Abstract
This study determined the pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae strain SD-3 against invasive red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (coleoptera:curculionidae) larvae in Hainan Province, China. Inoculation of 1 × 108 conidia/mL caused 100 % mortality of R. ferrugineus, indicating that the conidia of strain SD-3 were highly virulent. The process of invasion mechanism was showed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and frozen section as follows. Once R. ferrugineus was infected by strain SD-3, M. anisopliae hyphae first invaded the cuticular and body cavity of R. ferrugineus. Secondly, well-developed muscles, fat, tracheaes and digestive tube tissues in the abdomen of R. ferrugineus were then decomposed and absorbed by M. anisopliae hyphae, leading to the total destruction of the larvae. Finally, M. anisopliae hyphae reproduced, resulting in a large number of conidia in the body of RPW. The SEM and frozen section are convenient tools to observe the mode of action of entomopathogenic fungi and to observe how M. anisopliae is able to colonize and infect the host.
Highlights
Invasive red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is an important pests of a world range of palms of economic importance (Faleiro 2006)
The purpose of the present studies, by using Electron Microscopy and frozen section methods, We examined the entire course of infection of R. ferrugineus by M. anisopliae with particular reference to histopathology of entomopathogenic fungi in R. ferrugineus, which could improve the effect of biocontrol and further expand its application in the field
This study showed entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae SD-3 was highly virulent to R. ferrugineus, a serious pest of various palm species
Summary
Invasive red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (coleoptera:curculionidae), is an important pests of a world range of palms of economic importance (Faleiro 2006). According to IPM strategy, several control methods have been used to R. ferrugineus invasion of palms, These methods include, cutting down and burning infected palms, trapping adult R. ferrugineus, chemical control, host plant resistance, bacteria control, viruses control, nematodes mites control, parasitoid and predator insects, male sterile techniques and so on (Faleiro 2006; Francardi et al 2013). A number of entomopathogenic fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveri bassiana, Aspergillus sp., Trichothecium sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp.) isolated from naturally infected R. ferrugineus. Sun et al SpringerPlus (2016) 5:1748 as a biological control agent against this weevil (Ghazavi and Avand-Faghih 2002; Gindin et al 2006; Dembilio et al 2010; Güerri-Agulló et al 2011; Francardi et al 2013), Metarhizium anisopliae is one of the most commonly studied species of entomopathogenic fungi, it is environmentally-friendly and harmless to human. M. anisopliae was discovered in naturally infected R. ferrugineus in Egypt and this strain caused a high mortality rate for larval and adult stages only under laboratory conditions (Merghem 2011; Cito et al 2014)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
