Low Efficacy of Isaria fumosorosea against Box Tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis: Are Host Plant Phytochemicals Involved in Herbivore Defence against Fungal Pathogens?

Buxus sp. is an important native and ornamental tree in Europe threatened by a serious invasive pest Cydalima perspectalis. The larvae of this moth are able to defoliate box trees and cause their death. The development of novel biopesticides targeting this pest might help protect Buxus trees grown wildly or in city parks. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea strain CCM 8367 against C. perspectalis. The last-instar larvae of the box tree moth were treated by the suspension of fungus conidia at concentrations ranging from 1 × 104 to 1 × 108 spores per 1 mL. Fungus infection was observed mostly in pupae, but the maximum mortality did not exceed 60%, indicating a very low susceptibility of C. perspectalis to I. fumosorosea. Furthermore, a number of ungerminated fungal conidia were found on larval cuticles using a low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Our data also reveal that the hydroalcoholic extract from B. sempervirens leaves significantly inhibits both the germination of I. fumosorosea conidia and fungus growth. It can be speculated that the strain CCM 8367 of I. fumosorosea is not a potent biocontrol agent against C. perspectalis and low virulence of the fungus might be due to the accumulation of host plant phytochemicals having antimicrobial activity in larval cuticle of the pest.

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Hidden Host Plant Associations of Soilborne Fungal Pathogens: An Ecological Perspective

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-08-12-0192-le ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 103 (6) ◽

pp. 538-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Glenna M. Malcolm ◽

Gretchen A. Kuldau ◽

Beth K. Gugino ◽

María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Population Biology ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Disease Symptoms ◽

Nonhost Plant ◽

Plant Associations ◽

Definition Of ◽

Forest Plants

Much of the current knowledge on population biology and ecology of soilborne fungal pathogens has been derived from research based on populations recovered from plants displaying disease symptoms or soil associated with symptomatic plants. Many soilborne fungal pathogens are known to cause disease on a large number of crop plants, including a variety of important agronomical, horticultural, ornamental, and forest plants species. For instance, the fungus Verticillium dahliae causes disease on >400 host plants. From a phytopathological perspective, plants on which disease symptoms have not been yet observed are considered to be nonhosts for V. dahliae. This term may be misleading because it does not provide information regarding the nature of the plant–fungus association; that is, a nonhost plant may harbor the fungus as an endophyte. Yet, there are numerous instances in the literature where V. dahliae has been isolated from asymptomatic plants; thus, these plants should be considered hosts. In this article, we synthesize scattered research that indicates that V. dahliae, aside from being a successful and significant vascular plant pathogen, may have a cryptic biology on numerous asymptomatic plants as an endophyte. Thus, we suggest here that these endophytic associations among V. dahliae and asymptomatic plants are not unusual relationships in nature. We propose to embrace the broader ecology of many fungi by differentiating between “symptomatic hosts” as those plants in which the infection and colonization by a fungus results in disease, and “asymptomatic hosts” as those plants that harbor the fungus endophytically and are different than true nonhosts that should be used for plant species that do not interact with the given fungus. In fact, if we broaden our definition of “host plant” to include asymptomatic plants that harbor the fungus as an endophyte, it is likely that the host ranges for some soilborne fungal pathogens are much larger than previously envisioned. By ignoring the potential for soilborne fungal pathogens to display endophytic relationships, we leave gaps in our knowledge about the population biology and ecology, persistence, and spread of these fungi in agroecosystems.

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First records of the jumping plant-louse Acizzia jamatonica (Kuwayama) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psyllidae) in Slovakia and Greece

Plant Protection Science ◽

10.17221/18/2010-pps ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 37-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. Lauterer ◽

R. Bartoš ◽

P. Milonas

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Albizia Julibrissin ◽

Ornamental Tree ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Introduced Pest ◽

The Aesthetic ◽

First Time

The psyllid Acizzia jamatonica (Kuwayama, 1908), an introduced pest of the ornamental tree Albizia julibrissin Durazz., was found for the first time in Slovakia and Greece. In both countries it occurs in large numbers and reduces the aesthetic qualities as well as the health of the host plant.

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Molecular aspects of avirulence genes of the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b95-287 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 73 (S1) ◽

pp. 490-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pierre J. G. M. de Wit ◽

Matthieu H. A. J. Joosten ◽

Guy Honée ◽

Paul J. M. J. Vossen ◽

Ton J. Cozijnsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Hypersensitive Response ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Direct Interaction ◽

Defense Responses ◽

Cladosporium Fulvum ◽

Avirulence Genes ◽

Host Genotype ◽

Gene For Gene

Host genotype specificity in interactions between biotrophic fungal pathogens and plants in most cases complies with the gene-for-gene model. Success or failure of infection is determined by the absence or presence of complementary genes, avirulence and resistance genes, in the pathogen and the host plant, respectively. Resistance, expressed by the induction of a hypersensitive response followed by other defence responses in the host, is envisaged to be based on recognition of the pathogen, mediated through direct interaction between products of avirulence genes of the pathogen (the so-called race-specific elicitors) and receptors in the host plant, the putative products of resistance genes. The interaction between the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum and its only host, tomato, is a model system to study fungus–plant gene-for-gene relationships. Here we review research on isolation, characterization, and biological function of two race-specific elicitors AVR4 and AVR9 of C. fulvum and cloning and regulation of their encoding genes. Key words: avirulence genes, race-specific elicitors, resistance genes, hypersensitive response, host defense responses.

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Preferable Host Plants of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae in Southern Punjab Pakistan under Laboratory Conditions

Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences ◽

10.18782/2582-2845.8698 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 156-160

Author(s):

Muhammad Ramzan ◽

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Host Plants ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Developmental Period ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Larval Feeding ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

The World ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda is considered an important noctuid moth pest of agricultural crops all over the world and recently become an invasive pest in Pakistan. The crops belonging to Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae families are highly affected with this pest. The description of host plants is very important in understanding the biology, ecology and application of most effective techniques against the pest. By keeping in view, the importance of this pest, the current study was conducted to evaluate the most preferable host plant such as maize, potato, cabbage, cotton and lehli for this pest in the study area. The results showed that cabbage and maize were the most suitable hosts for larval feeding. The incubation period was recorded 2.00 and 2.12 days on cabbage and maize, respectively. The developmental period of larvae was found longer on cabbage as compared to maize. Potato, cotton and lehli were not found suitable for pest rearing. The study concluded that maize and cabbage are the most suitable hosts for S. frugiperda larvae under natural and controlled conditions.

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The early response during the interaction of fungal phytopathogen and host plant

Open Biology ◽

10.1098/rsob.170057 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 170057 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Yilin Shen ◽

Na Liu ◽

Chuang Li ◽

Xin Wang ◽

Xiaomeng Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Plant Disease Resistance ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Early Stage ◽

Early Response ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Resistance Response ◽

Fungal Phytopathogen ◽

Signalling Transduction ◽

Infection Stage

Plants can be infected by a variety of pathogens, most of which can cause severe economic losses. The plants resist the invasion of pathogens via the innate or acquired immune system for surviving biotic stress. The associations between plants and pathogens are sophisticated beyond imaging and the interactions between them can occur at a very early stage after their touching each other. A number of researchers in the past decade have shown that many biochemical events appeared even as early as 5 min after their touching for plant disease resistance response. The early molecular interactions of plants and pathogens are likely to involve protein phosphorylation, ion fluxes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other signalling transduction. Here, we reviewed the recent progress in the study for molecular interaction response of fungal pathogens and host plant at the early infection stage, which included many economically important crop fungal pathogens such as cereal rust fungi, tomato Cladosporium fulvum , rice blast and so on. By dissecting the earlier infection stage of the diseases, the avirulent/virulent genes of pathogen or resistance genes of plant could be defined more clearly and accurately, which would undoubtedly facilitate fungal pathogenesis study and resistant crop breeding.

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Seasonal Changes and the Interaction between the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner Cameraria ohridella and Horse Chestnut Leaf Blotch Disease Caused by Guignardia aesculi

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070952 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 952

Author(s):

Michal Kopačka ◽

Gösta Nachman ◽

Rostislav Zemek

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Leaf Damage ◽

Leaf Miner ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Horse Chestnut ◽

Leaf Blotch ◽

Chestnut Leaf ◽

The Mathematical Model ◽

The City

The horse chestnut leaf miner Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is an invasive pest of horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum (Sapindales: Sapindaceae) and has spread through Europe since 1985. Horse chestnut leaf blotch is a fungal disease caused by Guignardia aesculi (Botryosphaeriales: Botryosphaeriaceae) that also seriously damages horse chestnut trees in Europe. The interaction between the leaf miner and the fungus has not yet been sufficiently described. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess leaf damage inflicted to horse chestnut by both C. ohridella and G. aesculi during the vegetation season and to model their interaction. The damage to leaf area was measured monthly from May to September 2013 in České Budějovice, the Czech Republic using digital image analysis of sampled leaves. A simple phenomenological model describing the expected dynamics of the two species was developed. The study revealed that the damage caused by both the pests and the fungus varied significantly among sampling sites within the city. The overall leaf damage exceeded 50% in no-raking sites in August. The mathematical model indicates that infestation by C. ohridella is more affected by G. aesculi than vice versa. Guignardia aesculi is thus the superior competitor of the two species. Our findings highlight the delicate interplay between insect pests and fungal pathogens and the spatiotemporal dynamics influencing them, calling for more research in this understudied area.

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An Ecological Assessment of Isaria fumosorosea Applications Compared to a Neonicotinoid Treatment for Regulating Invasive Ficus Whitefly

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof5020036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pasco B. Avery ◽

Vivek Kumar ◽

Edward A. Skvarch ◽

Catharine M. Mannion ◽

Charles A. Powell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Foliar Spray ◽

Ecological Assessment ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea ◽

Whitefly Population ◽

Fungal Entomopathogens ◽

The Impact

A pilot study was conducted on a weeping fig, Ficus benjamina shrub hedge in a Florida urban landscape to determine the efficacy of a fungal biopesticide, PFR-97™ which contains blastospores of Isaria fumosorosea, and a neonicotinoid treatment (Admire Pro™) applied against the invasive ficus whitefly pest, Singhiella simplex (Singh). Post treatment, an ecological assessment of the study was conducted by observing the impact of the fungal biopesticide and neonicotinoid treatment on natural enemies, e.g., predators, parasitoids and enzootic fungal pathogens occurring in the whitefly-infested hedge. Both treatments provided a significant reduction in the whitefly population compared to control and were compatible with the natural enemies present. Various natural enemies including fungal entomopathogens were identified associated with the whitefly population infesting the weeping fig hedge. The parasitoids, Encarsia protransvena Viggiani and Amitus bennetti Viggiani & Evans combined parasitized a similar mean number of whitefly nymphs in both treatments and control; however, the number parasitized decreased over time. Natural enzootic fungi isolated from the ficus whitefly nymphs were I. fumosorosea, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Lecanicillium, Aspergillus and Fusarium species. Results from this pilot study suggest there is much potential for using repeated applications of the fungal biopesticide, PFR-97™ as a foliar spray compared to a neonicitionid as a soil drench for managing S. simplex on Ficus species for ≥28 days.

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Molecular cloning and expression of the vitellogenin gene and its correlation with ovarian development in an invasive pest Octodonta nipae on two host plants

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485316000353 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 106 (5) ◽

pp. 642-650 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jin-Lei Li ◽

Bao-Zhen Tang ◽

You-Ming Hou ◽

Yi-Xing Xie

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Host Plants ◽

Ovarian Development ◽

Critical Role ◽

Cloning And Expression ◽

Expression Level ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Correlation Relationship ◽

Reproductive Regulation ◽

Egg Hatchability

AbstractThere is an ongoing relationship between host plants and herbivores. The nutrient substances and secondary compounds found in the host plant can not only impact the growth and development process of herbivores, but, more importantly, may also affect their survival and reproductive fitness. Vitellogenesis is the core process of reproductive regulation and is generally considered as a reliable indicator for evaluating the degree of ovarian development in females. Vitellogenin (Vg) plays a critical role in the synthesis and secretion of yolk protein. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the Vg gene in an alien invasive species, the nipa palm hispid beetle Octodonta nipae Maulik (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (OnVg) was cloned and, the effect of host plant on the OnVg expression level and ovarian development was investigated. The results revealed that the OnVg was highly and exclusively expressed in adult females, but barely detectable in larvae, pupae and adult males. The relative expression level of OnVg and egg hatchability were much higher in females fed on Phoenix canariensis (their preferred host) than those fed on Phoenix roebelenii. A positive correlation relationship between OnVg expression and egg hatchability was also detected. Additionally, the anatomy of the female reproductive system showed that the ovaries of individuals fed on P. canariensis were considerably more developed than in females fed on P. roebelenii. The results may be applicable to many pest management situations through reproductive disturbance by alternating host plant species or varieties or by reproductive regulation through vitellogenesis mediated by specific endocrine hormones.

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Biophysical characteristics of the stem and petiole surface of six hemlock (Tsuga) species and a hybrid: implications for resistance to Adelges tsugae

Botany ◽

10.1139/b2012-095 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (11) ◽

pp. 1170-1178 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

K.L.F. Oten ◽

G.R. Bauchan ◽

J. Frampton ◽

F.P. Hain

Keyword(s):

Surface Morphology ◽

Host Plant ◽

Insertion Site ◽

Adelges Tsugae ◽

Host Plant Selection ◽

Plant Surface ◽

Eastern United States ◽

Temperature Scanning ◽

Cuticle Thickness

Characteristics of the plant surface significantly affect host-plant selection by phytophagous insects. Surface morphology of six hemlock species (Tsuga spp.) and a hybrid was investigated using low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Observations focused on trichome presence and placement and cuticle thickness. These characteristics were studied in the context of species-level host-plant resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), an exotic insect causing massive mortality to eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Engelm.) in the eastern United States. Hemlocks in the native range of the insect do not succumb to infestations and the mechanism of resistance is unknown. We addressed the potential role of plant surface morphology in the adelgid–hemlock interaction by comparing four adelgid-resistant hemlock species and a hybrid with the two adelgid-susceptible hemlock species. We found that trichomes are likely not involved in conferring resistance to A. tsugae. Cuticle thickness may be involved in insertion site selection by A. tsugae and may therefore have implications for resistance. The cuticle is thinnest at the point of A. tsugae stylet insertion and thus may affect A. tsugae feeding.

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On foliar fungal pathogens at species of the genus Alnus Mill. in Siberia

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20213800131 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 00131

Author(s):

Mariya A. Tomoshevich ◽

Irina G. Vorob’eva ◽

Evgeny V. Banaev

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Species Composition ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Siberian Region ◽

New Host ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Abiotic Environmental Factors

The article determines the species composition of causative agents of plant leaf diseases of the genus Alnus Mill. for the Siberian region, that grow in the arboretum collections and urbanized environment. The author has identified four phytopathogens, their spread and harmfulness are specified; established the confinement of foliar fungal pathogens to the host plant species, its ontogeny phase, and abiotic environmental factors. It had been found a hyperparasite Ramularia uredinis (W. Voss) Sacc. on a causative agent of alder rust (Melampsoridium alni (Thum.) Dietel), for which this phytopathogen is a new host.

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