Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana,Metarhizium anisopliae and Serratia marcescens to the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus

Two exotic fungal isolates, one of Beauveria bassiana (268–86) and another of Metarhizium anisopliae (100–82), three local isolates of B. bassiana (isolates I, II, III) and one of the entomogenous bacteria Serratia marcescens, were tested for pathogenicity against the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus. All four isolates of B. bassiana and the one of M. anisopliae were found to be pathogenic to third—instar larvae of C. sordidus, causing mortalities of 98–100% by 9 days post—exposure to dry fungal spores. M. anisopliae was the least pathogenic to larvae with LT₅₀ of 4.2 days, compared to 3.5, 3.3, 3.6 and 4.0 respectively for isolates I, II, III and 268–86. B. bassiana was also pathogenic to adult C. sordidus, causing mortalities varying from 63–97% by 35 days post—exposure depending on isolate. As for larvae M. anisopliae exhibited low pathogenicity for the adult C. sordidus. In general, all the fungi tested were less pathogenic to adult weevils (LT₅₀ = 17.5; 12.5; 8.0 and 22.0 days) for isolates I, II, III and 268–86 respectively, while isolate 100–82 failed to kill 50% of adults even by 35 days post—exposure. Incubation of dead weevils in a moist environment led to development of surface mycelia starting from intersegmental junctions. Histopathology revealed extensive destruction of internal organs by hyphae which invaded most of the organs. The LT₅₀ for S. marcescens against C. sordidus larvae was 2.8 days. However, the bacterium did not kill adult C. sordidus even at 10 times the concentration applied on larvae.     

Effects of two pheromone trap densities against banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, populations and their impact on plant damage in Uganda

Abstract:  An on-farm study to evaluate the effect of pheromone trap density on the population of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Col., Curculionidae) was conducted in Masaka district, Uganda. The pheromone used was Cosmolure+, a commercially available weevil aggregation pheromone. Forty-two farms were assigned to one of three treatments: 0, 4 and 8 pheromone traps/ha. Pheromone lures were changed monthly at which time the traps were moved to a different location within the stand. Adult weevil population densities were estimated by using mark and recapture methodology at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months, while damage to the banana corm was assessed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months since the start of the experiment. Pheromone trap captures were generally low: about 10 weevils per trap per month. There were no significant differences in mean catches of C. sordidus per trap per month except for February 2002 when doubling the pheromone trap density decreased weevil catches. Although not significant, decreased efficiency was also the trend in higher trap densities over all the data sets. Doubling the number of traps increased the number of weevils caught per hectare per month from 0.4 to 0.6%. There was no significant difference in plant damage between the pheromone treatments in low- compared with high-trap densities. There were generally no significant differences in weevil populations and plant damage between pheromone-treated and control farms. Possible reasons for the low-trap efficacy in this study are discussed.     

The effects of banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, damage on highland banana growth, yield and stand duration in Uganda

A trial to determine yield losses in East African highland banana (cv. Atwalira) to banana weevil was run between 1994 and 2001 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's Sendusu Farm in Namulonge, Uganda. Banana weevil adults were released into weevil‐infestation plots, while weevils were excluded from controls by trapping and later application of chlorpyrifos. Weevil migration and reproduction in control plots reduced treatment differences in damage during the first 3 yr. Thereafter, weevil damage was heavy in infested plots and negligible in controls. High levels of weevil attack resulted in reduced bunch weights, plant losses, mat disappearance and fewer harvested bunches, with estimated yield losses averaging 42% over the final 4 yr of the trial. The data confirm the importance of banana weevil as an important production constraint of highland banana and support farmer reports that banana weevil attack contributes to shortened plantation life.     

Volatile components of banana pseudostem of a cultivar susceptible to the banana weevil

Volatiles from banana (‘githumo’'cultivar) pseudostem were trapped using porapak S. The trapped volatiles were desorbed from porapak columns by elution with dichloromethane and analysed using GC and GC-MS. The volatile compounds identified included -pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, -cubebene, -copaene, -cedrene, β-caryophyllene and -humulene.     

Different bioassays for investigating orientation responses of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, show additive effects of host plant volatiles and a synthetic male-produced aggregation pheromone

Abstract Three different bioassay methods to investigate the orientation behaviour of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to host plant volatiles and a synthetic pheromone (cosmolure+) were compared. A locomotion compensator was used to separately record walking tracks in response to three odour sources. The data show that C. sordidus uses odour‐conditioned anemotaxis in its orientation to the odour sources tested. Of the two olfactometers tested, a dual port olfactometer using a continuous airflow showed stronger discrimination by C. sordidus to the different odours compared with a double pitfall olfactometer. The results of all three bioassays indicate that C. sordidus responds in an additive way to the combination of fermentation plant volatiles and the synthetic pheromone.     

Migration potential of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus

• 1 The banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major pest in banana (Musa spp.) growing areas. The weevil is known to be relatively sedentary and closely associated with its host plant but little is known about the species' ability to migrate between banana fields and in nonhost habitats.
• 2 Mark–recapture experiments were conducted to assess the weevils' migration potential, possible differences between the sexes, and the relative attractiveness of pseudostem and pheromone baits.
• 3 One thousand two hundred marked weevils were released in the nonhost habitat at five distances (5, 10, 20, 40 and 70 m) from fresh pseudostem, and from pitfall traps baited with 45 mg of sordidin.
• 4 Two hundred males and 200 females were marked and released at five distances (5, 10, 20, 40 and 70 m) from the pheromone traps.
• 5 Distance and distance/bait interactions had a significant effect on recaptured weevils (binary logistic regression). The two baits were almost equally attractive to weevils in the range 0–10 m, whereas the pheromone was more attractive in the range 10–100 m.
• 6 Distance, bait and distance/bait interactions had a significant effect on the time elapsed from release to recapture (regression with life data) but the pattern observed was not consistent.
• 7 There was no significant difference between males and females with respect to distance or time elapsed from release to recapture.
• 8 The results obtained in the present study show that the migration potential of the banana weevil is greater than previously reported. This should be taken into account when new banana fields are established with clean planting material.

     

白僵菌防治菜青虫的研究

通过应用6株白僵菌不同菌株对菜青虫幼虫进行室内和田间防治试验比较,结果表明,不同菌株间的毒力存在显著差异,以筛选自菜青虫僵虫尸上的Bpr3菌株毒力最强,用浓度为1×108 mL-1的孢子液对菜青虫幼虫进行室内和田间感染,室内幼虫校正死亡率达100%,LT50为2.9806 d,田间防治效果达96.6%,经大面积示范应用,取得了显著的防治效果.     

Dactylosternum abdominale (F.) (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): A predator of the banana weevil

The efficacy of predators of the banana weevil was investigated under laboratory and field cage conditions for the different breeding sites of the pest viz. the growing banana sucker and the spent pseudostem and residual rhizome of the sucker after the harvest of the bunch. The indigenous Dactylosternum abdominale (Hydrophilidae) reduced weevil multiplication in suckers by up to 50% and in residual stumps of harvested suckers by 39%. In spent pseudostems D. abdominale reduced the multiplication by 40–90% at different predator population densities while Thyreocephalus interocularis (Staphylinidae) reduced it by 42%. Other predators were unimportant.     

应用白僵菌与溴氰菊酯混合防治马尾松毛虫研究

通过应用白僵菌粉与4种浓度溴氰菊酯粉混合后不同时间孢子萌发情况测定,以及用纯菌粉、药粉和菌药不同比例混合粉,对马尾松毛虫室内毒力测定和林间防治试验比较,筛选出菌粉与0．05％溴氰菊酯粉按4：1比例混合,防治效果最好,并经大面积推广防治示范,平均防治效果达95％以上,分别较纯菌粉和药粉效果提高14．9％和29．5％,具有明显的增效作用,马尾松毛虫死亡高峰期提前5－7天,减少松针损失量,能及时控制住高虫口林分害虫的严重危害、经济、社会和生态效益显著。     

Potential of oil-based formulations of Beauveria bassiana to control Triatoma infestans

The in vitro development of Beauveria bassiana conidia was monitored when immersed in six concentrations of seven non-ionic (MP 6400, MP 600, Renex 60, Renex 95, Span 80, Tween 20 and Tween 80) and three anionic (DOS 75, Hostapaval BVQ 9 and Surfax 220) surfactants and 11 vegetable oils (linseed, soybean, groundnut, rapeseed, thistle, sunflower, olive, sesame, corn, castor, and babassu). The influence of the oils on the settling behavior of Triatoma infestans nymphs and the activity of an oil–water formulation of the fungus against this vector under laboratory and simulated field conditions were also determined. With exception of DOS 75 and Surfax 220 germination of conidia on complete medium was >98% at 24 h after exposure to surfactants up to 10%. Elevated rates of germination (>25%) were observed in 10% corn, thistle and linseed oil 8 days after incubation. Pure oils had a significant repellent effect to T. infestans. Repellency decreased generally at 10% of the oil and some oils showed some attractiveness for nymphs when tested at 1%. Nymphs were highly susceptible to oil–water formulated conidia, even at unfavorable moisture for extra-tegumental development of the fungus on the insect cuticle.     

Deleterious effects of plant cystatins against the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus

The general potential of plant cystatins for the development of insect‐resistant transgenic plants still remains to be established given the natural ability of several insects to compensate for the loss of digestive cysteine protease activities. Here we assessed the potential of cystatins for the development of banana lines resistant to the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus, a major pest of banana and plantain in Africa. Protease inhibitory assays were conducted with protein and methylcoumarin (MCA) peptide substrates to measure the inhibitory efficiency of different cystatins in vitro, followed by a diet assay with cystatin‐infiltrated banana stem disks to monitor the impact of two plant cystatins, oryzacystatin I (OC‐I, or OsCYS1) and papaya cystatin (CpCYS1), on the overall growth rate of weevil larvae. As observed earlier for other Coleoptera, banana weevils produce a variety of proteases for dietary protein digestion, including in particular Z‐Phe‐Arg‐MCA‐hydrolyzing (cathepsin L–like) and Z‐Arg‐Arg‐MCA‐hydrolyzing (cathepsin B–like) proteases active in mildly acidic conditions. Both enzyme populations were sensitive to the cysteine protease inhibitor E‐64 and to different plant cystatins including OsCYS1. In line with the broad inhibitory effects of cystatins, OsCYS1 and CpCYS1 caused an important growth delay in young larvae developing for 10 days in cystatin‐infiltrated banana stem disks. These promising results, which illustrate the susceptibility of C. sordidus to plant cystatins, are discussed in the light of recent hypotheses suggesting a key role for cathepsin B–like enzymes as a determinant for resistance or susceptibility to plant cystatins in Coleoptera. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

球孢白僵菌对温室蚜虫的侵染生物学

研究了球孢白僵菌在不同浓度、施菌方式、温度和相对湿度下对温室蚜虫的侵染力以及接种后对蚜虫的侵染速率。结果表明,高(109个孢子.mL-1)、中(108个孢子.mL-1)、低(107个孢子.mL-1)3个浓度剂量对蚜虫都有较强的致病力,且浓度越大,蚜虫的死亡率越高,死亡时间越提前。用浸渍法和孢子浴法接种蚜虫,6 d的累积死亡率分别为100%和31.1%。在测试的3个温度(22、26、30℃)中,26℃时蚜虫侵染力最强,第3天出现死亡高峰,第5天时累积死亡率就达到100%,明显高于22、30℃的处理。相对湿度越大,球孢白僵菌的致病力越强,蚜虫死亡速度越快。在温湿度组合中相对湿度为95%时,温度对白僵菌的侵染力几乎无影响,但影响发病速度,相对湿度低于95%时,26℃的侵染力始终高于22和30℃时的侵染力。通过接种后不同时间段用0.2%百菌清处理蚜虫测定该菌株的侵染速率,结果表明接种后24 h是该球孢白僵菌有效侵染蚜虫的关键时期。     

Introduction of Beauveria bassiana as a biological control agent for Tribolium castaneum in Kerman province

Barley, Hordeum vulgare, one of the important crops in the word, is used in malting, feed and food industries. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, was found wherever grains or other dried foods are stored. Disinfestations of barley using chemical methods to kill insects, in this research, for the first time we isolated the pathogenic KB512 of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana from soil and insects, which produced aerial and submerged conidia and blastospores in laboratory conditions. We investigated the best conditions for the production and utilisation of spore suspension to spray the larvae of T. castaneum, which is one of the important pests in Kerman province (Iran). One hundred and eighty isolates that naturally infected by T. castaneum were reared during spring and summer seasons 2010–2011. The pathogenicity test was carried out with direct spray. To bioassay the isolates, three concentrations of the spore suspension were prepared as follows: 1?×?10⁶ and 1?×?10⁸ conidia/ml. The pests were sprayed by aerial conidial suspension, which was prepared by 0.01% Tween 80 in distilled water, and the controls were sprayed by 0.01% Tween 80 in distilled water. After spraying the pests, the plates were incubated at 25?±?1?°C and 80% of relative humidity. Then, the treated pests were monitored every day for the fungal growth and mortality.     

不同温、湿度下白僵菌对棉铃虫幼虫的致病力

测试了不同温、湿度下白僵菌Beauveria bassiana对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera幼虫的致病力。实验设置了10、15、20、25、30℃ 5个温度水平,用高浓度（1×10<.sup8孢子/mL）、中浓度（1×10⁷孢子/mL）、低浓度（1×10⁶孢子/mL）的白僵菌孢子液分别感染1～4龄的棉铃虫。结果表明：三个浓度处理的棉铃虫在温度为25℃时的致死中时（LT₅₀）最短,死亡速度最快,死亡率最高;高于或低于此温度时,棉铃虫的LT₅₀延长,死亡速度减慢。相对湿度发生变化时,感病棉铃虫死亡速度和死亡率明显不同。相对湿度为95%左右时,棉铃虫死亡速度最快,死亡率最高;相对湿度低于70%时,棉铃虫死亡率显著降低。     

Field evaluation of Beauveria bassiana efficacy for the control of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Trials with eggplants were conducted to evaluate field efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) applications against Tetranychus urticae, during spring of 2006 and 2007. In the 2006‐Trial, a rate of ca. 0.7 × 10¹² conidia/ha was sprayed onto plants at intervals. In the 2007‐Trial, the rates of ca. 0.8 × 10¹² and 1.6 × 10¹² conidia/ha were sprayed at 1‐ or 2‐week intervals. Based on population densities of mites and leaf damage assessed throughout the trial, the Bb sprays with 1‐ or 2‐week interval showed better control than those of 3 or 4 weeks. In both trials there was no statistical difference between 1‐week and 2‐week spray interval for all parameters measured. Furthermore, the higher rate performed significantly better than the lower rate, regardless of the intervals. No interaction was found between the spraying interval and the applied rate. Ultimately, to suppress the population density of T. urticae and prevent the eggplant damage in spring, the higher rate applied at 2‐week interval was effective.     

防治西花蓟马的病原真菌-白僵菌微菌核的液体培养

微菌核是许多植物病原真菌产生的越冬结构,目前还没有关于白僵菌微菌核的报道。用含不同氮源的介质培养出了2株白僵菌菌株,RSB和SZ21的微菌核。在液体培养条件下,2株菌株不仅能产生典型的芽孢和菌丝,还能产生微菌核。在以玉米粉(RSB和SZ21菌株分别为6.5×102和6.3×102mL-1)为氮源的介质中产生的微菌核浓度高于以大豆粉(RSB和SZ21菌株分别为2.5×102和2.2×102mL-1)为氮源的介质。菌株SZ21产生的芽孢浓度(在以大豆粉和玉米粉为氮源的介质中,分别为17.9×105和7.4×105L-1)高于RSB菌株的芽孢浓度(在以大豆粉和玉米粉为氮源的介质中,分别为14.8×105和6.2×105L-1)。含有硅藻土的微菌核制剂能在真空干燥(<5%湿度)后存活下来,并且对于活力没有显著影响。干燥后的微菌核颗粒在水洋菜培养基上复水和培养后,能够萌发菌丝和产生高浓度的分生孢子。将微菌核颗粒预混到土壤中能引起西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande)土栖阶段的高死亡率。这是首次报道白僵菌的微菌核的培养,并为用虫生真菌防治土栖昆虫提供了一个新的方法。     

Evaluation of Beauveria bassiana (Hyphomycetes) isolates as potential agents for control of Dendroctonus valens

Abstract The red turpentine beetle (RTB), Dendroctonus valens LeConte, as a destructive invasive pest, has become one of the most economically important forest pest in China. Effective control measures are desperately needed. Entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana, have shown great potential for the management of some bark beetle species. In this study, 12 isolates of B. bassiana from bark beetle were examined for biological characteristics and virulence, to assess their potential as biocontrol agents for RTB. There were significant differences (at P= 0.05) in colony growth rate, conidial yield, conidial germination, tolerance to UV light and extracellular proteases activity among the tested B. bassiana isolates. Isolates, including Bb1801, Bb1906, Bb789 and Bb773, exhibited the best characteristics, because they have faster hyphal growth rate, higher spore production and faster spore germination, higher UV tolerance and protease (Pr1) production. The results of a pathogenicity test of B. bassiana on RTB larvae showed that most isolates of B. bassiana have demonstrated high efficacy and the highest virulent isolate was Bb1801, which killed 100% of the treated insects and had a median lethal time (LT₅₀) of 4.60 days at a concentration of 1×10⁷ conidia/mL. Therefore, isolate Bb1801 has a great potential for sustainable control of RTB in the forest. The correlation between biological characteristics and virulence of the fungal isolates is discussed and the possibility of combination of entomopathogenic fungi with semiochemicals, as one of the promising strategy for RTB control, is considered.     

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.     

Effects of the timing of applications on the incompatibility of three fungicides and one isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Deuteromycotina)

Abstract: The effect of timing of application on the incompatibility of three fungicides (metalaxyl, mancozeb, copper oxide) and isolate MK2001 of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was assessed in vitro . Isolate MK 2001 at 1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml concentration was highly pathogenous to adults of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera) (84% mortality at day 4 post-treatment). The fungicides at the manufacturer recommended rate (1X) were strongly fungistatic and inhibited the fungal isolate radial growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Mancozeb, metalaxyl and copper oxide exhibited insecticidal activity of 24, 40 and 48% respectively, on L. lineolaris adults. It is clear that application of the fungal isolate MK2001 2–4 days before applying fungicides metalaxyl, mancozeb or copper oxide synergized the insecticidal effect of the isolate. On the contrary, application of metalaxyl, mancozeb, copper oxide 2–4 days before applying isolate MK2001 antagonized the insecticidal effect. The simultaneous use of each fungicide (metalaxyl, mancozeb or copper oxide) and the isolate gave lesser insect mortality. This study revealed that although some fungicides are incompatible for use alongside fungal isolates, the proper evaluation of their time of use could be beneficial in biological control or IPM programmes. Furthermore, the application of B. bassiana isolate MK2001 followed by fungicide application could synergize insecticidal activity.     

白僵菌对茶小绿叶蝉田间防效的关键影响因素研究

白僵菌孢子萌发率和萌发速度是影响其田间防效的关键因素。通过对球孢白僵菌YP9(CCTCC No:M209238)孢子萌发的关键影响因素进行研究,得到以下田间应用条件:营养物质为2%麸皮浸出液(自然pH);孢子悬浮液喷洒浓度为5×10~7孢子/mL;在气温为23℃~28℃时喷洒。经昆明和无锡两试验地田间防效验证,该白僵菌在上述条件下对茶小绿叶蝉的田间防效高达65%,与茶农常用化学农药——天王星防效相当。