Destruxin production by the entomogenous fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> in insects and factors influencing their degradation |
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Authors: | Anke Skrobek Farooq A Shah Tariq M Butt |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, UK |
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Abstract: | There is much public interest in the use of fungal biological control agents as alternatives to chemical pesticides. However,
there are some concerns as to whether the metabolites produced by these fungi pose a risk to humans and the environment. Destruxins
are the main metabolites produced by the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium
anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. The production of these compounds in two different insect hosts and their subsequent fate in the soil were
assessed as a case study. Destruxin profiling revealed that the amount and type of destruxin produced was dependant upon the
fungal strain and insect host and that these compounds decomposed shortly after host death. Destruxin decomposition was presumably
due to the activity of hydrolytic enzymes in the cadavers and appeared to be independent of host or soil type and biota. Temperature
strongly influenced destruxin decomposition. Our studies are the first to show that the destruxins are essentially restricted
to the host and pathogen and are unlikely to contaminate the environment or enter the food chain. |
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Keywords: | Destruxins Degradation Entomopathogenic fungi Environment Insect cadavers |
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