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Article
Effects of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi on soybean aphid and identification of Metarhizium isolates from agricultural fields
PloS ONE
  • Eric H. Clifton, Iowa State University
  • Stefan T, Jaronski, United States Department of Agriculture
  • Brad S. Coates, Iowa State University
  • Erin W. Hodgson, Iowa State University
  • Aaron J. Gassmann, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
3-22-2018
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0194815
Abstract

Terrestrial plants can harbor endophytic fungi that may induce changes in plant physiology that in turn affect interactions with herbivorous insects. We evaluated whether the application of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum to soybean seeds could become endophytic and affect interactions with soybean aphid (Aphis glycinesMatsumura). It was found that A. glycines population sizes increased on plants with M. brunneum (strain F52) seed inoculum, but no significant effects were shown with analogous treatments with B. bassiana (strain GHA). Fungi recovered from soybean plant tissues indicate that endophytism was established, and that B. bassiana was more prevalent. Metarhizium brunneum was only recovered from stems, but B. bassiana was recovered from stems and leaves. This work confirms that some entomopathogenic fungi can be endophytic in soybean, however, some of these fungi may have a negative effect on the plants by increasing susceptibility of soybean to A. glycines. We also used DNA sequence data to identify species of Metarhizium obtained from agricultural fields in Iowa. Phylogenetic analyses, based on DNA sequence data, found that all isolates were Metarhizium robertsii, which is consistent with past studies indicating a cosmopolitan distribution and wide host range for this species. These results are important for understanding the dynamics of implementing environmentally sustainable measures for the control of pest insects.

Comments

This article is published as Clifton EH, Jaronski ST, Coates BS, Hodgson EW, Gassmann AJ (2018) Effects of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi on soybean aphid and identification of Metarhizium isolates from agricultural fields. PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194815. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194815.

Rights
This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Eric H. Clifton, Stefan T, Jaronski, Brad S. Coates, Erin W. Hodgson, et al.. "Effects of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi on soybean aphid and identification of Metarhizium isolates from agricultural fields" PloS ONE Vol. 13 Iss. 3 (2018) p. e0194815
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/erin_hodgson/282/