Journal of Entomological Science (2008) 43, 241-246

S.K. Dara, M.R. McGuire, M. Ulloa and H.K. Kaya (2008)
Evaluation and molecular characterization of Beauveria bassiana for the control of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in California
Journal of Entomological Science 43 (2), 241-246
Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say), is an important pest on grapes, citrus, almonds and other commercial crops in California as it is a vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells, a bacterium that causes Pierce's disease in grapes, citrus variegated chlorosis, almond leaf scorch and other plant diseases. Various entomopathogenic fungi isolated from natural infections of H. coagulata, its habitats and other insect hosts were evaluated against this insect vector. Based on these studies, 3 isolates of the hyphomycetous fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, were selected for further evaluation. Two of these were California isolates, one each from the three-cornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), and soil from H. coagulata habitat, and the third was a Texas isolate from natural infections of H. coagulata. All three were similar in their virulence to H. coagulata under laboratory conditions. The genetic relatedness of the B. bassiana isolates also was compared using single sequence repeat (SSR) markers which showed genetic diversity of this species based on the source of the isolate. Some isolates were 4x more infectious than others demonstrating that virulence of B. bassiana is not necessarily associated with their genetic relatedness.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Surendra Dara, Michael R. McGuire, Harry K. Kaya

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Homalodisca vitripennis		U.S.A. (SW)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Homalodisca vitripennis		U.S.A. (SW)