Colonization of Metarhizium anisopliae on the surface of pine tree logs: A promising biocontrol strategy for the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus

Lee

et al. 2021

JoF

Self Cite

The Japanese pine sawyer (JPS) beetle, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), damages pine trees and transmits the pine wilt nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Nickle. Chemical agents have been used to control JPS beetle, but due to various issues, efforts are being made to replace these chemical agents with entomopathogenic fungi. We investigated the expression of immune-related genes in JPS beetle in response to infection with JEF-197, a Metarhizium anisopliae isolate, using RNA-seq. RNA samples were obtained from JEF-197, JPS adults treated with JEF-197, and non-treated JPS adults on the 8th day after fungal treatment, and RNA-seq was performed using Illumina sequencing. JPS beetle transcriptome was assembled de novo and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed. There were 719 and 1953 up- and downregulated unigenes upon JEF-197 infection, respectively. Upregulated contigs included genes involved in RNA transport, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, spliceosome-related genes, and genes involved in immune-related signaling pathways such as the Toll and Imd pathways. Forty-two fungal DEGs related to energy and protein metabolism were upregulated, and genes involved in the stress response were also upregulated in the infected JPS beetles. Together, our results indicate that infection of JPS beetles by JEF-197 induces the expression of immune-related genes.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptome Analysis of the Japanese Pine Sawyer Beetle, Monochamus alternatus, Infected with the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae JEF-197

Lee

et al. 2021

JoF

Self Cite

“…Over 50 years ago, Metarhizium anisopliae was recorded to infect 200 insect species ( Zimmermann 2007 ) and this ability to infect different host species in the field has been exploited in biological control strategies. Metarhizium anisopliae is used for control of insect pests in many countries around the world including Brazil, Iran, Japan, Thailand, and the USA ( Jackson and Jaronski, 2008 , Ghayedi and Abdollahi, 2013 , Thongkaewyuan and Chairin, 2018 , Beys-da-Silva et al., 2020 , Kim et al., 2020a , Kim et al., 2020b ) as an environmentally safe alternative to the use of chemical pesticides. Most of the initially identified M. anisopliae isolates may belong to any of the species in the M. anisopliae complex ( Bischoff et al., 2009 , Luangsa-ard et al., 2017 , Chen et al., 2018a , Chen et al., 2018c , Luz et al., 2019 , Yamamoto et al., 2020 ) and the host range reported for M. anisopliae in the past may belong to one of the newly erected species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Metarhizium and the description of new species from Thailand

Mongkolsamrit¹,

Khonsanit²,

Thanakitpipattana³

et al. 2020

Studies in Mycology

101

Over the last two decades the molecular phylogeny and classification of Metarhizium has been widely studied. Despite these efforts to understand this enigmatic genus, the basal lineages in Metarhizium are still poorly resolved. In this study, a phylogenetic framework is reconstructed for the Clavicipitaceae focusing on Metarhizium through increased taxon-sampling using five genomic loci (SSU, LSU, tef, rpb1, rpb 2) and the barcode marker ITS rDNA. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses and morphological characterisation of green-spored entomopathogenic Metarhizium isolates from Thailand and soil isolates of M. carneum and M. marquandii reveal their ecological, genetic and species diversity. Nineteen new species are recognised in the Metarhizium clade with narrow host ranges: two new species are found in the M. anisopliae complex – M. clavatum on Coleoptera larvae and M. sulphureum on Lepidoptera larvae; four new species are found in the M. flavoviride complex – M. biotecense and M. fusoideum on brown plant hoppers ( Hemiptera ), M. culicidarum on mosquitoes, M. nornnoi on Lepidoptera larvae; three new species M. megapomponiae, M. cicadae, M. niveum occur on cicadas; five new species M. candelabrum, M. cercopidarum, M. ellipsoideum, M. huainamdangense M. ovoidosporum occur on planthoppers, leafhoppers and froghoppers ( Hemiptera ); one new species M. eburneum on Lepidoptera pupae; and four new species M. phuwiangense, M. purpureum, M. purpureonigrum, M. flavum on Coleoptera . Of these 19 new species, seven produce a sexual morph ( M. clavatum, M. eburneum, M. flavum, M. phuwiangense, M. purpureonigrum, M. purpureum, and M. sulphureum ) and asexual morphs are found in the remaining new species and also in M. sulphureum, M. purpureonigrum and M. purpureum. Metarhizium blattodeae, M. koreanum and M. viridulum are new records for Thailand. An alternative neotype for Metarhizium anisopliae is proposed based on multi-gene and 5′ tef analyses showing that CBS 130.71 from Ukraine is more suitable, being from a much closer geographical location to Metchnikoff’s Metarhizium anisopliae. This isolate is distinct from the neotype of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopl...

“…Since then, it has been considered one of the most important entomopathogenic fungi, and is used for the biological control of insects, fungi, bacteria, and viruses [93]. It is responsible for green muscardine disease, a fungal infection of insects [94]. Metarhizium anisopliae is a soil fungus that consists of several genotypes that are distributed from the Arctic to the tropics.…”

Section: Entomopathogenic Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, its host range is narrower than that of B. bassiana. Most of its hosts are soil-inhabiting insect pests and termites, such as beetles; infections in Diptera and Hymenoptera are rare [93,94].…”

Section: Entomopathogenic Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

The Threat of Pests and Pathogens and the Potential for Biological Control in Forest Ecosystems

Balla

Silini

Cherif‐Silini

et al. 2021

Forests

Forests are an essential component of the natural environment, as they support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and play a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles—in addition to producing organic matter that is necessary for the function of terrestrial organisms. Forests today are subject to threats ranging from natural occurrences, such as lightning-ignited fires, storms, and some forms of pollution, to those caused by human beings, such as land-use conversion (deforestation or intensive agriculture). In recent years, threats from pests and pathogens, particularly non-native species, have intensified in forests. The damage, decline, and mortality caused by insects, fungi, pathogens, and combinations of pests can lead to sizable ecological, economic, and social losses. To combat forest pests and pathogens, biocontrol may be an effective alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This review of forest pests and potential adversaries in the natural world highlights microbial inoculants, as well as research efforts to further develop biological control agents against forest pests and pathogens. Recent studies have shown promising results for the application of microbial inoculants as preventive measures. Other studies suggest that these species have potential as fertilizers.