Phytoparasitica (2001) 29, 67-68
M. Klein, Alla Golberg, D. Blumberg, A. Chizov-Ginzburg and Y. Braverman (2001)
Cell-wall-less prokaryotes: experiments in using these microorganisms in biological control of mosquitoes and beetles
Phytoparasitica 29 (1), 67-68
18th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, May 18, 2000, Bet Dagan, Israel, lecture
Abstract: Cell-wall-less prokaryotes are wall-less bacteria, smaller than walled bacteria and possessing a more limited genome. These groups include the micoplasmas, spiroplasmas and phytoplasmas. The micoplasmas are known as disease agents in animals and some are saprophytes. The spiroplasmas and phytoplasmas infect arthropods and plants, and some are present in arthropods without causing any disease in them and the reason for their presence there is not kown. Micoplasmas and spiroplasmas can be cultured in semi-artificial medium, whereas no method is known for culturing phytoplasmas outside the plant or the vector. In 1984 it was suggested for the first time to use spiroplasmas for biological control. The insects probably acquire the plant spiroplasmas by feeding on flowers or other plant surfaces. Spiroplasma apis causes high mortality in bees, whereas Spiroplasma floricola causes mortality to Melolontha melolontha beetles. The spiroplasmas were found to be specific to a certain insect species. Therefore it was suggested to utilize specific spiroplasma to which a pathogenic gene from the above spiroplasma species will be incorporated, for biological control of the host insect pest species. We attempted to isolate spiroplasmas from Maladera matrida and Carpophilus humeolis beetles, and from Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens mosquitoes, but none was recovered. Five spiroplasmas that were isolated from various beetle species in the USA and S. floricola that was isolated from flowers, were fed to the above mentioned insects, but did not multiply and did not survive in their bodies.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Yehuda Braverman, Daniel Blumberg
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culex pipiens | ||||
| Aedes aegypti | ||||
| Urophorus humeralis | ||||
| Melolontha melolontha | ||||
| Maladera insanabilis | ||||
| Spiroplasma apis | ||||
| Spiroplasma floricola (entomopathogen) | Melolontha melolontha |
