Screening of biological activities of fungi associated with pistachio bark beetle, Chaetoptelius vestitus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), infesting pistachio cultivations in Tunisia

Abstract

Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore the enzymatic diversity, the entomopathogenic and the antimicrobial potentialities of fungi associated with the pistachio bark beetle, Chaetoptelius vestitus. Methods and Results: A total of 40 isolates were screened for enzymatic diversity. Most of them, 92Á5%, were able to produce at least two of the screened enzymes. Pathogenic assays performed on C. vestitus showed a high entomopathogenic activity of the isolates Ata_io_1 (A. tamarii), Fve_io_1 (F. verticillioides), Tpi_io_1 (T. pinophilus), Pal_io_1 (P. album), Pbi_io_2 (Penicillium bilaiae) and Pch_io_1 (P. chrysogenum), as based on mean mortality of C. vestitus. A screening of antimicrobial activity using well diffusion method showed that the isolates Tro_io_1 (T. pinophilus), Tat_io_1 (T. atroroseus) and Pch_io_1 (P. chrysogenum) presented the highest antibacterial activity. Furthermore, Mgu_io_1 (M. guilliermondii), Asc_io_1 (A. sclerotiorum), Ata_io_1 (A. tamarii), G. lavendula (Gla_io_1), Pva_io_1 (P. variotii), Pul_io_1 (P. ulaiense), Tat_io_1 (T. atroroseus) and Tro_io_1 (T. roseum) were active against at least two of the three tested fungal phytopathogens. Conclusions: Fungal isolates representing entomopathogenic activity and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities can be considered as promising resources for biological pistachio trees protection. Significance and Impact of the Study: Fungi associated with C. vestitus were investigated for detecting their potential biotechnological applications.

Screening of Fungi Isolated from the Brazilian Restinga for Insecticidal Activity

“…It is likely that Fusarium infections occur in natural conditions in the field, indicating this fungus has a high affinity for leaf-cutting ants. Several Fusarium species have exhibited entomopathogenic activities and also been considered as promising organisms for the biological control of insects [39] or the ants symbiotic fungus, since some Fusarium species have already been described as potential antagonistic agents of fungi [40].…”

“Troncos Trampa” Para La Atracción De Escarabajos De Ambrosía en Plantaciones De Teca

“…En esta investigación se ha demostrado la factibilidad de utilizar "troncos trampa" como una herramienta eficiente de monitoreo de escarabajos barrenadores en teca; lo cual, es coincidente con los resultados reportados por Paes et al (2012), también en teca T. grandis. Así mismo, otros investigadores citan la eficacia de esta técnica, utilizada para la atracción y recuperación de escolitinos en Theobroma cacao (Ventocilla, 1965); Prunus dulcis (Benazoun, 2004); Juglans hindsii (Dallara et al, 2012); Pistacia vera (Hadj et al, 2020) y Ostrya carpinifolia (Cavaletto et al, 2021); siendo la ventaja principal de esta metodología, el hecho que, asegura la identificación del hospedante colonizado por los escarabajos, situación no conseguida con el uso de trampas de etanol. Además, su elaboración no demanda mayores gastos para el productor, al poder usar troncos o ramas de árboles de su propia plantación.…”

Talaromyces–Insect Relationships

“…infesting coniferous forests in the Czech Republic where two species (T. rugulosus and T. variabilis) were represented in the core mycobiome, as well as Talaromyces minioluteus, which was only isolated from Ips sexdentatus [29]. In fact, other strains of Talaromyces atroroseus and Talaromyces pinophilus, respectively recovered from living and dead adults of the pistachio bark beetle (Chaetoptelius vestitus) in Tunisia, have been characterized with reference to cellulase and protease production [16]. More findings concern a strain of unidentified species from living adults of the pinhole borer (Platypus cylindrus) infesting oaks at the Astroni Nature Reserve in southern Italy (Nicoletti, unpublished), multiple isolates of Talaromyces radicus, T. variabilis and T. purpureogenus from Dendroctonus spp.…”