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Occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in tejocote ( C rataegus mexicana ) orchard soils and their pathogenicity against R hagoletis pomonella
Author(s) -
MuñizReyes E.,
GuzmánFranco A.W.,
SánchezEscudero J.,
NietoAngel R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12617
Subject(s) - rhagoletis , entomopathogenic fungi , crataegus , biology , orchard , botany , pathogenicity , tephritidae , microbiology and biotechnology , biological pest control , ecology , pest analysis
Aims To determine the abundance and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in tejocote orchard soils and evaluate their ability to infect Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh., the main pest of tejocote. Methods and Results Surveys were made in two locations in Mexico state and two in Puebla state. Soil from selected locations was baited for entomopathogenic fungi with G alleria mellonella (L.). All isolates were identified morphologically to genus level and to species level using Bloc and elongation factor 1‐ α gene sequence information, respectively; Beauveria bassiana ((Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill.), B. pseudobassiana (S.A. Rehner & Humber) and Metarhizium robertsii (J.F. Bisch., Rehner & Humber) were found, with B. bassiana being the most abundant and widely distributed. Pathogenicity of five selected B. bassiana isolates and three M. robertsii isolates was evaluated against larvae and pupae of R. pomonella . All isolates infected larvae resulting in an average mortality of 35%. Pupae were not susceptible; however, adults emerging from inoculated pupae did die due to infection. Conclusions At least three species of entomopathogenic fungi are present in the soil from tejocote orchards, with B. bassiana being the most abundant and widely distributed. Rhagoletis pomonella larvae were more susceptible to infection than pupae. Significance and Impact of the Study Our study has produced new information about the distribution of entomopathogenic fungi in cultivated soils from this region of North America, contributing to a better understanding of their natural occurrence and underpinning the development of biological control approaches.