Phlebiopsis gigantea and associated viruses survive passing through the digestive tract of Hylobius abietis |
| |
| Authors: | Tiia Drenkhan Risto Kasanen Eeva J. Vainio |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia;2. Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;3. Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bio-based Business and Industry, Bioprocessing, Jokiniemenkuja 1, Vantaa, Finland |
| |
| Abstract: | Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jül. is one of the most common fungal species in coniferous forests and commonly used as a biological control agent to prevent aerial infections of conifers by Heterobasidion fungi. We used feeding experiments to examine whether Hylobius abietis L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) could serve as a vector for P. gigantea and associated viruses by disseminating the fungus in its faecal pellets. Two different P. gigantea strains were used in the experiments: the virus-free Rotsop biocontrol strain and P. gigantea 93073 infected with the virus strain PgLV-1. The Rotstop strain showed 100% viability during insect feeding, while the viability of the virus-infected strain 93073 was only 35%. Virus persistence was 100% during the passage of the host fungus through the alimentary tract. Based on growth experiments using virus-infected and virus-free strains obtained by hyphal tip or oidial isolation, the presence of PgLV-1 did not significantly affect the growth rate of the host fungus. |
| |
| Keywords: | Heterobasidion biocontrol insect vector mycovirus |
|
|
