Mycology (2017) 8, 308-317

Oumi Nishi, Kazuhiro Iiyama, Chisa Yasunaga-Aoki and Susumu Shimizu (2017)
Species associations and distributions of soil entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in Japan
Mycology 8 (4), 308-317
Abstract: Metarhizium Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) is a genus of facultative parasites of insects found in soils from various environments and is used for pest management. Understanding the habitat selection of Metarhizium spp. is critical to improve the efficacy and persistence of these fungi as microbial insecticides. This study sought to determine the habitat preferences of Metarhizium spp. in Japan. We identified 302 isolates of Metarhizium spp. as eight species by a combination of PCR–RFLP and phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences. M. pingshaense was the predominant species in Japan and was most frequently isolated from both forest and agricultural environments. On the other hand, M. brunneum and M. pemphigi were comparatively restricted to forest environments. A similar species association was detected in a small area that was intensively investigated, where 7 species including 14 genotypes were isolated from soil. The results of this study have revealed different habitat preferences among Metarhizium spp. in Japan.
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(original language: English)
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Database assignments for author(s): Oumi Nishi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)			Japan
Metarhizium guizhouense (entomopathogen)			Japan
Metarhizium majus (entomopathogen)			Japan
Metarhizium pingshaense (entomopathogen)			Japan
Metarhizium robertsii (entomopathogen)			Japan
Metarhizium brunneum (entomopathogen)			Japan