Incidence of mycopathogens infecting oat birdcherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Homoptera: Aphididae) infesting wheat plants at Assiut

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1 Incidence of mycopathogens infecting oat birdcherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Homoptera: Aphididae) infesting wheat plants at Assiut Prof/ Mohamed A. A. Abdel-Rahman

2 Contents: Introduction Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion

3 Introduction In Egypt, wheat occupies an important belt among the cultivated area during the winter season. Wheat plants suffers from many pests which cause great damages and reduction in yield. Cereal aphids are the most serious pests attacking wheat in Southern Egypt. Cereal aphids cause economic losses to wheat by direct and/or indirect damages.

4 Introduction The oat bird-cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. is considered one of the most serious cereal aphids attacking wheat plants in Assiut, Egypt. Nowadays, some kind of natural balance particularly in wheat agro-ecosystem in Egypt seems to be upset. These disturbance may be due to expanded application of pesticides.

5 Introduction Thus, as a first step toward the development of biocontrol programs, investigations were begun to find natural enemies of these pests in fieldcollected individuals. Fungal pathogens were widely recognized as important natural enemies of numerous species of cereal aphids worldwide.

6 Objectives The aim of the present study was to seek further information on mycopathogens of the oat bird-cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. infesting wheat plants at Assiut, Egypt.

7 Materials and Methods The present investigation was carried out at Assiut (Abnoub district) about 15 Km Northeast Assiut city during 2013 and 2014 wheat growing seasons. An area of about 2100 m 2 (half of feddan) was cultivated with wheat (cultivar Sids 1) normally at mid-november in both cultivated seasons. The normal conventional agricultural practices were normally performed and no chemical control (insecticides or fungicides) was used during the study period. Weeds were removed by hand.

8 Materials and Methods During the two seasons, the oat bird-cherry aphid numbers (all forms) were counted and recorded on 200 randomly selected seedlings or main tillers, later in the season, when the aphid numbers increased on the plants, the numbers of examined tillers were reduced to 100 tillers.

9 Materials and Methods Four replicates were taken weekly from the beginning of January, when the migration of aphids onto the wheat crop, at the stage of tillering or early stem-elongation stage, from overwintering sites began, and continued through the time when aphid population declined to low or undetectable levels. At the same time number of infected aphids was also counted and recorded.

10 Materials and Methods Cadavers (dead aphids) were recorded, placed in 1x5 cm vials and stored at 5ºC. Aphid cadavers were examined under a dissecting microscope as soon as possible after collected to observe external symptoms and fungal reproductive structures if produced in situ on the plant. Desiccated and fresh cadavers were placed in a moist chamber for about 20 hrs to allow hyphae and reproductive structures to develop.

11 Materials and Methods Individual aphids were mounted in cotton blue or aceto-orcein and observed under a compound microscope. Identification of fungi was based on external symptoms and the morphology of spores and sporulating structures (Waterhouse and Brady, 1982), and new revision of the classification of entomophthorales (Humber 1989 and 1991) and confirmed at AUMC.

12 Materials and Methods Statistical analysis: Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (F test) and means were compared according to Duncan's multiple range test. Percentage of infection (mortality %) caused by entomopathogenic fungi was calculated in each sampling date according to Feng et al. (1992) as follow: Number of infected aphids (cadavers) Mortality (%) = (Total number of alive aphids) + No. cadavers x

13 Results Oat bird-cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L.

14 Results Infected aphids (cadavers) with fungi

15 Results Table (1): List of mycopathogens identified infecting the oat aphid infesting wheat plants during 2013 and 2014 wheat growing seasons. Class Order Family Species Zygomycetes Entomophthorales Ancylistaceae Conidiobolus spp Entomophthoraceae Entomophthora planchoniana (Cornu) Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudiere & Hennebert) Humber Neozygitaceae Neozygites fresenii Nowakawsk Hyphomycetes Moniliales Moniliaceae Beauveria bassiana Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Vieges

16 Results a c b Conidiobolus spp a) Infected aphid showing unbranched and indeterminate conidiophoresx16. b) Primary conidia with apical papile x40. c) Secondary conidia developing on germ tube arising from primary conidium x40.

17 a b c d Entomopthora planchoniana a) Conidiophore bearing Primary conidia; b) Secondary conidia; c) Conidiophores; d) Resting spores.

18 a b c Pandora neoaphidis c) Secondary conidia a) filamentous hyphal bodies b) Conidia

19 a b C Neozygites fresenii a) Primary conidia; b) Capillary conidiophore; c) Resting spores

20 a b C Verticillium lecanii a) Branched hyphal bodies x40 b) hyphal bodies x100 c) Conidia

21 a b c Beauveria bassiana a) Conidiogenous cells X40 b) Conidiogenous cells X100 c) Conidia X100

22 Results Table (2): Numbers and percentage of mycopathogens recovered naturally infecting the oat bird-cherry aphid in the field during 2013 and Fungi species Total No. (%) No. (%) No (%) Conidiobolus Spp. 2c c c 0.62 Entomophthoraceae planchoniana 56a a a Pandora (=Erina) neoaphids 49a a a Neozygites fresenii 14b b b 7.94 Beauveria bassiana 11b b b 5.58 Verticilium lecanii 15b b b 8.19 Total Means vertically followed by the same letter are not significantly different < 0.05 level of probability

23 Results Table (3): Population trend of the oat bird-cherry aphid on wheat plants and infection rate with mycopathogens naturally in the field during 2013 and 2014 wheat growing season. Inspectio Growth 2013 season 2014 season n date stage No / tiller Infection No / tiller Infection (ZGS)* Aphid s Cadave rs (%) Aphids Cadave rs (%) Jan Feb March Total *(ZGS) = Zadoks et al. (1974)

24 Results The population of oat aphid began to appear approximately during the first week of January and develop up to the end of March. The maximum population was attained during the end of February and the beginning of March.

25 Results Infection rate The first case of diseases was observed in the beginning of February and continued up to the end of March. The highest point of cadavers with fungi was recorded during the third week of March.

26 Conclusions Six species of entomopathogenic fungi infecting oat aphid at Assiut. These fungi could be arranged as follow: The first group: (predominant fungi species): Pandora and Entomophthora. The second group: Neozygites, Verticillum and Beauveria. The third group: Conidiobolus spp. was scars.

27 Conclusions It is necessary to take in consideration that the decline of aphid population results from a combination of an increased population of alate adults, decline host plant quality and the action of aphid natural enemies. Entomopathogenic fungi played a principle role in natural suppression of the oat aphid population at Assiut, particularly at the time of their highest population level.

28 Conclusions The results reported herein support that the utilization of entomopathogenic fungi as a biological control agent could be complementary strategies in an integrated pest management program against cereal aphids in southern Egypt.

29 Thank you