Self-infection of Pine Wood Nematode Vector Monochamus galloprovincialis with entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria pseudobassiana for biological control

A. Sacristán, M. Fernández-Bravo, E. Quesada-Moragas & J. Pajares1Self-infection of Pine Wood Nematode Vector Monochamus galloprovincialis with entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria pseudobassiana for biological control

Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus causes Pine Wilt Disease (PWD), resulting in widespread tree
mortality. This quarantine organism is necessarily vectored by long horn Monochamus spp. beetles. PWD management
through control of the insect vectors has been proposed. Recently, the high potential of entomopathogenic fungus
Beauveria pseudobassiana for the biological control of M. galloprovincialis, the only known vector of the disease in
Europe, has been shown.
Several experiments were carried out aiming to develop a practical method to spread this biological control agent
within the beetle population by self-dissemination tactics. Multiple funnel trap collection cups were provided
with screened bottoms to effectively reduce by-catch of non-targeted beetles by 73%. Two self-release devices
attached to the trap collection cups were field tested and resulted 100% effective in allowing escape of trapped
M. galloprovincialis adults. These devices were further developed to serve for the self-infection purpose. Two B.
pseudobassiana concentrations, [109] and [1010] conidia/g in talc powder, were assayed in two self-infection devices
in the laboratory. Complete mortality occurred after 9-10 days and 15-19 days for each dosage respectively. Survival
time averaged was 6,2 days and 10,2 days for the high and low dosage respectively. Further studies testing horizontal
transmission of self-infected beetles would extend these result.

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Tipo de Publicación: 

Congresos

Congreso: 

Joint Meeting of IUFRO WPs. Forest Insects and Pathogens in a Changing Environment: Ecology, Monitoring & Genetics

Lugar de Celebración: 

THESSALONIKI - GREECE

Mettings: 

7.03.05 “Ecology and management of bark and wood boring insects” 7.03.10 “Methodology of forest insect and disease survey”&

Tipo de Contribución a Congreso: 

Comunicación Oral