Sub-Lethal Effects of Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmermann)-Derived Partially Purified Protein and Its Potential Implication in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Defense against Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera)

Abstract

Whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera), are a polyphagous economically destructive pest of several solanaceous crops around the world. Many secondary metabolites are synthesized by different biotrophic and necrotrophic fungi which are capable of inducing systemic resistance in plants against various phytophagous pests. The present laboratory work demonstrated the anti-insect impact of a protein extracted and purified partially from an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmermann) against B. tabaci. Three different concentrations (i.e., 7.43, 11.15, and 22.31 μg mL−1) of this protein were bioassayed to assess its effect on the fecundity rate of B. tabaci on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants. Furthermore, the possible implication of this fungal protein in defense pathways of cotton plants was evaluated by determining the expression profiles of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways related to major genes through reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR). According to the results, all protein concentrations exerted a significant (F3, 252 = 62.51; p ≤ 0.001) and negative impact on the fecundity rate of B. tabaci females. At the highest protein concentration (22.31 μg mL−1), the minimum rate of fecundity (i.e., 2.46 eggs female−1day−1) of B. tabaci was noted on the seventh day, whereas fecundity rates for the other two protein concentrations (i.e., 11.15 and 7.43 μg mL−1) were, respectively, 3.06 and 3.90 eggs day−1 female−1. The maximum rate of fecundity (6.01 eggs female−1day−1) was recorded in untreated (control) treatments. In addition, the foliar application of L. lecanii derived protein significantly upregulated all SA linked genes (OPR3, PPO1 and COI1) and slightly triggered up the JA linked genes (LOX1, UBQ7 and AOS) in the cotton plants. These findings revealed that this L. lecanii extracted partially purified protein triggered systemic resistance against B. tabaci in the cotton plants, proposing its putative effectiveness as an innovative biological control technique against B. tabaci and other phloem-feeding hemipteran pests. Nevertheless, further investigations such as purification and molecular and functional characterization of this L. lecanii-derived partially purified protein are required.

Systemic resistance induced in tomato plants by Beauveria bassiana‐derived proteins against tomato yellow leaf curl virus and aphid Myzus persicae

“…Similarly, significant suppression of fecundity and survival of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) concomitantly with the upregulation of plant defense genes have been shown by the application of partially purified proteins extracted from L. lecanii and B. bassiana. 17,40,41 Results of our study also corroborate the findings of Nam et al 42 and Javed et al 43 demonstrating the significant suppressive effects of an elicitor protein PeVL1 extracted from entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii on the development, survival and growth parameters of bean aphid M. japonica in bean plants and of rice leaf folder Marasmia ruralis in rice plants, respectively. Application of this elicitor protein induced systemic resistance against the larvae by activating plant defense pathways including JA, SA and ET.…”

“…36,37 Interestingly, elicitor protein PeBb1 used in this study has been demonstrated to upregulate the expression levels of SA, JA and ET related plant defense genes in different plants against various sucking and chewing insect pests. 17,20,28,38 Djonović et al 39 showed that a small elicitor protein (designated as Sm1) derived from a biocontrol fungus Trichoderma virens induced systemic resistance in cotton plants against foliar infection by Colletotrichum sp. This study showed triggering of the production of reactive oxygen species and plant defense related gene expressions both locally and systemically within cotton plant tissues.…”

“…13 Recently, the induction of plant resistance to diseases and insect pests mediated by different pathogen-associated elicitor proteins has been demonstrated as an effective plant protection tool. [14][15][16][17] Moreover, the capability of endophytic growth within plant tissues and the induction of systemic resistance to plant pathogens and insect pests make many pathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana a potential tool for microbiological pest management. [18][19][20][21] In some recent studies, certain elicitor proteins derived from pathogenic fungi and bacteria have been demonstrated to evoke defense response in different plant species against various plant pathogens and phytophagous insect pests.…”

“…Recently, the induction of plant resistance to diseases and insect pests mediated by different pathogen‐associated elicitor proteins has been demonstrated as an effective plant protection tool 14–17 . Moreover, the capability of endophytic growth within plant tissues and the induction of systemic resistance to plant pathogens and insect pests make many pathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana a potential tool for microbiological pest management 18–21 .…”

Biopesticides: Naturally Originating Plant Protection Products and Biocides

“…Natural substances derived not only from plants but also from entomopathogenic fungus species have significant pesticidal attributes. Abdulle et al reported that a L. lecaniiextracted partially purified protein triggered a systemic resistance against Bemisia tabaci in the cotton plants, proposing its putative effectiveness as an innovative biological control technique against B. tabaci and other phloem-feeding hemipteran pests [3]. In particular, they studied the anti-insect impact of a protein extracted and partially purified from an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmermann) against B. tabaci.…”