Elsevier

Fungal Ecology

Volume 41, October 2019, Pages 1-12
Fungal Ecology

Effect of three isolates of Pandora neoaphidis from a single population of Sitobion avenae on mortality, speed of kill and fecundity of S. avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi at different temperatures

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2019.03.004Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Pandora neoaphidis from Sitobion avenae kills both S. avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi.

  • P. neoaphidis isolates tested were much more virulent to S. avenae than R. padi.

  • Temperature influences virulence of isolates from one population differently.

  • Temperature influences mortality, lethal time and fecundity differently.

  • S. avenae surviving fungal infection had reduced average daily fecundity.

Abstract

We studied the effect of three Pandora neoaphidis isolates from one Sitobion avenae population, three temperatures, and two aphid species namely S. avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi on (i) aphid mortality, (ii) time needed to kill aphids, and (iii) aphid average daily and lifetime fecundity. A total of 38% of S. avenae and 7% of R. padi died and supported fungus sporulation. S. avenae was killed 30% faster than R. padi. Average daily fecundity was negatively affected only in S. avenae inoculated with, but not killed by, P. neoaphidis. Nevertheless, lifetime fecundity of both aphid species inoculated and sporulating with P. neoaphidis was halved compared to lifetime fecundity of surviving aphids in the control. Increased temperature resulted in higher mortality rates but did not consistently affect lethal time or fecundity. Results suggest that (i) temperature effects on virulence differ between isolates, even when obtained within the same host population, and (ii) even though an isolate does not kill a host it may reduce its fecundity. Our findings are important for the understanding of P. neoaphidis epizootiology and for use in pest-natural enemy modelling.

Keywords

Erynia neoaphidis
Entomopathogenic fungus
Aphid mortality
Lethal time
Aphid fecundity
Isolate variability

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