Comparison of blastospores of two Paecilomyces fumosoroseus isolates: in vitro traits and virulence when injected into fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Blastospores of two isolates of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus were compared to determine their productivity in vitro and their relative pathogenicity after injection of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Blastospores of less virulent P. fumosoroseus isolate 1576 are smaller than those of isolate 4461, and they germinate and proliferate more slowly in vitro. The pathogenicity of injected blastospores of isolate 1576 against S. frugiperda varies with larval size. In small larvae, percentage mortality was lower among those injected with isolate 1576 than among those injected with isolate 4461. Large larvae were equally susceptible to both isolates. Survival times were higher for isolate 1576 and were higher at lower doses for both isolates. Those larvae injected late in development that ultimately died, regardless of treatment, did not lose weight typical of developing pupae. Injection of large larvae with isolate 4461 resulted in a significantly longer time to pupation among apparently uninfected larvae.     

Factors influencing the infectivity of isolates of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

Paecilomyces fumosoroseus isolate 1576 was isolated from an insect, but is avirulent against larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and several other species. Isolate 1576 grew faster and produced more conidia than isolate 4461 on potato dextrose agar. Pregermination of conidia failed to increase the infectivity of isolate 1576, but the procedure did increase the infectivity of isolates 3682, 4461, and 4482. Isolates 1576 and 4461 were both more infective when moisture was high during incubation of inoculated larvae. Starved Pl. xylostella larvae were more susceptible than fed larvae to isolate 1576 (40 and 10% mortality, respectively), but starved and fed larvae were similar in susceptibility to isolate 4461. These results show that isolate 1576 grows vigorously in aerial culture and is capable of infecting stressed Pl. xylostella larvae. Further tests are needed to characterize its pathogenicity toward its original host or closely related species.     

Pathogenicity of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus isolates to diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella: correlation with spore size, germination speed, and attachment to cuticle

Infectivity to larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, was compared among eight Paecilomyces fumosoroseus isolates. Isolate infectivity was assessed for correlation with spore length and germination speed. Four isolates applied to P. xylostella cuticle were also compared for number of spores remaining on the cuticle after washing and for percentage germination after 36 h. Infection of larvae inoculated with the different isolates at an average dosage of 4000 conidia/cm2 ranged from 2 to 47%. The correlation of infectivity with spore length and germination speed in broth was highly significant. Fewer spores of the least infective isolate, ARSEF 1576, attached to larval cuticle compared to spores of the more infective isolates ARSEF 3682, 4461, and 4482 (P < 0.05). After 36 h on larval cuticle, the percentage of spores germinated for isolates 1576 and 3682 was 3 and 95%, respectively. Spores of isolate 1576 were smaller, germinated more slowly, and attached to cuticle in smaller numbers than spores of the more infective isolates. Further research will expand our understanding of the mechanisms of virulence among isolates of P. fumosoroseus.     

绿僵菌侵染小菜蛾体表过程的显微观察

采用扫描电镜研究了小菜蛾Plutella xylostella体表结构对绿僵菌入侵行为的影响及绿僵菌的侵染过程。结果表明: 绿僵菌孢子在小菜蛾体表萌发后可形成附着胞,寄主体表结构影响形成附着胞的快慢、多少及穿透体壁时芽管长度, 在平缓结构区和刺状结构区比嵴状结构区更易形成附着胞,且芽管较短。在所有结构区,LF68菌株穿透芽管均短于LD65菌株的芽管。接种后7 h,分生孢子在小菜蛾体表开始萌发,LF68与LD65菌株分别于接种后10 h和13 h出现侵染构造穿透体壁。     

Induction of detoxification enzymes in phytophagous insects: Role of insecticide synergists,larval age,and species

Five insecticide synergists, all of which were either methylenedioxyphenyl compounds or analogs, were compared as to their effect on cytochrome P450 monooxygenase induction caused by an allelochemical in fall armyworm larvae. Feeding the synergists (piperonyl butoxide, safrole, isosafrole, MGK 264, and myristicin) individually to the larvae caused decreases in the microsomal aldrin epoxidase activities ranging from 38% to 74% when compared with controls. Feeding indole-3-carbinol resulted in a 4-fold increase in the microsomal epoxidase activity. However, cotreatment of any of the synergists and the inducer completely eliminated the induction. Sixth instar larvae were more inducible than second instar larvae with respect to microsomal epoxidase and glutathione transferase in the fall armyworm. Enzyme inducibility varied widely among the seven phytophagous Lepidoptera examined. When indole-3-carbinol was used as an inducer of microsomal epoxidase, the extent of inducibility of the enzyme was fall armyworm > velvetbean caterpillar > corn earworm > beet armyworm > tobacco budworm > cabbage looper > diamondback moth. When indole-3-acetonitrile was used as an inducer, the inducibility of glutathione transferase was fall armyworm > beet armyworm > corn earworm > cabbage looper > velvetbean caterpillar > tobacco budworm > diamondback moth. Inducibility of five microsomal oxidase systems also varied considerably in the corn earworm, indicating the multiplicity of cytochrome P450 in this species. Microsomal epoxidase and glutathione transferase were induced by cruciferous host plants such as cabbage and their allelochemicals in diamondback moth larve. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comparative virulence of Beauveria bassiana isolates against lepidopteran pests of vegetable crops

Forty-three isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana were screened for virulence against second-instar larvae of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) (DBM), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) (ECB), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) (CEW), and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (FAW); 30 of these isolates were tested against beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) (BAW). Highly virulent isolates were also tested against black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) (BCW), and the most virulent isolate was also assayed against imported cabbage worm (Pieris rapae) (ICW) and cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) (CL). All lepidopteran species tested were susceptible to B. bassiana. Corn earworm and beet armyworm were most susceptible to fungal infection, and fall armyworm was least susceptible. Limited testing suggested low susceptibility of black cutworm and cabbage looper. B. bassiana isolate 1200 exhibited virulence against all pest species greater than or equal to commercial strain GHA of B. bassiana currently registered in the USA as BotaniGard®. In assays in which larvae were topically sprayed and maintained on the treated substrate for 24 h at 100% relative humidity, 6-day (25 °C) median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) of this isolate against CEW, BAW, DBM, FAW, ICW, ECB, CL, and BCW were 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 98, 125, and 273 conidia/mm², respectively. The respective LC₅₀s of commercial strain GHA against these pest species were 9, 67, 97, 1213, 29, 1668, 541, and 3504 conidia/mm². Use of LC₅₀ versus median lethal concentration ratios (comparing LC₅₀s of each isolate to a “standard” strain) generated similar rankings of isolate virulence. Results from parametric ANOVAs of log LC₅₀ values followed by Tukey HSD multiple comparisons tests and those from Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analyses followed by sequential Bonferroni tests for means comparisons were nearly identical.     

Responses of diamondback moth to diverse entomopathogenic fungi collected from non-agricultural habitats – Effects of dose,temperature and starvation

We evaluated the virulence of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium isolates from soil collected across different vegetation types in Queensland, against chlorantraniliprole-resistant and insecticide-susceptible diamondback moth (DBM) larvae. Host insecticide resistance status had no effect on susceptibility to the pathogens when conidia were topically applied to larvae in the laboratory, and one B. bassiana isolate was significantly more virulent to larvae than the others (seven days after inoculation). The influence of temperature (15, 20, 25 or 30 °C): (i) at the point of host inoculation with conidia and (ii) when the pathogens had already initiated infection and were proliferating in the host haemocoel, was determined experimentally for its influence on virulence, disease progression, and sporulation. Temperature at inoculation had a greater effect on host insect mortality than it did when the fungus was already proliferating in the host haemocoel. The rearing temperature of hosts prior to inoculation had a greater effect on host susceptibility to disease than starvation of the larvae at the time of inoculation. Our results also show that each fungal isolate has its own temperature relations and that these can vary considerably across isolates, and at different points in the pathogen life cycle (germination and cuticular penetration versus growth in the host haemocoel). Temperature also had an idiosyncratic effect, across isolates and across the variables typically used to assess the potential of fungal entomopathogens as biological control agents (time to death, mortality and sporulation rates). This study demonstrates that in addition to pathogenicity and virulence, the temperature relationships of each fungal isolate when infecting insects needs to be taken into account if we are to understand their ecology and use them effectively in pest management.     

Effects of an ascovirus (HvAV-3e) on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and evidence for virus transmission by a larval parasitoid

Ascoviruses (AVs) are pathogenic to lepidopteran larvae, and most commonly attack species in the Noctuidae. The unique pathology includes cleavage of host cells into virion-containing vesicles which leads to the milky white colouration of the hemolymph as opposed to the clear hemolymph of healthy larvae. Recently, we showed that a Heliothis virescens AV (HvAV-3e) isolate is able to induce disease in Crocidolomia pavonana F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), affecting feeding, growth and survival of infected larvae. In this study, we investigated the effect of different variants of HvAV-3e on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae, another non-noctuid host. In hemolymph inoculation bioassays fourth instar larvae showed a significant dose response to each of the HvAV-3e variants and significant differences between the virulence of the three variants were detected. Both second and fourth instars were readily infected with the virus and infected individuals demonstrated significant reductions in food consumption and growth. The majority of infected individuals died at the larval or pupal stage and individuals which developed into adults were usually deformed, less fecund than non-infected controls and died shortly after emergence. In transmission studies, Diadegmasemiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a key parasitoid of diamondback moth, infected healthy host larvae during oviposition following previous attack of HvAV-3e infected hosts. In choice tests D. semiclausum did not discriminate between infected individuals but host infection had no detectable impact on the development of immature D. semiclausum or on subsequent adults.     

Effect of insecticides on the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides to adult Diadegma insulare (Cresson) and its host the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Leaf-dip and direct-dip bioassays for diamondback moth larvae and residual bioassays for adults of diamondback moth and D. insulare were used to assess mortalities. Larval mortalities at field rates were significantly higher with carbaryl, permethrin, spinosad, and tebufenozide when compared with Bacillus thuringiensis, or imidacloprid in the larval-dip bioassay 72 h after treatment. In the leaf-dip and residual bioassays, both permethrin and spinosad caused 100% mortalities to diamondback moth larvae and adults, respectively, 72 h after treatment. Of all the materials tested, only B. thuringiensis and tebufenozide were not toxic to D. insulare 24 h after treatment. Spinosad was not toxic to D. insulare 30 min after treatment. However, 100% mortality was observed 8 h after treatment.     

Synthesis,larvicidal activity,and SAR studies of new benzoylphenylureas containing oxime ether and oxime ester group

A series of new structural benzoylphenylureas (BPUs) containing oxime ether and oxime ester group were designed and synthesized. The larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm and mosquito of these benzoylphenylureas were evaluated and the result of bioassay displayed specific structure–activity relationship (SAR). Most of the compounds exhibited excellent larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm and mosquito. Interestingly, some compounds showed different structure–activity relationship towards diamondback moth, beet armyworm, and corn borer although three tested insects all belong to the same insect order.     

Developmental temperature effects on five geographic isolates of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae).

The development of five geographic isolates of Steinernema feltiae at 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 28 degrees C in wax moth, Galleria mellonella, larvae was examined. The isolates were from Mediterranean (Sinop from Turkey, SN from France, and Monterey from California), subtropical (Rafaela from Argentina), and tropical (MG-14 from Hawaii) regions. All isolates caused 100% mortality of wax moth larvae and developed and produced progeny between 8 and 25 degrees C. At 28 degrees C, mortality was 100%, but no progeny was observed. The highest infective juvenile production was observed at 15 degrees C for all isolates. In general, the tropical isolate, MG-14, had the lowest production of infective juveniles. The time of emergence of the infective juveniles from the host cadaver showed some differences among isolates, with the Sinop isolate having the earliest emergence time from cadavers at 15 degrees C (10 days) and 20 degrees C (8 days). At 25 degrees C, the infective juveniles of the Sinop, SN, and Rafaela isolates emerged from the cadavers from 5 to 7 days. Time of host death by all isolates showed no differences at 8, 10, 15, 20, and 28 degrees C. At 25 degrees C for all isolates (except the MG-14), shorter times to host death were observed. Host death occurred at 12 days at 8 degrees C, 9 to 11 days at 10 degrees C, 4 to 5 days at 15 degrees C, 3 days at 20 degrees C, and 2 days at 25 and 28 degrees C. For penetration efficiency, the Sinop, SN, and Rafaela isolates penetrated their hosts at 5, 8, and 10 degrees C. Penetration of the infective juveniles was consistently high for all isolates at 15, 20, 25, and 28 degrees C, but it was significantly lower for the MG-14 isolate at 15, 25, and 28 degrees C. No progeny production occurred at 28 degrees C, but nematode penetration did occur with the MG-14 isolate having significantly lower penetration than the other isolates. When nematodes were produced at 8, 15, and 23 degrees C in wax moth larvae, all isolates had infective juveniles with longer body lengths at 8 degrees C followed by 15 and 23 degrees C. To further verify body length at the different temperatures, beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, larvae and dog-food agar medium were used, respectively, for in vivo and in vitro culture of the Sinop isolate. Infective juvenile body length showed the same trends, with the longest being at 8 degrees C and decreasing in length from 15 to 23 degrees C. The data suggest that quality of food for the nematode and temperature (that is, developmental time) influence the body length of the infective juvenile.     

Discovery of two Brevibacillus laterosporus isolates from brassica with insecticidal properties against diamondback moth

New biopesticides are required as diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) develops field resistance to existing control measures. Following evaluation of 35 microbial isolates, 24 from brassica, two Brevibacillus laterosporus isolates were identified that caused mortality of larvae. Larval feeding declined with one isolate to levels comparable to that of Bacillus thuringiensis.     

Identification of cry1I-type genes from Bacillus thuringiensis strains and characterization of a novel cry1I-type gene

A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method for identification of cry1I-type genes from Bacillus thuringiensis was established by designing a pair of universal primers based on the conserved regions of the genes to amplify 1,548-bp cry1I-type gene fragments. Amplification products were digested with the Bsp119I and BanI enzymes, and four kinds of known cry1I-type genes were successfully identified. The results showed that cry1I-type genes appeared in 95 of 115 B. thuringiensis isolates and 7 of 13 standard strains. A novel cry1I-type gene was found in one standard strain and six isolates. The novel cry1I gene was cloned from B. thuringiensis isolate Btc007 and subcloned into vector pET-21b. Then it was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The expressed product was shown to be toxic to the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), and soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella). However, it was not toxic to the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), or elm leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta aenescens) in bioassays. Subsequently, the Cry protein encoded by this novel cry gene was designated Cry1Ie1 by the B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxin nomenclature committee.     

Production and regulation of extracellular proteases from the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosoroseus (Cordycipitaceae; Hypocreales) in the presence of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella cuticle

Extracellular proteases of entomopathogenic fungi have been implicated as components of the insect infection process. To elucidate their role in the infection process, it is essential to characterize these enzymes. During the current studies synthesis and regulation of extracellular proteases (Pr1 and Pr2) by Isaria fumosoroseus (Cordycipitaceae; Hypocreales) isolate IF28.2 were investigated as a function of carbon source (with special reference to diamondback moth cuticle), temperature and pH. The highest level of Pr1 and Pr2 activity were found in the supernatants from 1% glucose plus 1% diamondback moth cuticle (18.83±1.25 and 12.44±1.36 U/mg per h for Pr1 and Pr2, respectively). Maximum Pr1 production by the depressed mycelia was observed from the supernatants having diamondback moth cuticle as a nutrient source, whereas depressed mycelia showed maximum Pr2 activity from the cultures having chitin as the basic nutrient. The optimum pH for Pr1 and Pr2 activity was 8 while 35°C was the best temperature for protease production.     

Isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis from intertidal brackish sediments in mangroves

Intertidal brackish sediments in mangroves were examined for isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis strains with novel toxicity spectra. A total of 18 B. thuringiensis isolates were recovered from eight sediment samples (36.4%) out of 22 samples tested. The frequency of B. thuringiensis was 1.3% among the colonies of Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group. While five isolates were allocated to the four H serogroups, the majority of the isolates were serologically untypable or untestable. Two isolates belonging to the serovar israelensis/tochigiensis (H14/19) exhibited strong toxicities against larvae of the mosquito, Culex pipiens molestus, and mammalian cells (sheep erythrocyte and two human cancer cell lines) in vitro. The other 16 isolates showed no toxicity against the mosquito and mammalian cells. None of the isolates showed larvicidal activity against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Strong lectin activities against sheep erythrocytes were associated with two serologically untestable isolates and an H3 isolate.     

Variation in virulence of Beauveria bassiana isolates and its relatedness to some morphological characteristics

Ten Beauveria bassiana isolates were characterized using the following parameters: virulence, morphological measurements, germination in solid and liquid media, in vitro growth and physiological changes in liquid media. There were significant differences in mortality of second-instar larvae of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) according to isolate used (DBM; 14.51-53.37%, CPB; 25.05-74.07%). The most virulent isolates to DBM and CPB were KCF107 (soil origin) and KCF106 (Chilo suppressalis origin), respectively. Several morphological and physiological characteristics of isolates were evaluated for a possible link to virulence against both insect species. Special mean diameter (2.45-3.58 µm) and area of conidia (5.72-10.25 µm²) were significantly different among isolates. Time for 50% of conidia to germinate (GT₅₀) varied from 11 to 21 h depending on isolate. There was no correlation to virulence of size of conidia, GT_50, red pigment production and mycelial growth. Acidity of 7-day-old broth cultures of isolates was positively correlated with virulence. Iranian isolates KCF106 and KCF107 were the most promising and virulent isolates but field testing is needed to further evaluate their potential for use in DBM and CPB management.     

Use of the green fluorescent protein for investigations of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus in insect hosts.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria has been expressed in a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and has been used extensively as a marker in the study of host-pathogen interactions. We have expressed GFP in the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus through co-transformation with a vector that confers resistance to glufosinate ammonium. All cell types express GFP and were readily detected by fluorescence microscopy. No correlation was observed between the amount of fluorescence and the pattern of vector integration as observed by Southern analysis. Fluorescent hyphae and conidia were easily distinguished on two insect hosts, the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia, and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and blastospores were also detected in the hemolymph of the diamondback moth. GFP-tagged strains of P. fumosoroseus can be used to study the developmental fate of the fungus within its insect hosts.     

亚精胺对小菜蛾幼虫生长及保护酶活力的影响

在实验室条件下测定经亚精胺处理后,对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella L.3龄幼虫取食量、存活、羽化率、蛹重及保护酶活力的影响。结果表明,亚精胺对小菜蛾幼虫的取食量、存活、羽化及保护酶活力均有明显的影响。经过亚精胺处理后的大部分时间段,3龄幼虫的取食量、存活率、化蛹率及体内SOD和POD活力均明显高于蒸馏水对照;对处理后24和36h CAT活力也有明显的促进作用;但亚精胺对其蛹重、蛹的羽化率却无明显的影响。     

小菜蛾血淋巴蛋白质双向电泳技术体系的建立及优化

采用不同方法对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)血淋巴进行双向电泳研究,建立了一套适用于小菜蛾血淋巴蛋白质组分析的双向电泳体系。从样品处理方案、等电聚焦时间、染色方法等因素对小菜蛾双向电泳结果的影响进行了分析和优化。结果表明,TCA/丙酮沉淀法提取蛋白损失少,图谱均匀清晰,分辨率和重复性更高。不同长度胶条的最佳上样量不同,胶条长度为7、17、24cm时,最佳上样量依次为20～50μg、50～300μg、100～500μg,而聚焦时间则分别以24000、50000、65000vhr为宜。第二向聚丙烯酰胺凝胶的浓度以12%为宜,电泳后蛋白点呈均匀分布。银染的灵敏度明显高于考马斯亮蓝染色,可以检测出更多的蛋白点,但考马斯亮蓝染色在后续蛋白点质谱鉴定中具有优势。     

小菜蛾感染球孢白僵菌后血淋巴游离氨基酸的测定

通过高效液相色谱（HPLC）对感染球孢白僵菌后小菜蛾血淋巴游离氨基酸含量进行测定,结果表明染菌后小菜蛾幼虫体内氨基酸含量明显低于对照组,主要是由于菌株在虫体内营养生长消耗和虫体内的养分所致;小菜蛾幼虫体内具有菌株营养生长所必需的氨基酸,因此可以认为小菜蛾是白僵菌的敏感寄主;各处理组间各种游离氨基酸在量上存在一定的差异,是由于不同发育阶段的虫体与菌株及不同类型菌株营养生长所必需的游离氨基酸含量不同所造成的。