Within-host competition between two entomopathogenic fungi and a granulovirus in Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

We provide insights into how the interactions of two entomopathogenic fungi and a virus play a role in virulence, disease development, and pathogen reproduction for an economically important insect crop pest, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). In our model system, we highlight the antagonistic effects of the co-inoculation of Beauveria bassiana and granulovirus (DisaGV) on virulence, compared to their single counterparts. By contrast, combinations of Metarhizium anisopliae and B. bassiana, or M. anisopliae and DisaGV, have resulted in additive effects against the insect. Intriguingly, most cadavers that were derived from dual or triple infections, produced signs/symptoms of only one species after the death of the infected host. In the combination of fungi and DisaGV, there was a trend where a higher proportion of viral infection bearing conspicuous symptoms occurred, except when the larvae were inoculated with M. anisopliae and DisaGV at the two highest inoculum rates. Co-infections with B. bassiana and M. anisopliae did not affect pathogen reproduction, since the sporulation from co-inoculated larvae did not differ from their single counterparts.

Original languageEnglish
Article number64
JournalInsects
Volume9
Issue number2
Number of pages11
ISSN2075-4450
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Research areas

  • Beauveria bassiana, Beta-baculovirus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Mixed infection, Sugarcane borer, Virulence

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ID: 200827197