Application of the Spores of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Lecanicillium Muscarium for Control of Adelgids on Conifers in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden

This article discusses the possibility of using the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium R. Zare & W. Gams (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) against the fir adelgid Adelges pectinatae pectinatae (Cholodkovsky, 1888) and Siberian cedar adelgid Pineus cembrae (Cholodkovsky, 1888) on the Siberian fir Abies sibirica Ledeb., and pines Pinus sibirica Du Tour and Pinus banksiana Lamb. The blastospores of the entomopathogenic fungus L. muscarium strain G-033 VIZR, in the concentration of 5x107 spores/ml, showed a high efficiency on both of the species of adelgid. On the 17th day, the mortality of P. cembrae was 73% on P. sibirica and 61% on P. banksiana, and the mortality of the species A. pectinatae pectinatae on A. sibirica was 74%. The effect of the spore application had a prolonged effect over the next month on all treated trees. Keywords: entomopathogenic fungi, Lecanicillium muscarium, adelgid, conifers

Compatibility of the fungus Lecanicillium muscarium and the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii for their combined application against the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum

The present study evaluated effects of the fungus Lecanicillium muscarium (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and an organic extract from its mycelium on the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its predator, mite Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Mites were exposed to fungal spores or organic extract prepared from L. muscarium mycelium. No negative effect was shown on the predator feeding on T. vaporariorum nymphs treated with fungal conidia at a concentration of 5 × 107 spores/ml; by day six the number of mite eggs and nymphs was 18.7 % higher than on leaves treated with Tween 80. In contrast, treatment of leaves with a 0.5 % alcohol extract derived from L. muscarium mycelium caused 35 % mortality of A. swirskii adults by day two. In a trial conducted in a commercial greenhouse on rose plants, the application of L. muscarium conidia followed by the release of A. swirskii suppressed T. vaporariorum more effectively than each of the control agents applied separately.

Effect of the native strain of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium against Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) under greenhouse conditions in Tunisia

Background The misuse of chemical insecticides has developed the phenomenon of habituation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causing enormous economic losses under geothermal greenhouses in southern Tunisia. Results In order to develop means of biological control appropriate to the conditions of southern Tunisia, the efficacy of the native strain of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) and two entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium was tested against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Indeed, the introduction of N. tenuis in doses of 1, 2, 3, or 4 nymphs per tobacco plant infested by the whitefly led to highly significant reduction in the population of B. tabaci, than the control devoid of predator. The efficacy of N. tenuis was very high against nymphs and adults of B. tabaci at all doses per plant with a rate of 98%. Likewise, B. bassiana and L. muscarium, compared to an untreated control, showed a very significant efficacy against larvae and adults of B. tabaci. In addition, the number of live nymphs of N. tenuis treated directly or introduced on nymphs of B. tabaci treated with the EPF remained relatively high, exceeding 24.8 nymphs per cage compared to the control (28.6). Conclusions It can be concluded that the native strain of N. tenuis and the EPF tested separately were effective against B. tabaci. Their combined use appears to be possible.

Antibiotic activity of strains of the fungus Lecanicillium muscarium against phytopathogens

The aim of the work was the identification of the antibiotic properties of highly virulent strains of the fungus Lecanicillium. Most of the strains were more active against phytopathogenic fungi than bacteria. Strain F 14 showed high antibiotic properties against both fungal and bacterial pathogens. Strain Vl 79 (L. dimorphum) was more active against phytopathogenic fungi, and Vl 61 showed good results against bacteria.

Virulence of the plant-associated endophytic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium to diamondback moth larvae

Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth) is a prominent pest of brassicas which is now resistant to most insecticides. Despite years of research, the range of available products used in biological control of diamondback moth is still somewhat limited. We isolated putative endophytic fungi from New Zealand cabbage plants to search for unique biological control agents of diamondback moth larvae. The larvae were fed leaf discs from commercially grown cabbage covered in spores from endophytic fungal isolates to test the insecticidal properties of these fungi. Twenty of the 52 fungal isolates tested failed to kill any diamondback moth larvae. However, three isolates of Lecanicillium muscarium induced mortality greater than 80%. While these isolates have potential for use in biological control applications, further research into propagation, formulation, and method, rate and timing of application is needed.

Expression of spider toxin in entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium and selection of the strain showing efficient secretion of the recombinant protein

ABSTRACT Beta/delta-agatoxin-1 of spider Agelena orientalis was expressed in entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium. To ensure secretion of the recombinant product by the fungus, the signal secretory peptide of the Metarhizium anisopliae Mcl1 protein was inserted into the sequence. For detection of the recombinant product and selection of transformants, the toxin sequence was also fused with eGFP at the C-terminus. The gene encoding the A. orientalis toxin with the Mcl1 protein signal peptide was commercially synthesized, amplified and cloned into the vector pBARGPE1 designed for heterologous expression under the control of the PgpdA promoter and the trpC terminator of Aspergillus nidulans. A double selection on selective medium and microscopic analysis of transformants allowed obtaining a mitotically stable recombinant strain of L. muscarium. The recognition of the Mcl1 derived signal peptide in the cells of transformants and effective secretion of the hybrid product was confirmed by immunoblotting.