Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Previously, we assessed the pathogenicity of eleven endemic entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), including six <i>Beauveria</i> isolates, four <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates, and one <i>M. pingshaense</i>, against the agricultural pest <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i&g...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Nonthakorn (Beatrice) Apirajkamol Bishwo Mainali Phillip Warren Taylor Thomas Kieran Walsh Wee Tek Tay |
| author_facet | Nonthakorn (Beatrice) Apirajkamol Bishwo Mainali Phillip Warren Taylor Thomas Kieran Walsh Wee Tek Tay |
| author_sort | Nonthakorn (Beatrice) Apirajkamol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previously, we assessed the pathogenicity of eleven endemic entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), including six <i>Beauveria</i> isolates, four <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates, and one <i>M. pingshaense</i>, against the agricultural pest <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (fall armyworm, FAW). We found that four <i>Beauveria</i> and one <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates were effective, with <i>Beauveria</i> isolates B-0571 and B-1311 exhibiting high mortality within 24 h post-spore application. This study aimed to identify and characterise the entomopathogenesis mechanisms of these isolates as potential FAW biocontrol agents. All <i>Beauveria</i> isolates were determined as <i>B. bassiana</i>, the <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates as two <i>M. robertsii</i>, one <i>M. majus,</i> and an unknown <i>Metarhizium</i> species. Despite the high mortality from B-0571 and B-1311 isolates, scanning electron microscopy showed no fungal spore germination on dead larvae 24 h after spore application. Four insecticide compound gene clusters, i.e., bassianolide, beauvericin, beauveriolide, and oosporein, were identified and characterised in all <i>B. bassiana</i> isolates. These compounds are hypothesised to contribute to the high early mortality rates in FAWs. Identifying and characterising gene clusters encoding these insecticide compounds in B-0571 and B-1311 will contribute to a better understanding of the entomopathogenicity of these isolates that will be vital to developing these EPF isolates as sustainable alternative FAW biocontrol agents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d01baf0774a0450b8fd5f5b8f96232c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-d01baf0774a0450b8fd5f5b8f96232c82025-01-24T13:15:59ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-01-0115217010.3390/agriculture15020170Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)Nonthakorn (Beatrice) Apirajkamol0Bishwo Mainali1Phillip Warren Taylor2Thomas Kieran Walsh3Wee Tek Tay4Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaApplied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaApplied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaApplied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaApplied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, AustraliaPreviously, we assessed the pathogenicity of eleven endemic entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), including six <i>Beauveria</i> isolates, four <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates, and one <i>M. pingshaense</i>, against the agricultural pest <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (fall armyworm, FAW). We found that four <i>Beauveria</i> and one <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates were effective, with <i>Beauveria</i> isolates B-0571 and B-1311 exhibiting high mortality within 24 h post-spore application. This study aimed to identify and characterise the entomopathogenesis mechanisms of these isolates as potential FAW biocontrol agents. All <i>Beauveria</i> isolates were determined as <i>B. bassiana</i>, the <i>Metarhizium</i> isolates as two <i>M. robertsii</i>, one <i>M. majus,</i> and an unknown <i>Metarhizium</i> species. Despite the high mortality from B-0571 and B-1311 isolates, scanning electron microscopy showed no fungal spore germination on dead larvae 24 h after spore application. Four insecticide compound gene clusters, i.e., bassianolide, beauvericin, beauveriolide, and oosporein, were identified and characterised in all <i>B. bassiana</i> isolates. These compounds are hypothesised to contribute to the high early mortality rates in FAWs. Identifying and characterising gene clusters encoding these insecticide compounds in B-0571 and B-1311 will contribute to a better understanding of the entomopathogenicity of these isolates that will be vital to developing these EPF isolates as sustainable alternative FAW biocontrol agents.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/170<i>Beauveria bassiana</i><i>Metarhizium</i>entomopathogenic fungibiological controlfall armyworm<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| spellingShingle | Nonthakorn (Beatrice) Apirajkamol Bishwo Mainali Phillip Warren Taylor Thomas Kieran Walsh Wee Tek Tay Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Agriculture <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> <i>Metarhizium</i> entomopathogenic fungi biological control fall armyworm <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| title | Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |
| title_full | Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |
| title_fullStr | Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |
| title_short | Characterisation of the Pathogenicity of <i>Beauveria</i> sp. and <i>Metarhizium</i> sp. Fungi Against the Fall Armyworm, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |
| title_sort | characterisation of the pathogenicity of i beauveria i sp and i metarhizium i sp fungi against the fall armyworm i spodoptera frugiperda i lepidoptera noctuidae |
| topic | <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> <i>Metarhizium</i> entomopathogenic fungi biological control fall armyworm <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/170 |
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