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Effect of entomopathogenic fungi introduced as corn endophytes on the development, reproduction, and food preference of the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

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Abstract

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a migratory polyphagous pest that causes major damage to economically important cultivated grasses, such as corn. Native to the neotropics in America but recently reported as an invasive pest in Africa and Asia, FAW imposes a serious threat to food security and sustainable crop productivity due to lack of effective management. In this study, the introduction of entomopathogenic fungi as endophytes was explored as an alternative more sustainable management strategy against FAW in corn. The study determined (1) the effect of isolates and inoculation methods on the ability of entomopathogenic fungi to colonize corn plants, and (2) the effect of colonized plants on S. frugiperda survival, development, reproduction, and food preference. Although all tested isolates (twelve of Beauveria bassiana and one each of Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium robertsii) colonized inoculated plants, there was a highly significant interaction between isolates and inoculation methods. Highest plant colonization was obtained by Beauveria bassiana isolate (LPSc 1098) using foliar spray. Endophytic B. bassiana caused significant reductions in larval and pupal survival, length of different developmental stages, total S. frugiperda lifespan, and leaf area consumed by third instar larvae. Plant colonization also significantly reduced female longevity, fecundity, and fertility. This is the first report for the negative effects of endophytic B. bassiana on S. frugiperda growth, reproduction, and food preference. Our results highlight the promising potential of incorporating entomopathogenic fungi as endophytes in integrated pest management practices to protect corn against FAW if their efficacy is also confirmed under field conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET PIP 0018; PIP 0205), Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2018-2100), Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP, 11/N 903). Comments from the Editor-in-Chief (Nicolas Desneux) and three anonymous reviewers are appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Y Museo, Instituto de Botánica Carlos Spegazzini, Universidad Nacional de La Plata-CICPBA (FCNyM-UNLP), Calle 53 # 477, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Maria L. Russo, Ana C. Scorsetti, Florencia Vianna, Marta N. Cabello & Sebastian A. Pelizza

  2. Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    Lara R. Jaber

  3. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de La Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), La Plata, Argentina

    Marta N. Cabello

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  1. Maria L. Russo
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  2. Lara R. Jaber
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  3. Ana C. Scorsetti
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  4. Florencia Vianna
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  5. Marta N. Cabello
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  6. Sebastian A. Pelizza
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Contributions

MLR, SAP, and LRJ conceived and designed research. MLR, FV, ACS, and MNC conducted experiments and analyzed data. MLR and LRJ wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lara R. Jaber.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed while conducting this research.

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Communicated by Nicolas Desneux.

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Russo, M.L., Jaber, L.R., Scorsetti, A.C. et al. Effect of entomopathogenic fungi introduced as corn endophytes on the development, reproduction, and food preference of the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. J Pest Sci 94, 859–870 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01302-x

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