| Isaria fumosorosea | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Illustration of Isaria fumosorosea by Casimir Wize. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Hypocreales |
| Family: | Cordycipitaceae |
| Genus: | Isaria |
| Species: | I. fumosorosea |
| Binomial name | |
| Isaria fumosorosea Wize (1904) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Isaria fumosorosea[2] is anentomopathogenic fungus, formerly known asPaecilomyces fumosoroseus. It shows promise as abiological pesticide with an extensive host range.[3]
When aconidium orblastospore ofIsaria fumosorosea lands on a suitable host, it produces enzymes to penetrate the insect'scuticle. A germ tube then grows into thehaemocoel[4] and the fungus proliferates inside the insect’s body. The fungus can also enter through thespiracles, themouth or theanal opening. Themycelia spread in thehaemolymph and tissues, eventually emerging from the insect and producingconidia. Mortality of the insect has been ascribed to the drainage of its nutrients, the destruction of its tissues and the release of toxins.[5]
This fungus has a wide host range that includes insects in over twenty five different families and many species of mite. Agricultural pest insects which are susceptible to infection include thediamondback moth (Plutella xyllostella), theRussian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) and thesilverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii).[5] Among mites, susceptible species include thespotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), theEuropean red mite (Panonychus ulmi), the brown mite (Byrobia rubrioculus) and the apple rust mite (Aculus schlectendali).[3]
Isaria fumosorosea has been used to control insect pests of plants grown for the production ofcut flowers, ornamentals growing in greenhouses and nurseries, vegetable and cole crops, cotton, maize, rice and plantation crops.[3]
It has also been found to reduce the development and spread of powdery mildew,Podosphaera xanthii complex (formerlySphaerotheca fuliginea), on cucumbers.[6]
A comparison made between severalentomopathogenichyphomycetes showed thatIsaria fumosorosea (asPaecilomyces fumosoroseus) provided more effective control of the cabbage-heart caterpillar,Crocidolomia binotalis, than did eitherBeauveria bassiana orMetarhizium anisopliae.[7]
Research at the USDA-ARS Bioactive Agents Research Unit in Peoria showed that blastospores start germinating at a faster rate on the cuticle of silverleaf whiteflies than do conidia. This suggests that the use of blastospores rather than conidia for the development of formulations would be advantageous.[8]
The fungus neither grows nor develops at temperatures above 32 °C and is not thought to be pathogenic to humans. It has not been found to be toxic to rats in laboratory experiments and is not considered to be harmful to birds, honey bees,[9] bumblebees or a wide range of non-target arthropods.