Background Olive production is the main agricultural activity in Tunisia. The diversity of fungi was explored in two different olive groves located in two distant geographical zones in Sfax (Tunisia) with different management practices. Results Fungal isolation was made from soil and the major olive tree pests, namely the Olive fly, Bactrocera oleae Gmelin (Diptera: Tephritidae), and the Olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina Costa (Homoptera: Psyllidae). A total of 34 fungal isolates were identified according to their phenotypic, genotypic, biochemical and biological activities. Twenty fungal species were identified belonging to six different genera (Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Lecanicillium and Penicillium) by the analysis of their ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 ribosomal DNA region. Different bioassays performed in this work revealed that 25/34 (73.5%) of the identified fungal isolates showed an entomopathogenic and/or antagonistic activity, 9/34 (26.5%) of them displayed phytopathogenic features. Conclusions Fungal species that showed entomopathogenic and/or antagonistic potentialities and that are non-phytopathogenic, (17/34; 50%) of our fungal isolates, could be explored for olive protection against fungal diseases and pests, and might have a future application as biocontrol agents.

Aim: This study investigated the bacterial diversity of dead insects collected from olive tree orchards widely cultivated in Tunisia. We aimed to explore metabolic diversity, screen enzymatic activities for biotechnological applications and carry out preliminary bioassays for bio-insecticide development. Methods and results: A total of 50 bacteria strains were randomly isolated from four different biotopes situated in Sfax (Tunisia). 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify 24 species, and isolates were evaluated for enzymatic activity and antimicrobial potential. Nineteen of the total number of Bacillus strains have enzymatic activity compared to strains from the other genera (14/50). Our bacterial collection was evaluated for antimicrobial potential against bacterial and fungal isolates. Isolates B8-2 (Bacillus subtilis) showed strong antibacterial activities and isolates B2-3 (Bacillus licheniformis) and B10-1 (Serratia marcescens) showed the highest antifungal activity. Seventeen of the total number of isolates caused greater than 50% mortality rate of second and fourth instar larvae of Ephestia kuehniella. Conclusion: The selected species from olive orchards represent a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and insecticidal activities and can be considered promising resources in biological control. Significance and Impact of the Study: Bacteria isolated from olive pests in olive orchards were investigated for detecting their potential biotechnological applications.

Aim This study investigated the biodiversity of fungi associated with the pistachio bark beetle, Chaetoptelius vestitus, in Tunisia. We evaluated the phytopathogenic activities and tested antagonistic potentialities with respect to phytopathogens. Methods and Results A total of 41 fungal isolates were randomly isolated from C. vestitus adults and galleries. We identified 28 species belonging to 13 genera using ITS sequences of the ribosomal RNA operons. Pathogenicity assays performed using the excised shoot method revealed that isolates Aal_io_1 (Alternaria alternata), Feq_io_1 (Fusarium equiseti), Fgra_io_1 (Fusarium graminearum), Fve_io_1 (Fusarium verticilloides), Tro_io_1 (Trichothecium roseum) and Nqu_io_1 (Nothophoma quercina) displayed a high pathogenic activity on pistachio stems. Estimation of the antagonistic potentialities of isolated fungi against several phytopathogenic isolates as tested using a dual‐culture method showed that isolates Tpi_io_1 (Talaromyces pinophilus), Pbi_io_2 (Penicillium bilaiae), Asc_io_1 (Aspergillus sclerotiorum) and Gla_io_1 (Geosmithia lavendula) displayed a broad range of antagonistic activities. Conclusion Fungi associated with C. vestitus had a variable range of pathogenic activity on pistachio stem. Phytopathogenic fungi were antagonized by different fungal isolates which could be promising in pistachio protection against phytopathogenic fungi. Significance and Impact of the Study This study is the first that investigated the diversity of fungi associated with C. vestitus and evaluated both their phytopathogenic activity and antagonistic potential against fungal phytopathogens.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore the enzymatic diversity, the entomopathogenic and the antimicrobial potentialities of fungi associated with the pistachio bark beetle, Chaetoptelius vestitus. Methods and Results: A total of 40 isolates were screened for enzymatic diversity. Most of them, 92Á5%, were able to produce at least two of the screened enzymes. Pathogenic assays performed on C. vestitus showed a high entomopathogenic activity of the isolates Ata_io_1 (A. tamarii), Fve_io_1 (F. verticillioides), Tpi_io_1 (T. pinophilus), Pal_io_1 (P. album), Pbi_io_2 (Penicillium bilaiae) and Pch_io_1 (P. chrysogenum), as based on mean mortality of C. vestitus. A screening of antimicrobial activity using well diffusion method showed that the isolates Tro_io_1 (T. pinophilus), Tat_io_1 (T. atroroseus) and Pch_io_1 (P. chrysogenum) presented the highest antibacterial activity. Furthermore, Mgu_io_1 (M. guilliermondii), Asc_io_1 (A. sclerotiorum), Ata_io_1 (A. tamarii), G. lavendula (Gla_io_1), Pva_io_1 (P. variotii), Pul_io_1 (P. ulaiense), Tat_io_1 (T. atroroseus) and Tro_io_1 (T. roseum) were active against at least two of the three tested fungal phytopathogens. Conclusions: Fungal isolates representing entomopathogenic activity and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities can be considered as promising resources for biological pistachio trees protection. Significance and Impact of the Study: Fungi associated with C. vestitus were investigated for detecting their potential biotechnological applications.

A wide array of bacteria and fungi are known for their association with pests that impact the health of the olive tree. The latter presents the most economically important cultivation in Tunisia. The microbial diversity associated with olive orchards in Tunisia remains unknown and undetermined. This study investigated microbial diversity to elucidate the microbial interactions that lead to olive disease, and the bio-prospects for potential microbial biocontrol agents associated with insect pests of economic relevance for olive cultivation in the Mediterranean area. Bacterial and fungal isolation was made from soil and olive tree pests. A total of 215 bacterial and fungal strains were randomly isolated from eight different biotopes situated in Sfax (Tunisia), with different management practices. 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing were used to identify the microbial community. The majority of the isolated bacteria, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Alcaligenes, and Providencia, are typical of the olive ecosystem and the most common fungi are Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium. The different olive orchards depicted distinct communities, and exhibited dissimilar amounts of bacteria and fungi with distinct ecological functions that could be considered as promising resources in biological control.