›› 2018, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (4): 505-510.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2018.04.013

• SHORT COMMUNICATIONS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification and pathogenicity test of a new soil-derived fungus strain of Lecanicillium to Ephestia elutella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

ZHOU Ye-Ming1,2, ZHI Jun-Rui1, ZHANG Xin3, ZOU Xiao2, YANG Kai3, *    

  1.  (1. Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; 2. Institute of Fungal Resource, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; 3. Shanghai Tobacco Group Limited Liability Company, Shanghai 200082, China)
  • Online:2018-04-20 Published:2018-04-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 Lecanicillium is one group of important fungal pathogens. In this study, a strain separated from the rhizosphere soil in the forest was identified and its pathogenicity to Ephestia elutella was compared with those of some other fungal pathogens so as to acquire more Lecanicillium strains as pest control fungal resources. 【Methods】 The fungal colonies isolated from the soil under pine forests in Guiding, Guizhou were identified by comparison of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. The pathogenecity of the test strains to the 3rd instar larvae of E. elutella was determined by the method of immersing insects into the spore suspension. 【Results】 According to the morphological characterization and phylogenetic tree, the fungi was identified as Lecanicillium aphanocladii. Among the test strains, Isaria cateinannulata, Beauveria bassiana and L. aphanocladii were lethal to E. elutella, with the corrected mortality rates of 79.22%, 64.92% and 77.92%, respectively, against the 3rd instar larvae at 7 d after treatment. 【Conclusion】 L. aphanocladii, a known species in China, shows high lethal effect to E. elutella larvae, and can be used for biological control of E. elutella larvae in the warehouse.

Key words: Lecanicillium, Lecanicillium aphanocladii, Ephestia elutella, pathogenicity, biological control, entomogenous fungi