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Effects of Temperature and Culture Media on Vegetative Growth of an Entomopathogenic Fungus Isaria sp. (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Naturally Affecting the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci in Texas

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Abstract

The effects of temperature and mycological media on mycelial growth and estimates of spore production of an indigenous entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria sp., found during natural epizootics on whiteflies in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, were investigated. The radial growth (mm/day) of Isaria sp. as a function of temperature fits a linear model; with faster growth on Sabouraud dextrose agar with yeast extract, SDAY slopes (0.23) than on Sabouraud maltose agar, SMA slopes (0.14) from 20 to 30°C, with an optimal temperature of 30°C (SDAY: 4.1 mm, SMA: 3.1 mm). Moderate growth occurred at 25°C (SDAY: 3.4 mm, SMA: 2.7 mm). Growth was lowest at 20°C (SDAY: 1.9 mm, SMA: 1.8 mm). No fungal growth was observed at 35°C and 40°C. However, when Isaria sp. was exposed to 35°C for the first 7 days, it could recover and grow when transferred to 25°C (SDAY: 3.5 mm, SMA: 2.8 mm). No recovery or growth occurred after transfer from 40°C to 25°C. The average conidial production on SDAY after 20 days incubation at 25°C and a photoperiod of 14:10 h light: dark was 1.2 × 108 conidia/cm2 with 100% spore viability. When compared on SDAY at 25°C, the radial growth rate of I. javanica ex type CBS 134.22 (5.1 mm/day) was greater than seven Isaria isolates including Isaria sp.; but maximum growth rates were similar among all related Isaria isolates (90–97%). The Isaria sp. fungus tolerates high temperatures (35°C), suggesting that it is naturally selected for the subtropical semi-arid environment, where it could serve as an important natural control agent of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B, one of the most invasive and economically damaging insects to agriculture.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank Drs. Richard A. Humber, Andrea V. Toledo, and Patrick Moran for critically reviewing this manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Walker A. Jones

    Present address: European Biological Control Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34980, Montferrier sur Lez, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center (KSARC), Beneficial Insects Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 2413 E. Hwy. 83, Weslaco, TX, 78596, USA

    H. Enrique Cabanillas

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  1. H. Enrique Cabanillas
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Correspondence to H. Enrique Cabanillas.

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Cabanillas, H.E., Jones, W.A. Effects of Temperature and Culture Media on Vegetative Growth of an Entomopathogenic Fungus Isaria sp. (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) Naturally Affecting the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci in Texas. Mycopathologia 167, 263–271 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9176-2

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