Efficacy of the Biofumigant Fungus <I>Muscodor albus</I> (Ascomycota: Xylariales) for Control of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Simulated Storage Conditions

Abstract

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a serious pest of pome fruit, is a threat to exportation of apples (Malus spp.) because of the possibility of shipping infested fruit. The need for alternatives to fumigants such as methyl bromide for quarantine security of exported fruit has encouraged the development of effective fumigants with reduced side effects. The endophytic fungus Muscodor albus Worapong, Strobel and Hess (Ascomycota: Xylariales) produces volatile compounds that are biocidal for several pest organisms, including plant pathogens and insect pests. The objectives of our research were to determine the effects of M. albus volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on codling moth adults, neonate larvae, larvae in infested apples, and diapausing cocooned larvae in simulated storage conditions. Fumigation of adult codling moth with VOCs produced by M. albus for 3 d and incubating in fresh air for 24 h at 25 degrees C resulted in 81% corrected mortality. Four- and 5-d exposures resulted in higher mortality (84 and 100%, respectively), but control mortality was also high due to the short life span of the moths. Exposure of neonate larvae to VOCs for 3 d on apples and incubating for 7 d resulted in 86% corrected mortality. Treated larvae were predominantly first instars, whereas 85% of control larvae developed to second and third instars. Exposure of apples that had been infested for 5 d, fumigated with M. albus VOCs for 3 d, and incubated as described above resulted in 71% corrected larval mortality. Exposure of diapausing cocooned codling moth larvae to VOCs for 7 or 14 d resulted in 31 and 100% mortality, respectively, with negligible control mortality. Our data on treatment of several stages of codling moth with M. albus VOCs indicate that the fungus could provide an alternative to broad spectrum chemical fumigants for codling moth control in storage and contribute to the systems approach to achieve quarantine security of exported apples.

Endophytic fungal entomopathogens with activity against plant pathogens: ecology and evolution

“…The fungal endophyte Muscodor albus Worapong, Strobel & W.M. Hess (Ascomycota: Xylariales) produces a mixture of VOCs that are lethal to a variety of microorganisms (Strobel et al 2001;Mercier and Jiménez 2004;Mercier and Smilanick 2005;Strobel 2006), as well as to insects (Riga et al 2008;Lacey et al 2009). In the first report of VOCs released by a fungal entomopathogen, carbon source played a major role in VOC production by B. bassiana.…”

Key elements in the successful control of diapausing codling moth,Cydiapomonella(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in wooden fruit bins with a South African isolate ofHeterorhabditis zealandica(Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae)

“…Several methods have been investigated for disinfesting wooden fruit bins of diapausing codling moth larvae, including: timing of bin placements in orchards as a preventative approach, using plastic bins instead of wooden bins, fumigating bins with methyl bromide (Dentener et al 1998), the use of the biofumigant fungus Muscodor albus Worapong, Strobel and Hess (Ascomycota: Xylariales) as an alternative to broad spectrum chemical fumigants (Lacey, Horton, Jones, Headrick, and Neven 2009), fumigating bins with carbon dioxide (Cossentine et al 2004), hot water dips (Hansen, Heidt, and Anderson 2006) and heat treatments (Higbee et al 2001).…”

Mycofumigation by the Volatile Organic Compound-Producing Fungus Muscodor albus Induces Bacterial Cell Death through DNA Damage

“…T he endophytic fungus Muscodor albus (CZ-620) inhibits growth of a broad range of pathogenic fungi and bacteria, as well as some nematode and arthropod species (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). The inhibition is achieved exclusively through a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that M. albus secretes into the headspace of the culture.…”