球孢白僵菌不同感染方式侵染棉铃虫幼虫的毒性比较及组织病理变化

为明确球孢白僵菌在不同感染方式下对棉铃虫的侵染能力, 采用饲喂法和浸渍法测定了球孢白僵菌HFW-05对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) 2龄幼虫的致病力, 并通过组织切片显微技术、 扫描电镜技术观察了球孢白僵菌HFW-05对棉铃虫的致病方式。结果表明: 白僵菌HFW-05可通过消化道（饲喂法）成功侵染2龄棉铃虫, 接种感染6 d后的校正死亡率为75.8%。经由体表（浸渍法）接种白僵菌HFW-05的试虫, 试验中体重的变化和取食量与对照相近（6 d校正死亡率仅为17.3%, 不能通过体表达到致病效果）。组织病理学变化表明: 26±1℃条件下, HFW-05菌株对棉铃虫以消化道侵染为主, 侵染后可导致寄主中肠微绒毛脱落严重, 肠壁组织溶解并最终只剩余底膜; 马氏管变形萎缩, 边缘向外突出隆起, 管径变大; 脂肪体萎缩解体, 结构松散; 表皮下的细胞被菌丝侵染破坏。浸渍法接种的试虫, 切片观察处理6 d后试虫, 体内未发现菌丝, 肠壁组织正常完整。扫描电镜观察, 浸渍法接种的分生孢子未能穿透棉铃虫表皮, 而是贴于寄主表皮表面生长, 在湿度合适的条件下, 菌丝生长到一定时间后断裂成为芽生孢子。白僵菌HFW-05可经由消化道对棉铃虫达到较高的致病效果, 在一定程度上弥补外界环境对白僵菌侵染的不利影响, 对今后应用白僵菌进行生物防治具有重要意义。     

转录组和蛋白组联合分析揭示Ubr1介导的白僵菌萌发和极性生长

【目的】通过比较球孢白僵菌野生型和ubr1基因缺失菌株分生孢子在同一时间点转录组学和蛋白组学的差异表达基因和蛋白及其所属通路,阐明Ubr1影响球孢白僵菌极性生长的机制,为提高球孢白僵菌生物防治潜能提供理论依据。【方法】通过对转录组学和蛋白组学的KEGG分析,获得差异表达基因和蛋白所在代谢调控通路,利用显微镜拍摄菌株在各萌发培养基(germination medium,GM)衍生板中分生孢子萌发的图像验证双组学分析中显著差异的调控通路对分生孢子极性生长的影响。【结果】ubr1基因缺失使分生孢子萌发受损,形成异常弯曲或钩状的芽管。且不论是以转录组,还是以蛋白质组为核心进行双组学KEGG联合分析,二者都能富集到氮代谢、精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢和醚脂类代谢通路。进一步的验证实验表明,球孢白僵菌中ubr1基因缺失引起的精氨酸代谢异常是分生孢子极性生长紊乱的一个重要原因,而半乳糖和氮代谢异常则会导致分生孢子的萌发速率变慢。【结论】Ubr1的缺失使精氨酸代谢受阻,进而导致分生孢子萌发管极性生长异常;同时,也使半乳糖和氮代谢异常导致分生孢子萌发速率延迟。本研究的发现对于认识极性生长的机制具有一定贡献,也拓展...     

腺苷酸核糖基化因子BbarfA介导白僵菌孢子萌发和毒力

【目的】探究腺苷酸糖基化因子ARF在球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)中存在种类及生物学功能。【方法】利用BLASTp搜索球孢白僵菌非冗余蛋白数据库,鉴定ARF并进行聚类分析,结合表达分析、反义抑制、超量表达野生型基因和GTP解离位点与结合位点突变的基因,解析其中1个ARF与白僵菌发育分化、逆境胁迫反应和毒力的关系。【结果】球孢白僵菌中存在至少6个ARF或类似蛋白,分别聚类于酵母、人类ARF及其类似蛋白的不同类群。其中BBA_01574与人类的ARF3、ARF4和ARF5聚为一类,命名为BbarfA。BbarfA在成熟的分生孢子和球形膨大时期表达明显高于芽管伸长期。反义抑制BbarfA加速了孢子萌发,提高了菌株毒力,而超量表达BbarfA和点突变GTP解离区域的BbarfA则延迟了孢子萌发速度,降低了菌株毒力。尽管BbarfA转录受高盐、髙渗、氧化和高温胁迫的诱导,但遗传修饰的转化子与野生菌株对上述胁迫反应的敏感性无明显差异。【结论】BbarfA介导分生孢子萌发和毒力。     

利用冷冻切片对球孢白僵菌侵染西花蓟马过程的观察

为探索球孢白僵菌对西花蓟马的侵染,研究球孢白僵菌在西花蓟马体表和虫体内的侵染过程,采用冷冻切片与HE染色技术,对被球孢白僵菌侵染的西花蓟马成虫进行组织切片及HE染色。结果表明,接菌4 h,体表粘附的孢子开始萌发,8-12 h芽管继续伸长并出现穿透体壁。18 h虫菌体出现在西花蓟马体内,球孢白僵菌成功侵入西花蓟马体内。之后,西花蓟马体内虫菌体、菌丝明显增多,各组织器官均受到感染,消化道、肌肉组织等发生病变。     

球孢白僵菌羧基转运蛋白基因RNA干扰的沉默效应

羧基转运蛋白基因是近年来分离出的新基因,在虫生真菌中可能与穿透昆虫体壁时的能量代谢有关。构建了针对该基因的双链RNA干扰载体,采用芽生孢子转化法将载体质粒转入球孢白僵菌,并通过RT-PCR检测转化前后BbJEN1的表达情况。RT-PCR检测结果显示,球孢白僵菌转化子BbJEN1基因的表达水平显著下降,表明干扰载体具有明显的沉默效应。在两种培养基上,转化子与原始菌株的生长速度和产孢量差异均不显著,而分生孢子萌发则显著滞后于原始菌株。使用马尾松毛虫幼虫对转化子和原始菌株进行生物测定,原始菌株的半致死浓度、半致死剂量和半致死时间分别为2.79×106个孢子/mL、84.12个孢子/mm2和6.49d,而转化子的半致死浓度、半致死剂量和半致死时间则分别增加到1.27×107个孢子/mL、382.92个孢子/mm2和8.09d,毒力显著下降。由此表明BbJEN1基因与球孢白僵菌分生孢子发芽以及毒力均有关。     

油松毛虫受球孢白僵菌感染的组织病理学变化

为了研究昆虫病原真菌对松毛虫的致病机理, 提供北方地区松毛虫生物防治的科学依据, 本研究采用球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin 菌株1573感染油松毛虫Dendrolimus tabulaeformis Tsai et Liu, 通过扫描电镜和石蜡切片光学显微镜观察技术, 研究了菌株的感染过程和虫体的组织病理学变化。结果表明, 该病原真菌通过穿透表皮入侵油松毛虫, 染菌后24 h, 观察到分生孢子附着于头部的颅顶, 单眼、触角和口器的基部, 在胸、腹部附着于毛簇、毛瘤、棘状突和节间褶。染菌后36 h, 孢子萌发长出菌丝, 在入侵部位, 菌丝的端部特化成附着胞和侵入钉。染菌后48 h, 菌丝依靠机械力和胞外酶的作用穿透表皮, 虫体表皮出现了裂痕和黑化。染菌后72 h, 菌丝已进入体腔, 感染血淋巴、脂肪体、肌肉、消化道、丝腺和神经组织, 并利用血液和内部组织器官作为营养大量繁殖, 此时, 虫体发涨, 表皮变暗。染菌后96 h, 菌丝占据了松毛虫的血腔, 内部的组织结构被完全瓦解, 松毛虫死亡。最后, 菌丝冲破体壁, 在尸体表面长出新的分生孢子。这些结果说明, 球孢白僵菌B. bassiana菌株1573是一种油松毛虫的高致病性菌株, 可以引起虫体的一系列组织病理变化而致其死亡。     

代谢组学方法鉴定球孢白僵菌孢子萌发和杀虫毒力相关的标记物

【目的】识别球孢白僵菌萌发和杀虫毒力相关的标记物。【方法】本研究对7个球孢白僵菌菌株的孢子进行萌发率和对茶毛虫毒力进行测定,采用基于LC-MS的代谢组学方法,识别菌丝和孢子提取物中与萌发和毒力有关的标记物。【结果】高毒力菌株的菌丝中具有高含量的carnitine、hercynine、acetylcarnitine、α,α-trehalose;Octa-Me、arg-arg-gln、phosphatidylethanolamine[PE(18∶2/0∶0)]、phosphotidylcholine[PC(18∶3/0∶0)]和PC(18∶2/0∶0)。高萌发率菌株的孢子中具有高含量的2,3-dimethylmaleate、acetylcarnitine、propionyl-carnitine和PC(18∶2/0∶0)。高毒力菌株的孢子中具有高含量的histamine、2,5-pyrrolidinedicarboxylic acid;Diamide、carnitine、acetylcarnitine、propionyl-carnitine、butyrylcarnitine、PE(18∶2/0∶0)、PC(16∶1/0∶0)和PC(18∶3/0∶0)。此外,对菌丝中杀虫相关的环肽beauverolides,beauvericins和bassianolide进行相对含量比较分析,发现单独一种肽的含量高低与菌株对茶毛虫的毒力没有直接关系,但高毒力的Bb1898菌株中的9种肽同时具有较高的含量暗示它们可能发挥协同作用。【结论】毒力和萌发的共同标记物是脂酰肉碱和磷脂,它们可能具有维持附着胞膨压和为穿透寄主提供能量的功能。其它标记物,如在高毒力菌丝中发现的hercynine和α,α-trehalose;高萌发率孢子中的2,3-dimethylmaleate,高毒力孢子中的histamine和2,5-pyrrolidinedicarboxylic acid Diamide,它们的作用原理有待进一步研究。     

球孢白僵菌Bb_bm01菌株PacC基因突变体的构建及其毒力和孢子萌发率的测定

通过敲除球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)菌株bm01的PacC基因,研究了PacC基因敲除对球孢白僵菌毒力和分生孢子萌发速率的影响。利用农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导的转化方法转化Bb_bm01,通过同源重组敲除Bb_bm01的PacC基因,筛选ΔPacC基因敲除菌株,获得了遗传稳定的ΔPacC基因敲除菌株。通过毒力测定,对比了野生菌株和ΔPacC基因敲除菌株对家蚕和大蜡螟毒力的差异,发现ΔPacC基因敲除菌株对家蚕和大蜡螟毒力都减弱,差异具有统计学意义(p0.01),表明在Bb_bm01菌株中的PacC基因与它的致病性相关;另外,比较ΔPacC基因敲除菌株与野生型菌株Bb_bm01在SDB液体培养基中的孢子萌发率,发现ΔPacC基因敲除菌株孢子萌发明显减慢,表明PacC基因参与调控孢子萌发。     

松褐天牛球孢白僵菌高毒力航天诱变菌株的筛选

【目的】松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus是我国松材线虫病Bursaphelenchus xylophilus的主要媒介昆虫。为了更好地开发利用松褐天牛病原微生物球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana, 本研究通过航天搭载诱变及室内筛选, 获得球孢白僵菌高毒力诱变菌株。【方法】将经神舟八号飞船航天搭载诱变后的孢子稀释液涂布在PDA平板上培养,获得单菌落菌株,进而筛选获得高毒力诱变菌株。观察所获9个航天诱变菌株的菌落形态、菌落生长速度、产孢量、孢子萌发率及抗高温胁迫能力等生物学特性, 在此基础上筛选出生物学性状优良的菌株B159, B252和B305, 并进一步对松褐天牛4龄幼虫进行生物测定。再通过撒菌粉和注射菌液方法, 检验B252和B305对松木段内松褐天牛幼虫的杀虫效果。【结果】球孢白僵菌航天诱变菌株的生物学特性与野生型菌株cfcc81357存在分化。9个航天诱变菌株的菌落形态发生了不同程度的改变,6个菌落生长速率出现负向变异,仅诱变菌株B159, B252和B305能产生分生孢子。航天诱变菌株B252和B305在浓度为1.0×107 cfu/mL时对松褐天牛4龄幼虫的校正死亡率均为100%, 半致死中时(LT₅₀)分别为8.08和8.56 d, 明显优于野生型菌株, 显示出对松褐天牛的极强毒力。使用撒菌粉和孢子液体注射方法, 诱变菌株B252和B305对松木段内松褐天牛幼虫死亡率比野生型菌株高。【结论】诱变菌株B252和B305可能是优良菌株, 对生物防治松褐天牛方面有潜在的实用价值。     

不同碳、氮营养对球孢白僵菌生物学特性和抑菌活性的影响

研究了不同碳营养和氮营养对球孢白僵菌菌丝生长、分生孢子产生量、菌丝生物量及其次生代谢产物的抑菌活性.结果表明,球孢白僵菌对单糖、双糖、多糖等碳营养及有机氮和无机氮等氮营养均能够利用,但利用程度存在一定差异.其中,球孢白僵菌的菌丝生长以白砂糖和蛋白胨最快,以甘露醇和硫酸铵最慢;分生孢子产生量以白砂糖和硝酸钾最多,以甘露醇...     

Attachment and germination of Entomophaga maimaiga conidia on host and non-host larval cuticle

The lepidopteran-specific fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga is highly virulent against Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) larvae, and other members of the family Lymantriidae. Numerous species in the subfamily Cuculliinae (Family Noctuidae) are not susceptible to E. maimaiga due to the inability of this fungus to penetrate the larval cuticle. Conidial attachment and germination were compared among five cuculliine species and L. dispar using bioassays and scanning electron microscopy. Although conidia were showered evenly across larvae during bioassays, on L. dispar conidia were most abundant on segments, where they adhered well to the cuticle and germinated at high percentages. Conidia on cuculliine cuticles were predominantly found in large, loose aggregations in intersegmental areas. Few conidia on cuculliine cuticle germinated and scanning electron microscopy revealed a thick film of mucous enveloping conidia. We hypothesize that the conidia on cuculliines become coated by this film and were only loosely attached to the larval cuticle. No such film was seen on L. dispar larvae where individual conidia appeared well attached. On L. dispar larvae many conidia also adhered to setae. To determine if hydrophobicity affected the ability of E. maimaiga conidia to attach and germinate on a substrate, a goniometer was used to determine relative hydrophobicity of larval cuticles. L. dispar cuticle was more hydrophobic than cuculliine cuticle, suggesting that a high level of hydrophobicity could be a required characteristic for hosts. Cuticles from four cuculliine species and L. dispar were sequentially extracted using hexane, chloroform, and methanol. Conidia were showered onto glass slides coated with the different extracts and germination was quantified. Methanol extracts of cuculliine cuticle consistently decreased germination, compared to all extracts of L. dispar cuticle. For all L. dispar extracts, the majority of conidia produced germ tubes, which is a normal prerequisite for cuticular penetration. For the cuculliines, conidia exposed to hexane and chloroform extracts produced secondary conidia as did all controls, but the conidia exposed to cuculliine methanol extracts that germinated produced germ tubes. These studies demonstrated that a range of factors act in concert to prevent E. maimaiga infection of the cuculliine species investigated.     

黄绿绿僵菌对褐飞虱侵染过程的扫描电镜观察

本实验利用扫描电镜观察了黄绿绿僵菌Metarhizium flavoviride菌株分生孢子对褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(St(a)l)的侵染过程.结果表明:分生孢子多分布在褐飞虱节间膜、体表的褶皱凹陷等部位,主要以芽管或产生附着胞入侵,然后在体表长出菌丝和产孢.菌体进入寄主血腔后,利用体腔内营养大量增...     

Infection process of Colletotrichum dematium on mulberry leaves: An unusual method of sporulation

Abstract

The pre-penetration and infection process of Colletotrichum dematium on mulberry leaf was investigated by scanning electron microscope. Conidia produced on germination appressoria directly or at the end of short germ tubes. Appressoria were formed mostly over cuticle, but sometimes over stomata also. At 72 h post-inoculation, an extensive network of sub-cuticular runner hyphae (RH) was produced. The RH were traceable by the cuticular bulgings on leaf surface. The RH emerged to leaf surface through ruptured cuticle to form secondary infection hyphae (SIH). The SIH re-entered the leaf tissue by sending penetration branches through stomata. Conidia were formed singly on short conidiophores from the RH and SIH, at short intervals. The conidia developed on RH were exposed to leaf surface through ruptured cuticle. Some times conidia were released through stomata also. The RH and SIH had thick knots from which hyphal branches and conidia were developed. Definite acervuli were not developed.     

昆虫病原真菌粉虱座壳孢对烟粉虱侵染行为的初步研究

粉虱座壳孢(Aschersonia aleyrodis)是粉虱的重要病原真菌,可用于世界性害虫烟粉虱(Bemisia tabaci)的生物防治。本文通过生物测定的方法,发现1-3龄幼虫易受真菌侵染,其中以2龄幼虫的侵染率为最高,达到98%;侵染率随处理时间延长、接种浓度增加而增大;被侵染粉虱幼虫死亡通常发生在处理后的下一个龄期。本文还应用扫描电镜和光学显微镜对粉虱座壳孢侵染烟粉虱的过程进行了研究,分生孢子在昆虫体表萌发、形成芽管后可产生附着胞或直接侵入表皮,昆虫节间膜等薄弱处是其侵染的主要部位,随后菌丝在昆虫体内形成,着胞或直接侵入表皮,昆虫节间膜等薄弱处是其侵染的主要部位如湿度足够高,菌丝穿出体表产孢再侵染新害虫。     

球孢白僵菌在红火蚁体表侵染的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电镜观察了球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana Bb04菌株分生孢子对红火蚁Beauveria bassiana 工蚁体壁的侵染过程。结果表明: 分生孢子多分布在红火蚁工蚁节间膜、胸部的褶皱、气门、体壁的凹陷部位、刚毛窝附近, 以及着生较密刚毛的足上。萌发的分生孢子在节间膜以及体表缝隙、刚毛窝及刚毛稀少的凹陷部位、胸部褶皱和足胫节处入侵。分生孢子在附着12 h后开始萌发, 接种后18 h附着在节间膜处的孢子首先侵入成功, 接种后24 h刚毛窝附近孢子萌发入侵, 接种后60 h胸、腹和足等部位的孢子均成功穿透侵入表皮。分生孢子可以直接以芽管侵入表皮, 也可以产生附着胞再侵入。     

Agressivité deConidiobolus obscurus vis-a-vis du puceron du pois,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hem.: Aphididae] 1.-Comportement des conidies sur la cuticule avant la pénétration du tube germinatif dans l'insecte

Résumé Sept souches deConidiobolus obscurus (Hall & Dunn) Remaudière & Keller ont pu être classées en 2 groupes en fonction de leur pathogénicité vis-à-vis du puceron du pois. Les conidies primaires des souches agressives germent en pourcentage plus élevé que les conidies des souches non agressives (incapables d'infecter des pucerons). Elles ont aussi une meilleure propension à émettre des tubes germinatifs plut?t que des conidies secondaires.

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Summary Seven strains ofConidiobolus obscurus (Hall & Dunn) Remaudière & Keller were classified into 2 groups depending on their pathogenicity against the pea aphid. Variations in germination patterns on the aphid cuticle were related to differences in pathogenicity of the strains. Primary conidia of the virulent strains germinated in higher concentration than the avirulent ones; furthermore, the former have a greater tendandy to produce germ tubes than secondary conidia.

     

Deposition and germination of conidia of the entomopathogen Entomophaga maimaiga infecting larvae of gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar

Germination of conidia of Entomophaga maimaiga, an important fungal pathogen of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, was investigated on water agar and larval cuticle at varying densities. Percent germination was positively associated with conidial density on water agar but not on larval cuticle. When conidia were showered onto water agar, the rate of germination was much slower than on the cuticle of L. dispar larvae. From the same conidial showers, the resulting conidial densities on water agar were much higher than those on larval cuticle in part because many conidia adhered to setae and did not reach the cuticle. A second factor influencing conidial densities on larval cuticle was the location conidia occurred on larvae. Few conidia were found on the flexible intersegmental membranes in comparison with the areas of more rigid cuticle, presumably because conidia were physically dislodged from intersegmental membranes when larvae moved. Conidia were also exposed to heightened CO(2) to evaluate whether this might influence germination. When conidia on water agar were exposed to heightened CO(2) levels, germinating conidia primarily formed germ tubes while most conidia exposed to ambient CO(2) rapidly formed secondary conidia.     

Mode of Infection of Phyllosticta maculata on Banana as Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

The initial infection stages of Phyllosticta maculata on banana were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Conidial germination on the banana leaf surface commenced within 3 h postinoculation to produce a long and slender germ tube. The hyphae developed secondary branches and mostly grew randomly across the leaf surface. Appressoria were formed at the apex of the germ tubes within 18 h postinoculation and were variable in shape. A layer of an extracellular matrix surrounded the appressoria at the pathogen–host interface. On the fruit surface, conidia germinated to produce predominantly swollen germ tubes which functioned as lateral appressoria together with some slender ones. These germ tubes were formed within 3 h postinoculation. There was no stomatal penetration apparent on the leaf; instead, direct penetration through the cuticle with and without the formation of appressoria was observed. Cuticular degradation on the leaf surface was evident with a circular, darkened area around the point of penetration by hyphae or appressoria. The significant role of pycnidia and conidia in the epidemiology of the disease was further demonstrated in naturally infected leaf samples.     

影响飞虱虫疠霉孢子萌发类型和侵染性芽管形成的生化因子

孢子萌发类型是决定飞虱虫疠霉能否入侵的重要因子之一 ,而不同营养基质及昆虫体壁理化特性直接影响到孢子的萌发类型。对氨基酸、脂类、糖类、矿物质、维生素及桃蚜(Myzuspersicae)和褐稻虱 (Nilaparvatalugen)粗提物研究发现 ,它们均在不同程度上对芽管形成有刺激作用。其中 ,L 半胱氨酸、L 天冬酰氨、山俞酸 (C2 2 :0 )、海藻糖、果糖、麦芽糖、甘油、抗坏血酸、叶酸、维生素B1、ZnSO4、FeSO4以及两种寄主粗提物对芽管形成刺激作用显著。而这些基质如L 半胱氨酸、抗坏血酸、叶酸、维生素B1、FeSO4、ZnSO4及豆蔻酸 (C1 4 :0 )、软脂酸 (C1 6 :0 )、硬脂酸 (C1 0 :0 )、花生酸 (C2 0 :0 )、山俞酸 (C2 2 :0 )、掬焦油酸 (C2 4 :0 )、核黄素、烟酸能显著抑制二级分生孢子的产生。相反对刺激芽管形成不明显的物质如丙氨酸、酪氨酸、葡萄糖、半胞糖、蔗糖、肌醇、糖原、维生素B6、NaCl和KCl等能显著促进二级分生孢子的形成。此外 ,有些物质在高浓度下刺激芽管形成 ,而在低浓度下能促进二级分生孢子的形成 ,如L 天冬酰氨、海藻糖、…     

Effect of nutrition on growth and virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana

Three isolates of the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana along with one strain of Metarhizium anisopliae were cultured on seven media with different carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios. The effect of nutrition on virulence of the isolates was evaluated via measurement of colony growth, spore yield, germination speed, conidial C/N ratio and Pr1 (a serine protease) activity. 'Osmotic stress' medium produced the lowest colony growth with low numbers of conidia in all isolates. However, these conidia showed a high germination rate and virulence. However, conidial Pr1 activity was low in some isolates. In most but not in all cases conidia from 1% yeast extract, 2% peptone and low (10 : 1) C/N medium had higher Pr1 activity compared with conidia from other media. However, in some instances we could not conclude that there was a relationship among germination rate, conidial Pr1 activity and virulence. C/N ratio of conidia was statistically different among various media and fungal isolates. Conidia with lower C/N ratio generally produced lower LT(50) (lowest median lethal time) values (more virulent). Insect-passaged conidia from different media had lower C/N ratio compared with similar conidia from artificial cultures. Therefore, they should be more virulent than in vitro produced conidia. As germination rate, conidial Pr1 activity and C/N ratio are independent of host, it seems that host-related determinants such as insect cuticle and physiology and environmental conditions may influence host susceptibility and therefore fungal isolate virulence towards host insects.