Evaluation of the Potential Entomopathogenic Fungi Purpureocillium lilacinum and Fusarium verticillioides for Biological Control of Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki)

Nian-Tong Ni; Sing-Shan Wu; Kuei-Min Liao; Wu-Chun Tu; Chuen-Fu Lin; Yu-Shin Nai

doi:10.3390/jof8080861

Journal of Fungi (Aug 2022)

Evaluation of the Potential Entomopathogenic Fungi Purpureocillium lilacinum and Fusarium verticillioides for Biological Control of Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki)

Nian-Tong Ni,
Sing-Shan Wu,
Kuei-Min Liao,
Wu-Chun Tu,
Chuen-Fu Lin,
Yu-Shin Nai

Affiliations

Nian-Tong Ni: Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Sing-Shan Wu: Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Kuei-Min Liao: National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan
Wu-Chun Tu: Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Chuen-Fu Lin: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science & Technology, Pingtung 921, Taiwan
Yu-Shin Nai: Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8080861
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 8
p. 861

Abstract

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Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is a nuisance blood-sucking pest to humans in Taiwan. An F. taiwana bite causes itching and redness and usually causes serious harassment to human outdoor activity. In terms of F. taiwana control, chemical pesticides are ineffective. Therefore, other efforts are needed. Fungal mycosis in the larvae, pupae, and emerging F. taiwana adults was found during the rearing of F. taiwana. In this study, six fungal isolates were isolated from infected cadavers and subjected to molecular identification. In addition, their biocontrol potential was evaluated against different life stages of F. taiwana. Based on the pathogenicity screening, two fungal isolates, NCHU-NPUST-175 and -178, which caused higher mortality on the fourth instar larvae of F. taiwana, were selected for virulence tests against different life stages of F. taiwana larvae. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the NCHU-NPUST-175 and -178 belonged to Purpureocillium lilacinum and Fusarium verticillioides, respectively. Bioassay against different life stages of F. taiwana with different spore concentrations (5 × 105 to 5 × 107 conidia/mL) revealed a dose-dependent effect on larvae for both fungal isolates, while only 38% and 50% mortality was found in highest concentration (5 × 107 conidia/mL) at fourth instar larvae by Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 and Fv-NCHU-NPUST-178, respectively. Moreover, reductions in egg-hatching rate and adult emergence rate were found, when the last stage of F. taiwana was inoculated with both fungal isolates, indicating the ovicidal potential and the impact of entomopathogenic fungi on the development of F. taiwana. In conclusion, Pl-NCHU-NPUST-175 and Fv-NCHU-NPUST-178 showed larvicidal activity, ovicidal activity, and impact on adult emergence on F. taiwana.

Published in Journal of Fungi

ISSN: 2309-608X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/jof

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