Molecular characterization of two entomopathogenic fungi isolated from Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Issue Date

10-2011

Abstract

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is considered one of the most destructive insect pests, especially in the Philippines, infesting a number of economically important crops in many parts of the world. Various control methods including the conventional chemical insecticides are used for pest control. Integration of selected strains of entomopathogenic fungi with selective insecticides can improve the pest control efficiency, decrease the amount of insecticides resistance in insect pests. Microbials are viewed as one of the key components of integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs, or supplements to chemical pesticides together or in succession to maximize the considerable full potential of entomopathogenic fungi for pest control, molecular techniques are needed to provide valuable insights into genetic relationships within and among fungi species. Two distinct fungal colonies were isolated from a diseased H. armigera larva. The two isolates were characterized through sequencing of the internal transcribe spacer (ITS) regions including 5.8s ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and phylogenetic analysis comparing to common entomopathogenic fungi namely , Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Paecilomyces sp. Each isolate was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with set of ITS primers (ITS1, ITS2, ITS4, and ITS5) which are commonly used among fungal species. Lengths of amplified fragments of the three entomopathogenic fungi were approximately 250bp, 550bp and 650 bp, respectively. Alignment of the sequences of the two isolates showed higher homology to Metarhizium flavoviride var. Flavoviridae (GeneBank Accession Number: AY646398.1) compared to Beauveria bassina and Paecilomyces sp.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

25

Issue

2

Page

205

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA; METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE; BEAUVERIA BASSIANA; PAECILOMYCES; PLANT PESTS; ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI; INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

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