Preventive field application of Metarhizium brunneum in cover crops for wireworm control

Reinbacher, Lara; Bacher, Sven; Knecht, Fionna; Schweizer, Christian; Sostizzo, Tanja; Grabenweger, Giselher

doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105811

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…M. brunneum has shown promise in the management of Agriotes spp. using an “attract-and-kill” strategy ( Brandl et al ., 2017 ) and on application to cover crops ( Reinbacher et al ., 2021 ). The variability and low overall virulence observed in some pathogen/wireworm studies ( Morton and Garcia-del-Pino, 2017 ; Sandhi et al ., 2020 ; Sandhi et al ., 2021 ), including the current study, may be due to the inability of the pathogen to enter the wireworm’s body through either natural openings or intersegmental membrane, in the case of nematodes ( Eidt and Thurston, 1995 ), or via the cuticle, in the case of fungi ( Zhang et al ., 2014 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Use of entomopathogens in combination with synthetic chemicals also has potential for wireworm control ( Mbata and Shapiro-Ilan, 2013 ). Additionally, the potential for entomopathogens to contribute to population regulation in conservation biocontrol approaches can be explored ( Jaffuel et al ., 2017 ; Reinbacher et al ., 2021 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, a single entomopathogen species, Metarhizium brunneum , had stronger effects (greater host mortality and plant productivity) than did the other species tested ( B. bassiana, H. bacteriophora , and S. carpocapsae ). Recently developed strategies for use of EPFs include “attract-and-kill” ( Brandl et al ., 2017 ), integration of pathogen application on cover crops in the season prior to crop production ( Reinbacher et al ., 2021 ), and incorporation of EPFs as endophytes in plants ( Vega, 2018 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Effect of Host Size on Susceptibility of Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Wireworms to Entomopathogens

Williams

Cherry

Shapiro‐Ilan

2022

Journal of Nematology

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Wireworms, the soil-borne larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are important crop pests throughout the world. In the eastern U.S., Melanotus communis larvae attack grain, root/ tuber, and vegetable crops. Our objectives were to characterize the pathogenicity and virulence of fungal and nematode entomopathogens on M. communis wireworms, and determine if wireworm size affected virulence. Pathogens tested included five entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae (All strain), S. feltiae (SN strain), S. riobrave (355 strain), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (VS strain), and H. indica (HiHom1 strain); and two entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (GHA strain) and Cordyceps javanica (WF-GA17 strain). None of the pathogens tested caused >15% mortality at 7 or 14 days post-inoculation. Mortality was highest in S. carpocapsae (All strain); the other entomopathogens did not cause higher mortality than the untreated control. Overall, smaller wireworms were more susceptible than larger wireworms. Our results suggested that M. communis wireworms have defenses that limit the ability of the entomopathogens we tested to infect the wireworms. Conceivably, other entomopathogen strains or species may be more effective. Natural populations of entomopathogens may contribute to wireworm population reduction, but further studies are warranted before entomopathogens can be used for M. communis management.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Host Size on Susceptibility of Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Wireworms to Entomopathogens

Williams

Cherry

Shapiro‐Ilan

2022

Journal of Nematology

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“…Entomopathogenic fungi are primarily known for their ability to parasitize insects and kill or severely harm them [1][2][3]. Fungi of the hypocrealean family Cordycipitaceae include important entomopathogens, of which certain species of Metarhizium, Beauveria and Isaria are most studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing Virulence of Different Species of Insect Associated Fungi against Yellow Mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Their Potential Growth Stimulation to Maize

Praprotnik

Lončar

Razinger

2021

Plants

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This paper investigates 71 isolates of two genera of entomopathogens, Metarhizium and Beauveria, and a biostimulative genus Trichoderma, for their ability to infect yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and to stimulate maize (Zea mays) growth. Fungal origin, host, and isolation methods were taken into account in virulence analysis as well. Isolates Metarhizium brunneum (1154) and Beauveria bassiana (2121) showed the highest mortality (100%) against T. molitor. High virulence seems to be associated with fungi isolated from wild adult mycosed insects, meadow habitats, and Lepidopteran hosts, but due to uneven sample distribution, we cannot draw firm conclusions. Trichoderma atroviride (2882) and Trichoderma gamsii (2883) increased shoot length, three Metarhizium robertsii isolates (2691, 2693, and 2688) increased root length and two M. robertsii isolates (2146 and 2794) increased plant dry weight. Considering both criteria, the isolate M. robertsii (2693) was the best as it caused the death of 73% T. molitor larvae and also significantly increased maize root length by 24.4%. The results warrant further studies with this isolate in a tri-trophic system.

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“…Previous studies have shown that application of the EPF M. brunneum to cover crops preceding potato cultivation can reduce wireworm abundance in the field. However, the effect on yield (potato tuber quality) was low ( Rogge et al 2017 , Reinbacher et al 2021 ). We hypothesized that the suitability of cover crops as a food resource for wireworms varies.…”

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confidence: 99%

Influence of Wireworm Diet on its Susceptibility to and Control With the Entomopathogenic FungusMetarhizium brunneum(Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) in Laboratory and Field Settings

Reinbacher

Praprotnik

Razinger

et al. 2022

Journal of Economic Entomology

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Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) represent promising control agents against wireworms but success in field experiments is inconsistent. The physiological condition of the targeted insect is crucial for its ability to withstand fungal infection. In particular, nutritional status is among the most important determinants of the insects’ immune defense. In this study, we investigated the effects of diet on the development of the wireworm Agriotes obscurus (L.) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and its subsequent susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Metarhizium brunneum (Petch) (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) in a pot experiment. After being reared on one of five plant diets for eight weeks, wireworms were exposed to an environment inoculated with the EPF and monitored for their susceptibility to fungal infection. We then performed a field experiment in which three plant diets (clover, radish, and a cover crop mix), selected according to the insects’ performance in the laboratory experiment, were grown as a cover crop with EPF application. Plant diet influenced growth and development of larvae, but there were no strong differences in susceptibility toward fungal infection in the laboratory experiment. Damage levels in EPF-treated plots in the field varied depending on the cover crop. Damage was highest in plots planted with a mix of cover crop species, whereas damage was lowest in plots with clover or radish alone. This agrees with the laboratory results where insect performance was inferior when fed on clover or radish. Cover crop effects on wireworm damage in the subsequent cash crop may thus vary depending on the cover crop species selected.

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Preventive field application of Metarhizium brunneum in cover crops for wireworm control

Cited by 9 publications

References 42 publications

Effect of Host Size on Susceptibility of Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Wireworms to Entomopathogens

Effect of Host Size on Susceptibility of Melanotus communis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Wireworms to Entomopathogens

Testing Virulence of Different Species of Insect Associated Fungi against Yellow Mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Their Potential Growth Stimulation to Maize

Influence of Wireworm Diet on its Susceptibility to and Control With the Entomopathogenic FungusMetarhizium brunneum(Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) in Laboratory and Field Settings

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