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Entomopathogenicity of Vairimorpha sp. (Microsporidia) in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Md.A. Haque ,
E.U. Canning  and
D.J. Wright
Md.A. Haque
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
E.U. Canning*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
D.J. Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
*
†Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK. Fax: 01344 294 339 E-mail: c.m.collins@ic.ac.uk
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Abstract

The biocontrol potential of a microsporidian pathogen, Vairimorpha sp., obtained from field collected diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, was assessed in a laboratory colony of this insect. The pathogenicity was quantified using a standard bioassay procedure by infecting second instar larvae per os with variable dose levels of the pathogen. Vairimorpha sp. caused 100% mortality even at a dosage of 1.5 x 103 spores per larva. The median lethal dose (LD50) was 2.2 x 104 spores per larva on day 5 post-inoculation. The time taken to achieve 90–100% mortality was dose dependent and varied from 5 days with 1.5 x 106 spores per larva to 11 days with 1.5 x 103 spores per larva. The pathogen reduced the food consumption of P. xylostella larvae by 75%, 93% and 95% at doses 1.5 x 104, 1.5 x 105 and 1.5 x 106 spores per larva, respectively. Histological observations showed that the pathogen preferentially infected adipose tissue cells but spread to almost all tissues. The pathogen was transmitted transovarially as well as horizontally and had a marked influence on progeny performance. It was concluded that Vairimorpha sp. has sufficient potential to be tested in the field as a biocontrol agent for P. xylostella.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 89 , Issue 2 , February 1999 , pp. 147 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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