Encapsulation of the psyllid‐pathogenic fungusPandorasp. nov. inedit. and experimental infection of target insects¹

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pandora sp. nov. inedit. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) (ARSEF 13372) is a recently isolated entomophthoralean fungus with potential for psyllid pest control. This study aimed to develop a formulation based on biocompatible hydrogel beads in order to transfer the fungus into an easily applicable form and to test the effects on psyllids. RESULTS: After encapsulation in calcium alginate beads, Pandora sp. nov. grew from the beads and discharged conidia over 12 days under optimal humidity conditions at 18 °C. Conidial number was increased 2.95-fold by the addition of skimmed milk as nutritional formulation adjuvant to the beads. The virulence of the encapsulated fungus was assessed with the two target psyllid species; the summer apple psyllid, Cacopsylla picta and the pear psyllid, Cacopsylla pyri. Beads containing skimmed milk as nutritional adjuvant led to the highest mortalities (48.3% on C. picta and 75.0% on C. pyri). In a second bioassay, survival time of C. pyri exposed to beads containing different concentration (10%, 20% or 40%) of Pandora sp. nov. was tested. The survival time of C. pyri was significantly reduced when exposed to beads containing 10% or 20% Pandora sp. nov. The median survival time was reached after 5-6 days past inoculation and the cumulative mortality for C. pyri treated with Pandora sp. nov. beads showed up to 89% mortality. CONCLUSION:The promising results of this study will ease the way for large-scale field application of a novel Pandora species in biological psyllid pest control.

Potential for Use of Species in the Subfamily Erynioideae for Biological Control and Biotechnology

“…A method for producing Z. radicans dry-formulated mycelium has been developed with sporulation equivalent to cadavers. Recent examples of successful production on a large laboratory scale of the fungus P. cacopsyllae are the studies by Muskat et al ([ 170 , 171 ], in press). This fungus that infects psyllids of the genus Cacopsylla has been fermented, encapsulated, and tested for above-ground application.…”

Natural Enemies of the Pear Psylla, Cacopsylla pyri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and the Possibilities for Its Biological Control: A Case Study Review in the Western Balkan Countries

“…Despite their potential, no biological control agent based on these fungi has been commercialised yet, due to difficulties in their cultivation and inconsistent results in field trials [100]. In 2016, a new entomopathogenic species, Pandora cacopsyllae, was isolated from infected individuals of C. pyri collected in an orchard in Denmark [101,102]. The conidia of this species are almond-shaped, and the conidiophores are dichotomously branched.…”

Potential Use of Species in the Erynioideae for Biological Control and Biotechnology

“…A method for producing Z. radicans dry-formulated mycelium has been developed with sporulation equivalent to cadavers. Recent examples of successful production on a large laboratory scale of the fungus P. cacopsyllae are the studies by Muskat et al ([170,171], in press). This fungus that infects psyllids of the genus Cacopsylla has been fermented, encapsulated, and tested for above ground application.…”