A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens

The striped flea beetle (SFB), <i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>, is a significant pest of cruciferous crops. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) hold great promise for the integrated pest management (IPM) of the SFB. However, the lack of understanding of the different interactions between the SFB a...

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Main Authors: Xinhua Pu, Xiangyu Hu, Ke Zhang, Alexander Berestetskiy, Vsevolod Dubovik, Qiongbo Hu, Qunfang Weng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1188
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author Xinhua Pu
Xiangyu Hu
Ke Zhang
Alexander Berestetskiy
Vsevolod Dubovik
Qiongbo Hu
Qunfang Weng
author_facet Xinhua Pu
Xiangyu Hu
Ke Zhang
Alexander Berestetskiy
Vsevolod Dubovik
Qiongbo Hu
Qunfang Weng
author_sort Xinhua Pu
collection DOAJ
description The striped flea beetle (SFB), <i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>, is a significant pest of cruciferous crops. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) hold great promise for the integrated pest management (IPM) of the SFB. However, the lack of understanding of the different interactions between the SFB and EPF restricts the development of mycoinsecticides. This study aims to elucidate the interaction performance of the SFB with three EPF—<i>Beauveria bassiana</i> BbPs01 (Bb), <i>Metarhizium robertsii</i> MrCb01 (Mr), and <i>Cordyceps javanica</i> IjH6102 (Cj). The bioassay results indicated that the virulences of EPF to the SFB adults were recorded as Bb > Mr > Cj. Then, the EPF with distinct infection pathways were observed, in which Bb penetrated the SFB cuticle via germ-tubes and appressoria, Mr typically invaded using appressoria, while Cj employed germ-tubes. Moreover, the SFB with different symptoms following infection by the EPF species were recorded. Bb primarily caused SFB adults to lose their appetite, become sluggish, and die rapidly. In contrast, SFB adults infected with Mr often experienced shivering, uncoordinated movement, and slower death. Cj-infected larvae frequently displayed dendrite-like melanization originating from the spiracles, while infected adults exhibited weak shivering and slow death, which seems similar to Mr. Our findings provide novel insights into the interactions between EPF and insects and offer valuable materials for enhancing the application of mycoinsecticides in the control of the SFB.
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spelling doaj-art-3c4c03fbd105437e972c887c8e7936ea2025-08-20T03:10:54ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-05-011511118810.3390/agriculture15111188A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal EntomopathogensXinhua Pu0Xiangyu Hu1Ke Zhang2Alexander Berestetskiy3Vsevolod Dubovik4Qiongbo Hu5Qunfang Weng6National Key Lab of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaNational Key Lab of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaNational Key Lab of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaAll-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Saint-Petersburg 196608, RussiaAll-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Saint-Petersburg 196608, RussiaNational Key Lab of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaNational Key Lab of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaThe striped flea beetle (SFB), <i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>, is a significant pest of cruciferous crops. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) hold great promise for the integrated pest management (IPM) of the SFB. However, the lack of understanding of the different interactions between the SFB and EPF restricts the development of mycoinsecticides. This study aims to elucidate the interaction performance of the SFB with three EPF—<i>Beauveria bassiana</i> BbPs01 (Bb), <i>Metarhizium robertsii</i> MrCb01 (Mr), and <i>Cordyceps javanica</i> IjH6102 (Cj). The bioassay results indicated that the virulences of EPF to the SFB adults were recorded as Bb > Mr > Cj. Then, the EPF with distinct infection pathways were observed, in which Bb penetrated the SFB cuticle via germ-tubes and appressoria, Mr typically invaded using appressoria, while Cj employed germ-tubes. Moreover, the SFB with different symptoms following infection by the EPF species were recorded. Bb primarily caused SFB adults to lose their appetite, become sluggish, and die rapidly. In contrast, SFB adults infected with Mr often experienced shivering, uncoordinated movement, and slower death. Cj-infected larvae frequently displayed dendrite-like melanization originating from the spiracles, while infected adults exhibited weak shivering and slow death, which seems similar to Mr. Our findings provide novel insights into the interactions between EPF and insects and offer valuable materials for enhancing the application of mycoinsecticides in the control of the SFB.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1188<i>Beauveria bassiana</i><i>Metarhizium robertsii</i><i>Cordyceps javanica</i><i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>infectionbehavior
spellingShingle Xinhua Pu
Xiangyu Hu
Ke Zhang
Alexander Berestetskiy
Vsevolod Dubovik
Qiongbo Hu
Qunfang Weng
A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
Agriculture
<i>Beauveria bassiana</i>
<i>Metarhizium robertsii</i>
<i>Cordyceps javanica</i>
<i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>
infection
behavior
title A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
title_full A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
title_fullStr A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
title_full_unstemmed A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
title_short A Comparative Study on the Interaction Performance of the Striped Flea Beetle with Different Fungal Entomopathogens
title_sort comparative study on the interaction performance of the striped flea beetle with different fungal entomopathogens
topic <i>Beauveria bassiana</i>
<i>Metarhizium robertsii</i>
<i>Cordyceps javanica</i>
<i>Phyllotreta striolata</i>
infection
behavior
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/11/1188
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