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Physiological and phylogenetic variability of Mexican Metarhizium strains

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Abstract

Metarhizium Sorokin is a wide spread entomopathogenic fungal genus that is also a root symbiont and some isolates may be potentially useful in agriculture applications. Physiological variations applicable in biological control have not been fully evaluated in Mexican strains. This study identified 30 strains from different insect hosts and states of Mexico selected because they represent the main sugar cane and corn plantations of the country. Their thermotolerance profiles (8, 15, 28 and 35 °C), insect virulence (LT50 in Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae), possible association with plant roots, and phylogenetic placement (using 5′TEF, IGS sequence information, and RFLP analysis) were assessed. Results showed no cold-active strains and most showed restricted growth at 35 °C. Insect virulence bioassays against G. mellonella showed highly virulent strains. Most of the strains showed an ability to associate with roots of Phaseolus vulgaris (Burkart) (Fabales: Fabaceae). RFLP analysis with 5′TEF and Pr1 revealed three distinct genetic groups. Phylogenetic analysis identified the 30 strains as Metarhizium anisopliae. (Metchnikoff) Sorokin, M. robertsii (J.F. Bisch., Rehner & Humber), M. guizhouense (Q. T. Chen & H. L. Guo), or M. pinghaense (Q.T. Chen & H.L. Guo), as well as two strains that belong to a new clade (Metarhizium sp. indet. 1). These data demonstrate the complexity of Metarhizium species and the need to study their physiological and phylogenetic aspects for a more adequate assessment of their potential use in agricultural systems.

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Acknowledgements

Brunner-Mendoza C acknowledges the scholarship and financial support provided by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT-346729), as well for the support and training from the Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Further thanks for the support and training in phylogenetics provided by Dr. David Gernandt. This paper constitutes a partial fulfillment of the doctoral work of Brunner-Mendoza C in the Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, UNAM. CT acknowledges the financial support by PAPIIT-DGAPA, UNAM, project IT202012, CONACyT project PN 1247, and to the Centro Nacional de Referencia en Control Biológico (CNRCB) of Tecomán, Colima, MX and the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) for providing the isolates used in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    Carolina Brunner-Mendoza , María del Rocío Reyes-Montes & Conchita Toriello

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Soumya Moonjely & Michael Bidochka

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  1. Carolina Brunner-Mendoza
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  2. Soumya Moonjely
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  3. María del Rocío Reyes-Montes
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  4. Conchita Toriello
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  5. Michael Bidochka
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Correspondence to Conchita Toriello.

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Handling Editor: Helen Roy.

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Brunner-Mendoza , C., Moonjely, S., Reyes-Montes, M.R. et al. Physiological and phylogenetic variability of Mexican Metarhizium strains. BioControl 62, 779–791 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9839-3

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