一株侵染草地贪夜蛾成虫的球孢白僵菌的分离鉴定

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith)是一种全球性重大玉米害虫,于2019年入侵我国云南。2020年8月,从云南省大理弥渡西庄村玉米田采集被虫生真菌感染的草地贪夜蛾雌成虫,经在室内分离培养,结合病原菌分生孢子与菌丝等形态及ITS序列相似性分析,确定感染草地贪夜蛾成虫的真菌为球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana,菌株编号为SHL-2020。经生物测定,该菌对草地贪夜蛾雌、雄成虫均具有较强的侵染致病作用。用该菌1×10~8个/mL分生孢子菌悬液接种处理后第7天时,草地贪夜蛾雌、雄成虫累计死亡率分别为90.0%和86.7%。以上结果表明,从罹病草地贪夜蛾雌成虫上分离获得的球孢白僵菌SHL-2020菌株对草地贪夜蛾雌雄成虫具有良好的生防潜力,该研究为草地贪夜蛾生物防治提供了理论依据和物质基础。     

Esterase-mediated tolerance to a formulation of the organophosphate insecticide monocrotophos in the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill: a promising biopesticide

The use of biopesticides compatible with chemical pesticides is recommended in pest management as an effective and ecologically sound strategy. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill, which is used as a biopesticide, was found to exhibit and lose tolerance to two organophosphorus insecticides widely used in Indian fields. The pattern of response is similar to the esterase-mediated organophosphate tolerance in aphids achieved through esterase gene duplication. Therefore the role of esterase in the tolerance exhibited by isolates of B. bassiana to the organophosphate, monocrotophos, was studied. Both the total soluble protein content and esterase activity were found to increase significantly in B. bassiana cultures that were able to grow in the presence of monocrotophos. With the hitherto established linkage between esterase overproduction and organophosphate tolerance in insects and the observed similarity in response of the insects and B. bassiana to the chemical, it is concluded that tolerance to monocrotophos in B. bassiana may be due to a mechanism similar to that operating in insects. Habituation of the fungus to monocrotophos to initiate expression of esterase gene may help in achieving compatibility between the two.     

Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Combining biological control and chemical control could be used for controlling red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, more effectively. Beauveria bassiana F256, a local strain from Taiwan, was evaluated for its efficacy in the control of S. invicta under both laboratory and field conditions. RESULTS: The efficacies of different doses of B. bassiana (Bb) using direct application and bait formulation methods were compared. The number of RIFA workers killed by the direct application of Bb or by bait were significantly higher than those of the control, with different rates of efficacy under laboratory conditions. Under field conditions, the direct application of Bb into RIFA mounds was more efficient in inactivating the mounds than the bait application. CONCLUSION: It was shown that B. bassiana is able to control S. invicta under both laboratory and field conditions and can be used as a biocontrol agent against RIFA in Taiwan. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

An auto-contamination trap-strips system for biological control of Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive pest in China

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is a major invasive pest in China, where it seriously threatens fruit and ornamental trees and windbreak systems. An auto-contamination trap-strips system was designed to disseminate Beauveria bassiana for biological control. The standard trap consisted of a yellow or green trap with a width no larger than 30 cm and with B. bassiana inside it. Therefore, the trap-strips provided an appropriate microenvironment for the fall webworm to pupate, and an acceptable humidity for B. bassiana to infect and reproduce. The average infection rates of the trap-strips systems were more than 90%. The present study demonstrated a practical application of how physical and biological control of this pest can be conducted efficiently and economically.