Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Introduced as an Endophyte in Corn Plants and Its Effects on Consumption, Reproductive Capacity, and Food Preference of Dichroplus maculipennis (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae)

Abstract

In this study, the effects of strain Beauveria bassiana (LPSC 1067) as an endophyte in corn plants on consumption, fecundity, and food preference of Dichroplus maculipennis were examined. We observed that the daily consumption by grasshoppers fed with control plants was almost twice that of those that were fed treated plants. Significant differences in fecundity of grasshoppers that were fed with treated plants compared with those that only fed on control plants were also observed. The number of eggs laid per female fed with control plants was 27.2, while the number of eggs laid per female that were fed during 15 d with treated plants was 17.7. Similar results were observed when the number of embryonated eggs was evaluated. The highest number of embryonated eggs were recorded in those females that only fed on control plants (96%) while fewer embryonated eggs were recorded in grasshoppers fed for 15 d with treated plants only (25%). In relation to food preference the average consumption rate for D. maculipennis females on control corn plants was 303.8 ± 24.5 mg while it was only 25 ± 2.1 mg on plants treated with B. bassiana as an endophyte. In summary, we observed that B. bassiana as a corn plant endophyte negatively affected the daily consumption rate, fecundity and food preference of D. maculipennis.

Endophytic Colonization of Pepper (Capsicum annum) Controls Aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer)

“…A significant decrease in the population of M. persicae in endophytically colonized pepper plants was recorded in our experiment. Similar findings were reported by Akello and Sikora [23] for Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Pelizza et al [24] for Dichroplus maculipennis (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The literature suggests that endophytic entomopathogenic fungi, particularly B. bassiana, induce plant defenses which, in turn, suppress insects.…”

“…Akello et al [4] have reported mycosis of more than 60% of Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults in their herbivore developmental stages, feeding on inoculated banana plants. Larvae of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tomato plants [39], Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in faba plants [25] and D. maculipennis [24] have been reported as mycosed by endophytic B. bassiana, but not in all tested strains. Mycosis was not determined on Bemicia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) following exposure to endophytic fungal entomopathogens (B. bassiana strain NATURALIS and Metarhizium brunneum strain BIPESCO5) [38].…”

Infection of Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by Endophytic Beauveria bassiana on Corn

“…Characteristics of B. bassiana infected larvae are slow movement, decreased consumption and even stopping eating, gradually becoming quiet and eventually die (Daud et al, 1993). Pelizza et al (2017) reported that B. bassiana as an endophytic fungus can influence the level of consumption, fertility, and food preference of Dichroplus maculipennis. Significant reduction in the food consumption of D. maculipennis nymphs in corn plants inoculated with entomopathogenic B. bassiana fungi has also been reported (Pelizza et al, 2017).…”

“…Pelizza et al (2017) reported that B. bassiana as an endophytic fungus can influence the level of consumption, fertility, and food preference of Dichroplus maculipennis. Significant reduction in the food consumption of D. maculipennis nymphs in corn plants inoculated with entomopathogenic B. bassiana fungi has also been reported (Pelizza et al, 2017). In addition, some toxins produced by B. bassiana namely beauvericin, bassionolide, cyclodepsi-peptide (Tanada and Rich, 1993) and oosporein (Inglis et al, 2001) also play important roles in impeding the development of O. furnacalis.…”

The effect of endophytic colonization of wheat plants by the fungus Beauveria bassiana on the development of the nymphs of the migratory and desert locusts

“…Similar reports concerning negative effects of entomopathogenic fungi in endophytic form against insects are numerous [4,5]. Meanwhile, no such data have been published for Orthoptera, with the exception of one paper [10] where effects of B. bassiana introduced into maize plants as an endophyte onto the host reproduction, feed choice and consumption were traced using Dichroplus maculipennis (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) as a model. Thus, in spite of being highly promising, research on introduction of entomopathogenic organisms into harmful insect population is limited in case of Acrididae.…”