Eavesdropping on Plant-Insect-Microbe Chemical Communications in Agricultural Ecology: A Virtual Issue on Semiochemicals

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Journal of Applied Entomology

Publication Date

4-1-2006

Abstract

The susceptibility of various developmental stages of Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and adults) to the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Three concentrations (3.0 × 106, 1.0 × 107 and 1.0 × 108 conidia/ml) of both fungi were used for each stage. The effect of fungal infection on fecundity and egg fertility was also investigated using both fungal species. Deutonymphs that survived the infection and developed into adult females were allowed to oviposit. Adults and deutonymphs were more susceptible to fungal infection than larval and protonymphal stages at all the concentrations. Nevertheless, the concentration level influenced the mortality of the different mite stages. Eggs were also susceptible to fungal infection and mortality was dose-dependent. Fungus-treated female mites laid fewer eggs than the controls but there was no significant difference in egg hatchability between the treatments. © 2006 Blackwell Verlag.

Keywords

Beauveria bassiana, Developmental stages, Egg fertility, Entomopathogenic fungi, Fecundity, Metarhizium anisopliae, Mortality, Tetranychus evansi

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