Epizootic of Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Eriophyidea) Caused by Hirsutella thompsonii on Southern Highbush Blueberry in North-Central Florida

Weibelzahl, Elke; Liburd, Oscar E.

doi:10.1653/024.092.0412

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Hirsutella thompsonii Fisher (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) was first described on citrus rust mites (Phyllocoptruta oleivora) in Florida (Fisher, 1950). Since then, it has been reported to be pathogenic to various mite pests in diverse ecosystems (Weibelzahl and Liburd, 2009;Kumar, 2009;Ferreira Picoli and Vieira, 2013;Nuvoloni et al, 2014). As important phytophagous pests of agricultural crops worldwide, mites can cause serious damage and yield losses when reaching the outbreak level (Singh and Raghuraman, 2011;Rezende et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondrial genome, comparative analysis and evolutionary insights into the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

Wang

Zhang

et al. 2018

Environmental Microbiology

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Nuclear genomes of two isolates of Hirsutella thompsonii, a pathogen causing epizootics among mites, have been reported; in contrast, its mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has remained unknown, limiting our understanding of its evolution. Herein, we annotated the first complete mitogenome of H. thompsonii, which encoded all standard fungal mitochondrial genes plus three free-standing ORFs. Transcriptional analyses validated the expression of most conserved genes and revealed some interesting transcription patterns of mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed its placement in Ophiocordycipitaceae. Comparison of five different isolates originally collected from different locations revealed mitogenome size variations (60.3-66.4 kb) mainly due to different numbers of introns. A total of 15 intron loci were identified, with 11 existing in all 5 isolates and 4 showing presence/absence dynamics. These introns were most likely obtained through horizontal transfer from other fungal organisms. Those common introns might have been in H. thompsonii mitogenomes since the divergence of the fungus from its putative sister species H. minnesotensis, whereas those dynamic introns might have experienced 1-2 gain or loss events. We also detected evidence of degeneration for some introns. Overall, our study shed new insights into the mitochondrial evolution of the acaropathogenic fungus H. thompsonii.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondrial genome, comparative analysis and evolutionary insights into the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

Wang

Zhang

et al. 2018

Environmental Microbiology

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“…Most commercial producers in this country are situated in the Western Cape Province and plant relatively recently introduced southern highbush cultivars such as 'Bluecrisp', 'Emerald', 'Jewel', 'Snowchaser' and 'Star' (Müller 2011;Swart 2015). Of these A. vaccinii can be damaging on 'Bluecrisp' (Lyrene 1999) and Weibelzahl and Liburd (2009) found large populations on 'Star'. Some rabbiteye cultivars are planted on a small scale in the Western Cape.…”

Section: Potential Impact On Blueberry Farming In South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No pesticide is registered for the control of this mite on blueberries under South African conditions (Agri-Intel 2017). Cultural control methods, especially pruning (Weibelzahl and Liburd 2009), might be a control option.…”

Section: Potential Impact On Blueberry Farming In South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

First record, current status, symptoms, infested cultivars and potential impact of the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Keifer) (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) in South Africa

Craemer

2018

Acarologia

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Acalitus vaccinii (Keifer, 1939) is reported for the first time in South Africa, on cultivated blueberries (Ericaceae: Vaccinium spp.). This is the first known occurrence outside its likely native range in North America where it is a pest on cultivated and wild blueberries. In South Africa it has first been identified in 2014 and now occurs between Amsterdam and Lothair, and near Lydenburg and Dullstroom in the Mpumalanga Province. The morphology of the South African A. vaccinii specimens was compared with previous published taxonomic descriptions and differences were found. Infestation levels in South Africa were high, and reduced flower and berry formation considerably on various Vaccinium corymbosum L. cultivars, and on rabbiteye blueberry Vaccinium virgatum Aiton. 'Centurion'. The current status of, symptoms, and cultivars infested by the mite in South African blueberry plantings are presented and discussed in the context of published information in North America. Acalitus vaccinii is a potential threat to cultivated blueberries in South Africa, but the threat varies according to climate and the susceptibility of different cultivars to this mite. Acalitus vaccinii will unlikely infest South Africa’s indigenous vegetation, apart from possibly the native Vaccinium exul Bolus.

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“…Hirsutella thompsonii ( Ht ) ( Ophiocordycipitaceae , Hypocreales, and Sordariomycetes ) is a pathogenic fungal species that infects arthropod hosts and causes natural epizootics in populations of blueberry bud mites ( Acalitus vaccinii ), citrus rust mites ( Phyllocoptruta oleivora ), and coconut fruit mites ( Aceria guerreronis ) ( Samson et al 1980 ; Weibelzahl and Liburd 2009 ). It produces an insecticidal protein Hirsutellin A, which is ribotoxic to a variety of pest populations ( Herrero-Galán et al 2008 , 2013 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome Sequence, Comparative Analysis, and Evolutionary Insights into Chitinases of Entomopathogenic Fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

Agrawal

Khatri

Subramanian

et al. 2015

Genome Biology and Evolution

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Hirsutella thompsonii (Ht) is a fungal pathogen of acarines and the primary cause of epizootics among mites. The draft genomes of two isolates of Ht (MTCC 3556: Ht3, 34.6 Mb and MTCC 6686: Ht6, 34.7 Mb) are presented and compared with the genomes of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) ARSEF 2860 and Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Os) CO18. Comparative analysis of carbohydrate active enzymes, pathogen–host interaction genes, metabolism-associated genes, and genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in the four genomes was carried out. Reduction in gene family sizes in Ht3 and Os as compared with Ht6 and Bb is observed. Analysis of the mating type genes in Ht reveals the presence of MAT idiomorphs which is suggestive of cryptic sexual traits in Ht. We further identify and classify putative chitinases that may function as virulence factors in fungal entomopathogens due to their role in degradation of arthropod cuticle.

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Epizootic of Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Eriophyidea) Caused by Hirsutella thompsonii on Southern Highbush Blueberry in North-Central Florida

Cited by 7 publications

References 7 publications

Mitochondrial genome, comparative analysis and evolutionary insights into the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

Mitochondrial genome, comparative analysis and evolutionary insights into the entomopathogenic fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

First record, current status, symptoms, infested cultivars and potential impact of the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Keifer) (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) in South Africa

Genome Sequence, Comparative Analysis, and Evolutionary Insights into Chitinases of Entomopathogenic Fungus Hirsutella thompsonii

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