The strain HEB01 of Fusarium sp., a new pathogen that infects brown soft scale

The objectives of the present study were to identify a fungal strain, HEB01, isolated from naturally infected brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum L. (Hemiptera: Coccidae), and to determine whether it is an entomopathogenic fungus. Fungal culture, reinoculation test, morphological observations, and infection behaviors were investigated. Additionally, the fungal gene sequence of translation elongation factor 1-a (EF-1a) was obtained for molecular identification. The results showed that the fungal strain HEB01 belongs to the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex and is part of the family Nectriaceae (Hypocreales: Sordariomycetes). The inoculation test and observations of infection behaviors indicated that strain HEB01 is a pathogenic fungus and confirmed that it infects brown soft scale. Thus, the HEB01 strain of Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti is the first pathogen in the genus Fusarium to be isolated from a brown soft scale.