Isolation and characterization of an entomopathogenic fungus for Nilaparvata lugens control and its effects on host-associated bacterial community.

Isolation and characterization of an entomopathogenic Serratia strain against rice delphacid planthoppers.

A virulent Serratia nematodiphila named BPH1 is isolated from diseased N. lugens and characterized its insecticidal activity, genomic features, and virulence-associated phenotypes, revealing genomic and phenotypic features potentially associated with pathogenicity.

Taxonomy, Biological Characterization, and Fungicide Sensitivity of a New Species, Cladobotryum hypsigum, Causing Cobweb Disease in Gold Mushroom (Pholiota conissans) in China.

In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays, performed using the hyphal growth inhibition method against six common fungicides, demonstrated that Carbendazim was the most effective agent, indicating significant selectivity.

Isolation, molecular characterization of indigenous Metarhizium anisopliae using ITS-5.8 s rDNA region and its pathogenicity against white grub, Holotrichia serrata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

In vitro isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungus (Metarhizium pinghaense) and assessment of its virulence against whiteflies and aphids

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Aphis gossypii (Glover) are two notorious pests of vegetables grown in greenhouses and their outbreaks can be devastating and cause a significant loss in yield and quality. The prevail and effective control of the pests mainly relies on frequent applications of pesticides, which is likely to negatively impact environments and human health through residue, resurgence, and resistance. To avoid negative “3R” issues brought forth by chemicals, entomopathogenic fungus such as Metarhizium sp. are widely used as biocontrol agents even if they are different in their population, adaptability and pathogenicity among various species and isolates collected from different insect hosts and environments. To screen for the entomopathogenic fungi with optimal pathogenicity against the piercing-sucking pests B. tabaci and A. gossypii, we have isolated, purified four strains (SG-A, SG-B, SG-C, and SG-D) of Metarhizium sp. using yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) as the bait, and identified them as Metarhizium pinghaense morphologically and molecularly. Bioassay results have indicated that four isolates of M. pingshaense infected both B. tabaci and A. gossypii with some differences in the virulence and median lethal time. Both B. tabaci and A. gossypii nymphs showed an increase in the mortality rate as the spore concentration rose. Four M. pingshaense strains also exhibited the different pathogenicity against B. tabaci and A. gossypii at various levels: At an inoculum concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL, the cumulative corrected mortality of B. tabaci nymphs 8 days post-treatment ranked in the order: SG‑A > SG‑C > SG‑B = SG‑D. For A. gossypii, the cumulative corrected mortality followed the order: SG‑A > SG‑B > SG‑D > SG‑C.Strain SG-A demonstrated the maximized pathogenicity against nymphs of B. tabaci and A. gossypii 8 days after the treatment (LC50 = 7.00 × 104 and 4.21 × 105 conidia/mL, respectively). At the spore concentration at 1 × 108 conidia/mL, its cumulatively corrected mortality reached 94.44% and 96.67% (LT50 = 4.13 d and 2.61 d, respectively). Strain SG-C showed an optimal pathogenicity against B. tabaci nymphs only with a cumulative corrected mortality of 87.78% and an LT50 at 4.30 d 8 days after the treatment. In contrast, strain SG-B exhibited relatively high pathogenicity against A. gossypii nymphs only with a cumulative corrected mortality of 72.22% and an LT50 at 2.31 d 8 days after the treatment. Therefore, M. pinghaense SG-A should be a potential biocontrol agent to manage whiteflies and aphids at their nymph stage during the vegetable production season.

First Report of Phytopythium vexans Causing Stem and Leaf Necrosis on Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis): Biological Characteristics and Fungicide Sensitivity

The findings provide a theoretical foundation for accurate disease diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, and the development of effective chemical control strategies for rubber plantations.

Biopesticide development based on strains of Metarhizium anisopliae for the biological control of white grubs [Phyllophaga sp.]

Phyllophaga sp. is a pest that causes various types of damage to crops and economic losses. One control alternative is biological control, such as the use of entomopathogenic fungi that cause infections and death in various insects of economic interest. The objective of this research was to molecularly identify three strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium, select those with the greatest pathogenic capacity against white grubs [Phyllophaga sp.], and with viability for mass reproduction and formulation as a bioinsecticide. The three strains belong to the species M. anisopliae, with strains Ma70 and Ma2 showing greater pathogenicity. They were reproduced in vitro and in rice to determine their commercial potential. Conidia production by both strains [2–3 × 10⁸] was lower than the target production [1 × 10¹⁰]; therefore, future research should focus on increasing conidia production in solid substrates.