a reduction from 82 to 69%. No harmful effect of any chemical was detected in counts of colony-forming units in soil samples or in bioassays of treated soil using white grubs. Spore viability was not reduced when FI-1045 on rice granules (BioCane) was applied with fungicides through nine commercial planters, including five using Shirtan, compared with granules buried in untreated soil. Thus, we believe that M. anisopliae is compatible with these chemicals in commercial practice.     

Effects of chemical and botanical insecticides used for locust control on Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum conidia after short- to medium-term storage at 30°C

The short- to medium-term viability and growth of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum conidia were investigated when combined with six insecticides, at three different concentrations. All of the insecticides used in this study were suitable for immediate spraying with M. anisopliae var. acridum conidia except for fenitrothion. Fipronil, teflubenzuron, and fenitrothion formulations significantly reduced conidial viability over time. The 10% teflubenzuron treatment caused loss of viability relatively quickly with 9.9% germination after 28 days. Mycelial growth was affected by all the treatments except fenitrothion.     

Environmental contamination with Metarhizium anisopliae from fungal bands for control of the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Our objective was to determine whether conidia from non-woven fiber bands impregnated with Metarhizium anisopliae F 52 could be spread to other parts of the environment, and whether Anoplophora glabripennis could become infected with conidia dispersed from fungal bands. In the field, bands containing M. anisopliae were hung at 3 m height on 15 trees. Bark samples were taken 10, 20, and 30 cm above the bands and 10, 30, and 60 cm below the bands 2, 5, and 9 days after band placement to quantify conidial densities. There were more conidia in samples taken below bands compared with samples taken above bands. A significant positive correlation was found between rainfall and the occurrence of conidia on any of the bark samples. A laboratory study was conducted to determine whether conidia from M. anisopliae fungal bands could be spread to other parts of the environment by A. glabripennis adults and whether A. glabripennis could become infected by conidia dispersed from fungal bands. One or five adult A. glabripennis were used to contaminate artificial environments with conidia. All adults subsequently exposed to contaminated environments were killed by fungal infection. Beetles exposed to environments that had been contaminated by five beetles died in fewer days compared with environments contaminated by one beetle. Beetles in both density treatments died in fewer days than beetles exposed to environments without M. anisopliae conidia. Our results indicate that environmental contamination with conidia from fungal bands can occur, and that adult A. glabripennis can acquire infection from a contaminated environment.     

Biological control of Strophosoma spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in greenery (Abies procera) plantations using Hyphomycetes

In Abies procera plantations Strophosoma melanogrammum and S. capitatum cause economic damage due to the adult stage feeding on the needles. No chemical treatments of these weevils are allowed in Denmark, so the potential of biological control was evaluated. We studied pathogenicity of thirteen isolates of entomopathogenic fungi and the field effect of soil application of Metarhizium anisopliae against Strophosoma spp. All of the tested isolates were capable of causing infections under laboratory conditions and average survival time at 20°C ranged between 13 and 23 days for S. melanogrammum and between 23 and 28 days for S. capitatum when dipped in a fungal suspension adjusted to 1×10⁷ conidia mL^-1. Under field conditions up to 90% of the living collected individuals died due to M. anisopliae infection in the treated plots, whereas less than 1% died of M. anisopliae infection in control plots. In accordance, the population of Strophosoma spp. was reduced in plots where the fungus was applied compared to control plots.     

Prospects of a fungus-contamination device for the control of tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes

The prospects of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. applied in contamination devices (Cds) to control tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead was tested in a field experiment in Lake Victoria from 2 March 1999 to 31 August 2000. One hundred and sixty pyramidal traps mounted with Cds were deployed along the lakeshore and rivers on Mfangano Island. Contamination devices were loaded with 1.5-2.0 g of dry conidia/Cd. On the second island, Nzenze Island, four pyramidal traps fitted with plastic bags were deployed and served as the conventional 'trap and kill' population suppression method. A third island, Ngodhe Island, remained untreated and served as a control. Cds were recharged monthly with fresh conidia; plastic bags were also changed monthly. The apparent changes in population density were monitored weekly using biconical traps set at random on the three islands. To assess the incidence of M. anisopliae in tsetse flies on Mfangano Island, flies captured during monitoring were maintained in the laboratory and their mortality recorded. Fly population was reduced to 82.4 and 95.8% relative to untreated control on Mfangano and Nzenze islands, respectively, during the experimental period. Compared to the fungus-treated island, the number of flies caught in monitoring traps increased considerably in 'trap kill' treatment at 5 months after the treatments were removed. The incidence of M. anisopliae in fly populations was low during the 12 weeks following the initiation of the experiment but increased afterward until termination of the treatment. M. anisopliae could still be recovered from fly populations at 3 months after termination of the treatment, although the incidence was low. The results of this study have shown that application of M. anisopliae in a contamination device can suppress the population of G. fuscipes fuscipes comparable to the 'trap and kill' technology.     

Evaluating the importance of residual effects from previous years' treatment on the efficiency of different strategies for control of Sahelian grasshoppers with Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum

A model for the residual effect of previous years' treatment with the mycoinsecticide Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum has been constructed based on field data from treatment of two different grasshopper species in east Niger. This model was incorporated in an earlier developed simulation model to evaluate control strategies for the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis in West Africa and the model system was used to assess the potential importance of second year's residual effects for the efficiency of different treatment strategies. It has earlier been hypothesized that the persistence of M. anisopliae and the ability of this agent to impose long-term control on grasshopper populations through secondary cycling in some cases might render the use of M. anisopliae more efficient than the use of chemical insecticides like fenitrothion. Results show that this effect is possible if M. anisopliae is used in a repetitive treatment strategy where control operations are concentrated in the main millet production areas.     

Interaction Between the Entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and the Mycoparasites Clonostachys spp., Trichoderma harzianum and Lecanicillium lecanii

Biocontrol agents of numerous insect pests and fungal pathogens exist but virtually nothing is known about their interaction if used simultaneously. Our objective was to investigate the compatibility of the entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, and the broad host-range mycoparasites Clonostachys spp., Trichoderma harzianum and Lecanicillium lecanii. In vitro host-range tests revealed that M. anisopliae was highly susceptible to all mycoparasites tested. B. bassiana was attacked by Clonostachys rosea, and P. fumosoroseus. was resistant to mycoparasites. M. anisopliae but not P. fumosoroseus killed nymphs of Bemisia tabaci in bioassays. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae proved lethal to Cosmopolites sordidus, Diatraea saccharalis and Sitophilus oryzae. Coapplication of mycoparasites with entomopathogens did not affect their biocontrol efficacy in vivo, although the reisolation success of entomopathogens could be significantly reduced, especially from smaller insect species. Trichoderma spp. were reisolated from mycoparasite-treated insects more frequently than C. rosea. The coapplication of the highly susceptible M. anisopliae generally enhanced mycoparasite recovery. Mycofungicide preparations caused some insect mortality but less than a copper hydroxide fungicide which is still permissible in organic agriculture. We concluded that the tested entomopathogens and mycoparasites are compatible elements of integrated pest management.     

Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) for Control of the Green Leafhopper Empoasca decipiens (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Potential Side Effects on the Egg Parasitoid Anagrus atomus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

The efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae strain Ma43 and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus strain Pfr12 (both Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) against adults of Empoasca decipiens (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and potential side effects on the egg parasitoid Anagrus atomus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), were investigated in greenhouse cage and laboratory experiments. Treating leafhopper-infested faba bean plants at a dose rate of 1×10⁷ conidia mL^-1 resulted in up to 97% mortality 7 days after application and a 100% infection rate. Experiments on the residual effects revealed a significant decrease in adult E. decipiens mortality with increasing time from application to insect release. The decrease in mortality over time corresponded well with data from conidia germination tests. The germination of conidia on agar medium after washing them from the surafce of sprayed plants declined significantly from 95 and 96% immediately after application for M. anisopliae Ma43 and P. fumosoroseus Pfr12, respectively, to 29 and 27% 5 days later. Experiments on potential side effects of the entomopathogenic fungi on A. atomus showed that the tested isolates had no influence on adult emergence and longevity; however, the rates of parasitism were significantly reduced by the fungal treatments. The latter might be due to either density effects and/or could indicate that A. atomus avoids fungal-treated plants. However, the parasitoid is substantially less susceptible to the fungal strains tested than the host itself.     

Laboratory investigations on the potential of entomopathogenic fungi for biocontrol of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae and pupae

The susceptibility of third instar Helicoverpa armigera to seven strains of three entomopathogenic fungal species, i.e. Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, was tested under laboratory conditions using the larval immersion method. High efficacies ranging from 68 to 100% corrected mortality were recorded with more profound effects in treatments with B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus strains. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for L3 was 6.0×10⁵ in M. anisopliae 79, 1.5×10⁵ in B. bassiana 124 and 4.2×10⁴ in P. fumosoroseus 14. These three strains were further used to characterize the age-dependent mortality of different larval stages (L2-L5) and the effect against pupae of H. armigera. Larval stages did not differ in their mortality but differed i in median lethal time, with shorter values recorded in the second instar. Tested fungi also caused a high reduction between 74.4 and 100% in the emergence of pupae using the soil inoculation method and the pupal immersion technique. All three fungal species, especially P. fumosoroseus, have a high potential for biocontrol of H. armigera larvae and also as a soil treatment targeting the pupae.     

中国西南高黎贡山绿僵菌物种多样性及其垂直分布特征

云南高黎贡山具有多样化的生态系统和生物资源。为探清该地区绿僵菌属(Metarhizium)真菌的物种多样性及其不同海拔的垂直分布特征, 沿海拔梯度(600-3,800 m)在7种典型植被类型(I: 干热河谷; II: 季风常绿阔叶林; III: 暖性针叶林; IV: 中山暖性常绿阔叶林; V: 山地苔藓矮林; VI: 寒温性灌丛或草甸; VII: 流石滩稀疏植被)中调查绿僵菌资源。从生境土壤中分离菌株, 通过多基因(nrSSU、nrLSU、EF-1α、RPB1和RPB2)系统发育分析进行物种鉴定。结果表明, 高黎贡山绿僵菌物种资源丰富, 获得的161株菌株分属于12个物种(Metarhizium rileyi, M. viridulum, M. lepidiotae, M. brunneum, M. pingshaense, M. anisopliae, M. robertsii, M. guizhouense, M. indigoticum, M. pemphigi, M. campsosterni和Metacordyceps neogunnii), 其中M. indigoticum为中国新记录种, M. anisopliae complex中的物种(8种)较集中; 同时还采集到了绿僵菌的近缘属Nigelia属物种N. martiale。高黎贡山绿僵菌广泛分布于除类型VII (海拔3,600-3,800 m)外的6种植被类型(海拔600-3,400 m)中。中低海拔植被类型(I-IV)中菌株数量较多(≥23株)、物种多样性较高(4-9种), 而高海拔植被类型(V-VI)中菌株数量较少(2-8株)、物种较单一(1-2种)。中海拔的常绿阔叶林中绿僵菌资源最丰富, 其中季风常绿阔叶林(植被类型II)中的菌株数量(52株, 占总数的32.3%)和物种数(9种)最多; 中山湿性常绿阔叶林(植被类型IV)为其次(47株, 占总数的29.2%; 7种)。高黎贡山绿僵菌优势种现象明显, M. brunneum为最优势物种, 其菌株数占总数的46.6%, 在生境条件差异很大的6种植被类型(I-VI)中都存在, 说明该物种生态适应能力最强。     

Review on safety of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin is widely used for biocontrol of pest insects, and many commercial products are on the market or under development. The aim of this review is to summarise all relevant safety data of this fungus, which are necessary for the commercialisation and registration process. The review contains the following sections: (1) identity, (2) biological properties (history, natural occurrence and geographical distribution, host range, mode of action, production of metabolites/toxins, effect of environmental factors), (3) methods to determine and quantify residues, (4) fate and behaviour in the environment (mobility and persistence in air, water and soil), (5) effects on non-target organisms (microorganisms, plants, soil organisms, aquatic organisms, predators, parasitoids, honey bees, earth worms, etc.), (6) effects on vertebrates (fish, amphibia, reptiles, and birds), and (7) effects on mammals and human health (allergy, pathogenicity/toxicity). On the basis of the presented knowledge, M. anisopliae is considered to be safe with minimal risks to vertebrates, humans and the environment.     

Laboratory and glasshouse evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), on tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum

Forty isolates of entomopathogenic fungi from six genera were assessed against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in a single dose, direct application laboratory bioassay on tomato leaflets. Only three isolates caused greater mortality than the control: these were Metarhizium anisopliae 442.99, Hirsutella spp. 457.99, and Verticillium lecanii 450.99. These isolates were assessed in a multiple dose bioassay, together with three isolates cultured from commercial biopesticides as follows: Beauveria bassiana 432.99 (cultured from 'Naturalis-L', Troy Biosciences, Phoenix, TX, USA); Hirsutella thompsonii 463.99 (cultured from 'Mycar', Abbott Laboratories USA); and V. lecanii 19.79 (used in 'Mycotal' Koppert BV, The Netherlands). Beauveria bassiana 432.99, H. thompsonii 463.99, M. anisopliae 442.99, and V. lecanii 450.99 were all pathogenic to T. urticae in this bioassay. In addition, it was found that the mortality caused by B. bassiana 432.99 and Naturalis-L was increased when the mites were exposed to tomato leaflets sprayed previously with conidia suspensions, compared to spraying the mites directly. In a glasshouse experiment, sprays of B. bassiana 432.99, H. thompsonii 463.99, M. anisopliae 442.99, V. lecanii 450.99 and Naturalis-L reduced T. urticae populations in a tomato crop grown according to commercial practice. Naturalis-L reduced T. urticae numbers by up to 97%. In a second glasshouse experiment, single sprays of Naturalis-L and the acaricide fenbutatin oxide (Torq) were compared as supplementary treatments to release of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis. Supplementary sprays of fenbutatin oxide reduced the numbers of T. urticae nymphs (80% reduction), while Naturalis-L reduced numbers of T. urticae adults, nymphs and eggs (98% reduction in all three cases). It is concluded that Naturalis-L has the potential to be used against T. urticae on glasshouse tomato crops.     

Whey for mass production of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae

Spore production of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae was studied in a novel whey-based culture media. Spore yield and viability were determined for two B. bassiana (GHA-726 and CA-603) and two M. anisopliae (CA-1 and IMI 330189) isolates following production in three whey-based systems: solid, liquid, and a diphasic production system. Our study indicated that whey permeate can be used effectively for production of spores of entomopathogenic fungi. However, spore yield and viability were significantly influenced by fungal isolate, whey concentration, and the type of production process used. Under the conditions defined in the present study, spore yields ranging from 1.3 × 10⁹–10 × 10¹¹ spores l⁻¹ of whey medium could be obtained depending on the strain and production process used. Our study revealed that spores produced by all strains in whey-based solid and liquid media showed between 73–99 % viability; germination rates were comparable with those obtained using the standard SDA medium. In the two-stage production process, the viabilities of conidia produced by GHA-726, CA-603, and CA-1 were 35–86, 32–98, and 6–29 %, respectively; viability was correlated with whey concentration and isolates. Whey permeate can be used as a growth substrate for mass production of biocontrol fungi. We hypothesize that spore yield and viability could be improved by careful selection of whey content in the medium, incorporation of critical additives and optimization of culture conditions.     

Effects of Rehydration on the Conidial Viability of Metarhizium flavoviride Mycopesticide Formulations

The rehydration of dried conidia of Metarhizium flavoviride was investigated in an attempt to increase speed of kill of locusts and grasshoppers by formulations of this fungus. Conidia were dried to 4-5% moisture content with no apparent adverse effects on viability, but rapid rehydration (by putting dried conidia directly in free water) reduced viability. Rehydration in an atmosphere of high humidity allowed dry conidia to absorb sufficient moisture to avoid imbibition damage. Rehydrating and pre-germinating conidia prior to spraying (in an oil-based formulation) on to the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, did not decrease the time to death, suggesting that moisture uptake by dry conidia on the desert locust cuticle is easily achieved.     

A comparative study of two Mexican isolates with an Australian isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum – strain characterisation, temperature profile and virulence for wingless grasshopper, Phaulacridium vittatum

Three isolates of Metarhiziumanisopliae var. acridum, FI-985,from the spur-throated locust, Austracrisguttulosa from Australia, and QF-01 and QF-02both from Schistocerca piceifrons inMexico were compared. FI-985 had much largerconidia than the other two isolates and alsohad a different colony appearance. The twoMexican isolates showed small differences inconidial size and colony morphology. Over arange of 6 primers, RAPDs patterns were verysimilar in that the two Mexican isolates being identical, and FI-985 having some unique bandsonly with 2 primers. The 3 isolates were alsosimilar in growth profiles on agar plates, andat high temperatures (36°C), QF-01 didnot grow while the other two isolates grewslowly. All three isolates were similar invirulence for wingless grasshoppers, Phaulacridium vittatum, at 20–30°C but at 35°C, FI-985 was the mostvirulent and QF-01 the least over a range of 3doses. At 15°C, FI-985 was also the mostvirulent with QF-02 being least virulent. At30°C, the LD₅₀ at 17 days rangedfrom 248 conidia for QF-02 to 501 conidia forFI-985, however the differences were notsignificant (p > 0.05). It is suggested thatconsideration should be given to using anexotic isolate such as FI-985 as a commerciallocust biopesticide in countries such asMexico, since the isolate is cheap to massproduce, more effective at higher temperaturescommon in tropical to subtropical Mexico, andrelatively resistant to UV.     

Delayed Germination of Beauveria bassiana Conidia after Prolonged Storage at Low, Above-freezing Temperatures

Powder formulations were prepared with conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana strain 447 originally isolated in Brazil from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. The carrier materials used in formulations included talc hydrous magnesium silicate , silica gel, powdered rice and cornstarch. The formulations were stored in plastic containers under three conditions: a ambient temperature 15-38 C ; b refrigerator 6 2 C ; and c freezer 10- 7 C . Formulations stored under ambient temperature conditions completely lost viability after 1-8 months. Unformulated conidia stored under ambient conditions were totally unviable after just 2 months. All formulations stored under refrigerator and freezer conditions maintained 100 viability for 7 years. The virulences of the conidial preparations against adult workers of the fire ant, S. saevissima, and the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, were higher for fresh conidia or conidia stored in the freezer than for conidia stored in the refrigerator. After 30 months of storage, the unformulated conidia and the formulations stored in the refrigerator showed slow germination and had low virulence. There was a strong correlation between the rate of germination and the virulence toward D. saccharalis, but not toward S. saevissima.     

Selection of an Isolate of the Insect Pathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae Virulent to the Lettuce Root Aphid, Pemphigus bursarius

The virulence of hyphomycete entomopathogenic fungi was measured in laboratory bioassays against the lettuce root aphid, Pemphigus bursarius, a serious pest of field lettuce grown in the UK. Of 25 isolates of fungi examined, only one isolate, Metarhizium anisopliae 391.93, killed lettuce root aphids consistently. This fungus was isolated originally from the closely related saltmarsh aphid, P. trehernei. The median lethal concentration of conidia at 10 days post6- 1 inoculation estimated from five independent bioassays was 2.45 × 10⁶ conidia ml^-1. The fungus had no significant effect on the mean number of offspring/aphid produced, but it sporulated 6 profusely on host cadavers, producing approximately 4 × 10⁶ conidia/cadaver 14 days after treatment, and diseased aphids died attached to plant roots. It thus has the potential to spread through densely packed colonies of P. bursarius feeding on the roots of susceptible or partially resistant plants.     

Osa‐miR167d facilitates infection of Magnaporthe oryzae in rice

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in rice response to Magnaporthe oryzae, the causative agent of rice blast disease. Studying the roles of rice miRNAs is of great significance for the disease control. Osa‐miR167d belongs to a conserved miRNA family targeting auxin responsive factor (ARF) genes that act in developmental and stress‐induced responses. Here, we show that Osa‐miR167d plays a negative role in rice immunity against M. oryzae by suppressing its target gene. The expression of Osa‐miR167d was significantly suppressed in a resistant accession at and after 24 h post inoculation (hpi), however, its expression was significantly increased at 24 hpi in the susceptible accession upon M. oryzae infection. Transgenic rice lines over‐expressing Osa‐miR167d were highly susceptible to multiple blast fungal strains. By contrast, transgenic lines expressing a target mimicry to block Osa‐miR167d enhanced resistance to rice blast disease. In addition, knocking out the target gene ARF12 led to hyper‐susceptibility to multiple blast fungal strains. Taken together, our results indicate that Osa‐miR167d negatively regulate rice immunity to facilitate the infection of M. oryzae by downregulating ARF12. Thus, Osa‐miR167d‐ARF12 regulatory module could be valuable in improvement of blast‐disease resistance.     

植被修复对重度盐碱地土壤酶活性和酶反应热力学特征的影响

由于环境变化和人为干扰,松嫩平原盐碱化土地面积不断增加,盐碱化程度也在不断加剧。本试验以松嫩平原西部盐碱化土壤为对象,研究了自然植被、羊草、燕麦和苜蓿修复对重度盐碱化土壤2种氧化还原酶(过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶)和3种水解酶(碱性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶)活性和酶反应热力学特征的影响。结果表明: 随着温度的升高,5种土壤酶活性、活化自由能(ΔG)都逐渐升高,在40 ℃(或45 ℃)时达到最高,而土壤酶的活化焓(ΔH)和活化熵(ΔS)无显著变化;温度每增加10 ℃时的温度系数(Q₁₀)变化较小,范围为1.05～1.36。与裸地相比,过氧化氢酶活性在自然植被和羊草修复地升高,而在燕麦和苜蓿修复地降低,ΔG和酶活性的变化规律则相反,而ΔH、ΔS在羊草、燕麦修复地升高,在自然植被和苜蓿修复地降低;多酚氧化酶活性在各修复地都降低或不变,ΔH、ΔS在自然植被和羊草修复地降低,而在燕麦和苜蓿修复地不变,ΔG在各修复样地都表现为在40 ℃时升高,在其他温度下均降低或不变。在各修复地,3种水解酶活性均升高,酶的ΔG降低或不变,而ΔH和ΔS则差异较大。土壤酶活性及其热力学特征对温度变化和植被修复的响应存在较大差异。研究结果可为重度盐碱化土壤的修复提供理论依据。