Mycopathologia (2006) 161, 323-329

E. Quesada-Moraga, B.B. Landa, J. Muñoz-Ledesma, R.M. Jiménez-Diáz and C. Santiago-Álvarez (2006)
Endophytic colonisation of opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, by an entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana strain
Mycopathologia 161 (5), 323-329
Abstract: Beauveria bassiana strain EABb 04/01-Tip isolated from stem-borer larvae of Timaspis papaveris (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), a serious pest of opium poppy in Spain, was shown to be able to become established endophytically in this pharmaceutical crop. Microbiological, molecular and light and electron microscopic methods were used to study fungal colonisation and to describe its mode of penetration. After inoculation with a foliar spray of conidia, microbiological methods showed 100% of plants examined 24, 48, 72 and 144 h after treatment to be colonised endophytically by the fungus, although the percentage of previously surface sterilised leaf pieces showing fungal growth was 100% at 24 and 48 h, and 80 and 75% at 72 and 144 h after treatment, respectively. The fungus was also observed in leaf pieces obtained from newly formed leaves, indicating that it could spread from treated leaves to leaves formed after fungal application. For molecular studies, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was used to amplify the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions of the rDNA of the plant and the fungus. This procedure allowed the detection of the fungus on the surface of the leaves and also endophytically, but only at 72 h after treatment. A nucleotide BLAST search revealed that the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence of strain EABb 04/01-Tip showed 100% homology with a similar sequence from Cordyceps bassiana. SEM images revealed that although numerous conidia were observed on the leaf surface, few germinated and penetrated. Intracellular colonisation by B. bassiana was not observed, but hyphae were detected growing into the xylem vessels. The fungus was found to colonise 40.5 ± 4.3% of seedlings (with two cotyledons and the two first real leaves) from seeds dressed with a fungal spore suspension. These results may have implications in the biological control of T. papaveris, including the possible systemic protection of the plant against this cynipid.
(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): Enrique Quesada-Moraga, Candido Santiago-Alvarez, Blanca B. Landa, Rafael M. Jimenez-Diaz

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aylax papaveris	Poppy (Papaver somniferum)	Spain (continental)
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Aylax papaveris	Poppy (Papaver somniferum)	Spain (continental)