Advances in fundamental and applied studies in China of fungal biocontrol agents for use against arthropod pests

Wang, Chengshu; Feng, Ming‐Guang

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2013.06.017

Cited by 128 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 84 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Insect pathogenic fungi such as M. robertsii, Metarhizium acridum, and B. bassiana diverged after mammalian and plant pathogens (19) and have been developed as promising and environmentally friendly mycoinsecticides (20,21). Molecular pathogenesis studies have revealed the functions of genes involved in insect cuticle adherence, degradation, penetration, immune invasion, and production of insecticidal mycotoxins (22,23).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Domain Transcription Factor MBZ1 Regulates Cell Wall Integrity, Spore Adherence, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

Huang

Shang

Chen

et al. 2015

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:The bZIP-type transcription factors are widely distributed in eukaryotes to control an array of biological activities. Results: MBZ1 from Metarhizium robertsii regulates fungal growth, cell wall integrity, spore adherence, and virulence against insects. Conclusion: MBZ1 is required for development and virulence of insect pathogenic fungi. Significance: The orthologs of bZIP-type transcription factors are functionally divergent in different organisms.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Domain Transcription Factor MBZ1 Regulates Cell Wall Integrity, Spore Adherence, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

Huang

Shang

Chen

et al. 2015

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They are highly important in agriculture because, along with the other insect-pathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, they are being developed as environmental friendly biocontrol agents and are used worldwide to control various insect pests (15,16). Similar to other plant pathogens, Metarhizium species overcome a plethora of biotic and abiotic stresses for a successful fungus-host interaction (17,18). One of the critical factors affecting fungal virulence is the buildup of turgor pressure in the infection structure appressorium for cuticle penetration and then adaptation to osmotic insect hemolymphs, which leads to colonizing the body cavity (19,20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

MrSkn7 Controls Sporulation, Cell Wall Integrity, Autolysis, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

Shang

Chen

et al. 2015

Eukaryot Cell

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two-component signaling pathways generally include sensor histidine kinases and response regulators. We identified an ortholog of the response regulator protein Skn7 in the insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, which we named MrSkn7. Gene deletion assays and functional characterizations indicated that MrSkn7 functions as a transcription factor. The MrSkn7 null mutant of M. robertsii lost the ability to sporulate and had defects in cell wall biosynthesis but was not sensitive to oxidative and osmotic stresses compared to the wild type. However, the mutant was able to produce spores under salt stress. Insect bioassays using these spores showed that the virulence of the mutant was significantly impaired compared to that of the wild type due to the failures to form the infection structure appressorium and evade host immunity. In particular, deletion of MrSkn7 triggered cell autolysis with typical features such as cell vacuolization, downregulation of repressor genes, and upregulation of autolysis-related genes such as extracellular chitinases and proteases. Promoter binding assays confirmed that MrSkn7 could directly or indirectly control different putative target genes. Taken together, the results of this study help us understand the functional divergence of Skn7 orthologs as well as the mechanisms underlying the development and control of virulence in insect-pathogenic fungi. Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have developed complicated systems to sense and adapt to changing environments. In bacteria, sensing and processing of environmental stimuli largely rely on two-component signal (TCS) transduction pathways that consist of a membrane-bound histidine kinase receptor and a corresponding response regulator (RR) (1, 2). Similar TCS systems are also present in fungi, and the mechanisms underlying their function have been well studied in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (3, 4). The TCS pathway consists of a sensor kinase, Sln1, and two response regulators, Ssk1 and Skn7 (5, 6). The cytosolic Ssk1 controls the Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, while the highly conserved Skn7 functions as a stress response transcription factor that consists of an N-terminal HSF (heat shock factor)-type DNA binding domain and a C-terminal RR receiver domain (5). The orthologs of Skn7 in yeasts and different filamentous fungi generally contribute to cell wall integrity, sporulation, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress (5). Interestingly, deletion of MoSkn7 (Magnaporthe oryzae Skn7) in M. oryzae (7), FgSkn7 (Fusarium graminearum Skn7) in F. graminearum (8), and BcSkn7 (Botrytis cinerea Skn7) in B. cinerea (9) did not impair fungal virulence and thereby the ability to infect their respective plant hosts. In contrast, AaSkn7 (Alternaria alternata Skn7) is required by A. alternata to infect citrus (10). In mammalian pathogens, the virulence of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans were attenuated by the deletion of CaSkn7 (C. albicans Skn7) (11) and CnSkn7 (C. neoformans Skn7) (12), respectively, compa...

show abstract

“…Entomopathogenic fungi are regarded as promising control agents of many important pests in Europe and worldwide (Rudeen et al 2013;Reddy et al 2014;Wanga and Feng 2014). However, the practical application of entomopathogenic fungi in plant protection is rather limited.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of Selected Insecticides and Natural Preparations Against Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Ropek

Kołodziejczyk

2018

Potato Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic and natural preparations in protecting potato against Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado Potato Beetle). Seven substances and microorganisms with proved or potential toxic effect on the pest were used: Neem extract (Azadirachta indica), suspensions of Beauveria bassiana Balsamo (Vuillemin) (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Isaria fumosorosea Wize (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) entomopathogenic fungal spores, natural pyrethrin and three chemical insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid). Plots where no protection measures were applied served as control. Chemical insecticides were more effective in controlling L. decemlineata larvae than natural preparations. It was found that chemical insecticides protected potato yield more effectively than the preparations containing natural pyrethrin or spores of entomopathogenic fungi. Tuber yield from the plots protected with entomopathogenic fungi and Neem extract was significantly higher than that on unprotected plots but still lower than the yield obtained from the plots protected with a chemical preparation.

show abstract

Advances in fundamental and applied studies in China of fungal biocontrol agents for use against arthropod pests

Cited by 128 publications

References 84 publications

Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Domain Transcription Factor MBZ1 Regulates Cell Wall Integrity, Spore Adherence, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Domain Transcription Factor MBZ1 Regulates Cell Wall Integrity, Spore Adherence, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

MrSkn7 Controls Sporulation, Cell Wall Integrity, Autolysis, and Virulence in Metarhizium robertsii

Efficacy of Selected Insecticides and Natural Preparations Against Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About