The development and multiple uses of a standardised bioassay method to select hypocrealean fungi for biological control of aphids

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Hesketh, H., Alderson, P. G., Pye, B. J. and Pell, J. K. 2008. The development and multiple uses of a standardised bioassay method to select hypocrealean fungi for biological control of aphids. Biological Control. 46 (2), pp. 242-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.03.006

AuthorsHesketh, H., Alderson, P. G., Pye, B. J. and Pell, J. K.
Abstract

A technically standardised bioassay method was designed, evaluated and used to assess virulence and host range of hypocrealean fungi against aphids. A track mounted sprayer was used to apply conidia because hand held versions of the same sprayer can be used for field applications, thereby allowing the outcome from laboratory experiments to predict activity in the field accurately. Eighteen fungal isolates were assessed in single concentration bioassays against the black bean aphid Aphis fabae Scopoli. Isolates comprised commercially available mycoinsecticides (based on Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium longisporum) and isolates of B. bassiana, Lecanicillium spp., Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Metarhizium anisopliae. Aphid mortality was in excess of 80% for 15 isolates, and HRI 1.72 (L. longipsorum), Z11 (P. fumosoroseus), Mycotech strain GHA (B. bassiana) and ARSEF 2879 (B. bassiana) were studied further. Multiple concentration bioassays identified HRI 1.72 as the most virulent isolate against A. fabae with significantly smaller LC50 and LT50 values compared to other isolates. A precise LC50 value (2.95 × 102 conidia ml−1) was calculated for HRI 1.72 using a second multiple concentration assay with smaller concentrations of conidia. The four isolates were applied at a single concentration (1 × 108 conidia ml−1) against Myzus persicae, A. fabae, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Metopolophium dirhodum, Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi. A ranking of aphid susceptibility was obtained, such that S. avenae > M. persicae, A. pisum, A. fabae > R. padi. Results indicate the importance of standardising bioassay methods to reduce bioassay variability without compromising the ability to use the bioassay to investigate fungus–host interactions under varying abiotic and biotic conditions.

Year of Publication2008
JournalBiological Control
Journal citation46 (2), pp. 242-255
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.03.006
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderDepartment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeSEF
Arable crops ecosystems - habitat diversification, crop management and natural enemies for crop protection and biodiversity
Habitat diversification and aphid-specific natural enemies in arable ecosystems: optimising crop protection and environmental benefits
Insect chemical ecology: understanding the roles and underlying mechanisms of chemical signals (semiochemicals)
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online15 Mar 2008
Publication process dates
Accepted07 Mar 2008
Copyright licensePublisher copyright
ISSN1049-9644
PublisherAcademic Press Inc Elsevier Science

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