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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2014, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (11): 197-201.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20141126

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Infection Process of Metarhizium pingshaense on Melanotus cribricollis (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Observed by Scanning Electron Microscope

Zhang Yabo, Wu Xiaoshuang, Ye Bihuan, Wu Panpan, Shu Jinping   

  1. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, CAF Fuyang 3114000
  • Received:2014-01-08 Revised:2014-08-01 Online:2014-11-25 Published:2014-12-04

Abstract:

Larvae of Melanotus cribricollis (wireworm), one of the most important pests of bamboo at shoot stage in southern China, can be effectively controlled by Metarhizium pingshaense. Compared with many other pests, cuticle of the larva of M. cribricollis is harder and smoother, which makes the infection process of M. pingshaense on M. cribricollis still unclear. In this research, the infection process was studied by observation under scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the conidia of M. pingshaense were mostly found on segmacoria and tips of the foot, secondly on conjunctivum and corrugation on the abdomen, with fewer on the smooth and hard parts. The larvae of M. cribricolli were mostly invaded by germ tube and appressorium of M. pingshaense, and then the mycelia and conidia appeared on the larva body. A germ tube formed at one end of the conidia in 12 h after inoculation. A small part of conidia germinated on the larva body surface while most of conidia penetrated into the larvae by the formed germ tubes in 18 h after inoculation. The germ tubes failed to invade the larvae could form mycelia and grow on surface of the cuticle, and then formed germ tube and appressorium at weak parts. The cuticle penetrated by germtubes or appressoria could be observed at the corrugation parts. The white mycelia firstly appeared at the legsocket of the infected larvae, and the mycelia growing out of the infected larva cuticle began to form new conidiophores and conidia. This study can lay a foundation for research of infection mechanism of M. pingshaense on M. cribricollis.

Key words: Metarhizium pingshaense, Melanotus cribricollis, wireworm, infection process, SEM

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