The Survival and Parasitism Rate of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Its Host Exposed to Beauveriabassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

Abstract

The effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (BB-12) on the biological characteristics of Tamarixia radiata parasitizing Diaphorina citri was studied under laboratory conditions. Twenty 3rd–5th instar nymphs were exposed to a single already-mated female parasitoid (1 day old) and removed after 24 h. Subsequently, the nymphs were sprayed at 1, 24 and 48 h post-exposure with 1 × 108 conidial mL−1 suspension. The percentage of parasitism recorded was 22%, 35% and 41% at 1, 24 and 48 h, respectively. The emergence rate varied between 28%, 51% and 49% at 1, 24 and 48 h, respectively. In a subsequent experiment, nymphs of D. citri were sprayed with 1 × 108 conidial mL−1 suspension and then exposed to T. radiata at 1, 24 and 48 h post-spraying to allow for parasitism to occur. The percentage of parasitism recorded was 18%, 27% and 28% at 1, 24 and 48 h, respectively, significantly lower than the parasitism rate recorded in the control (48%). The percentage of emergence varied between 24%, 44% and 45% at 1, 24 and 48 h, respectively. In both experiments, no significant difference was observed in the pre-adult duration (days) and the sex ratio of F1 generation. Meanwhile, significant differences were observed in the longevity of the F1 generation of females and males of T. radiata in a treatment consisting of spraying the fungal suspension and the control. Overall, the findings of the current study revealed a negative interaction between T. radiata and B. bassiana in controlling D. citri nymphs. This outcome is believed to be a result of the antagonistic effects of B. bassiana on the developmental process of the pre-adult stages of the parasitoid. However, our results also show that with a properly timed application (allowing parasitism to occur over an extended period of time before the application of the fungus), T. radiata could potentially be used in combination with B. bassiana for the successful biological control of D. citri. This should be carried out in order to minimize the potentially negative interactions between these two biological agents.

Entomopathogens and Parasitoids Allied in Biocontrol: A Systematic Review

“…Trichogramma pretiosum [ 24 , 47 , 52 ] and E. formosa [ 29 , 38 , 40 , 51 ] were the most researched parasitoids, followed by A. colemani [ 23 , 30 , 32 , 35 , 46 ], C. flavipes [ 55 , 58 ], and Diaeretiella rapae [ 18 , 43 ]. In terms of microorganisms, B. bassiana [ 17 , 18 , 24 , 26 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 64 , 65 ] was the most studied fungus, followed by M. anisopliae [ 30 , 34 , 36 , 37 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 57 , <...…”

“…Thirty-eight out of forty-nine combinations of biocontrol agents were reported as compatible [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ] ( Table 1 ). Six combinations were reported as incompatible [ 17 , 27 , 28 , 42 , 51 ], often due to a lower emergence rate caused either by bad timing, direct infection, or too high dosage. No answer about compatibility was given for the five remaining ones [ 30 , 38 , 54 , 56 ].…”

“…We used Citavi software (version 6.11.0.0) to import the included studies. We extracted data on (1) pest, (2) control agents, (3) crop, (4) location, (5) study design, (6) evolution of pest and biocontrol agent populations, (7) crop damage, (8) crop yield, and (9) compatibility of biocontrol agents from the 49 selected articles [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Each combination of biocontrol agents was considered an experiment, leading to 1...…”

Interactions between the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 20 and the Endoparasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris, and Implications for Combined Biocontrol of Tuta absoluta

“…Although the survival of the immature stages of D. gelechiidivoris was reduced by fungal treatment of their host, interestingly in general the developmental time of the eclosed wasps was not affected by the fungal treatment. Similarly, Ramos Aguila et al [ 55 ] found that the developmental time of Tamarixia radiata Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reared on Beauveria bassiana infected Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) was similar to the parasitoids being reared on healthy hosts.…”

Endophytically colonized Citrus limon seedlings by Beauveria bassiana hampered development, reproduction and progeny fitness of Diaphorina citri

“…This is because, their performance in the field depends significantly upon abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, UV light and rainfall (De Castro et al, 2013;Kumar et al, 2017) and are influenced by biotic factors such as multi-trophic interactions with plants, arthropods and plant pathogens (Meyling & Eilenberg, 2007;Meyling & Hajek, 2009). However, given favourable ambient conditions they can act against a variety of arthropod pest and can ensure minimal risk for non-target organism including specialist parasitoids and generalist predators (Lacey et al, 2015;Ramos Aguila et al, 2021).…”