Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2019) 85 (19 - e01190-19)

Luisa F. Cruz, Octavio Menocal, Julio Mantilla, Luis A. Ibarra-Juarez and Daniel Carrillo (2019)
Xyleborus volvulus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Biology and fungal associates
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 85 (19 - e01190-19)
Abstract: The ambrosia beetle Xyleborus volvulus Fabricius has been reported as a potential vector of the plant pathogen Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich and Aghayeva that is affecting avocado orchards in South Florida. In this study, we examined its life cycle, process of gallery formation, gallery structure, and fungal associates by rearing one generation on avocado sawdust medium under control conditions. The adult foundress excavated a vertical tunnel that constituted the main gallery with a length of 2.5 cm, followed by the construction of up to six secondary galleries with a total length of 4.4 cm. The time period for one generation (egg to adult) was 28 days. Teneral males emerged 3 days after the emergence of the first females. The F₁ generation did not significantly contribute to gallery expansion. Four species of Raffaelea and nine yeast species were recovered from galleries and beetles. Raffaelea arxii and Candida berthetii were the most frequent symbionts recovered from new adults and galleries. Candida berthetii dominated during the early stages of the gallery development, whereas R. arxii was most frequent in later stages. Other Raffaelea species were inconsistently isolated from galleries, which suggests a strong association between Xyleborus volvulus and both R. arxii and C. berthetii. These results suggest that R. arxii is the primary nutritional symbiont of X. volvulus and that yeast species may be pioneer colonizers that assist with the growth of fungal symbionts.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Daniel Carrillo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Xyleborus volvulus	Avocado (Persea americana)	U.S.A. (SE)
	Raffaelea (anamorphic genus)	Avocado (Persea americana)	U.S.A. (SE)