Molecular, morphological and pathogenic characterization of six strains of Metarhizium spp. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) for the control of Aegorhinus superciliosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

摘要

Aegorhinus superciliosus is an important pest on blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and other fruit trees. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as Metarhizium spp. has been evaluated for the control of this insect, but variability has been observed among different strains. The aim of this study was to characterize six promising strains of Metarhizium spp. for the control of A. superciliosus . The studied strains were QuM173c, Qu-M363, Qu-M171a, Qu-M156a, Qu-M421, and Qu-M430, all of which belonged to the Chilean Collection of Microbial Genetic Resources (ChCMGR) of the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Chile. Molecular characterization was made by sequencing the ITS region (Internal Transcribed Spacers, ITS-5.8S rDNA). The morphology of conidia was evaluated through scanning electron microscopy and radial colony growth was evaluated in potato dextrose agar (PDA), Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), agar enriched with larvae of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (GA), and agar enriched with adults of A. superciliosus (AA). Pathogenicity was studied based on mortality of adults of A. superciliosus inoculated with conidia. Sequencing of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region indicates that the strains belong to the clade of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae , except for Qu-M171a, which was identified as M. anisopliae var. lepidiotum . Conidia average length for the six strains was 5.09 μ m and average conidia width was 1.92 μ m. Radial colony growth differences were observed between strains (p A. superciliosus .