Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

Distribution and pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana in soil with earthworm action and feeding

  • Xibei Zhou
    ,
  • Wulong Liang
    ,
  • Yanfeng Zhang
    ,
  • James Crabbe
    ,
  • Zhumei Ren
    ,
  • Yingping Xie
  • Shanxi University
    ,
  • University of Oxford
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Earthworm action and feeding have an important impact on a variety of microorganisms in the soil. However, the effects of the earthworm on Beauveria bassiana, a common entomopathogenic fungus in the biological control of pests, have been little studied. In this study, the epigeic earthworm species Eisenia fetida (Savigny) was selected to evaluate its impact on B. bassiana TST05 including its distribution in soil and its pathogenicity to target insects. By testing B. bassiana TST05 distribution, biomass in soil, viable spore germination rate, and pathogenicity to insect larvae after passing through the earthworm gut, the results showed that the activity and feeding of E. fetida promoted the B. bassiana TST05 diffusing downwards in the soil, while decreasing active fungal spores. After passing through the earthworm gut and excretion, the living B. bassiana individuals still had activity and pathogenicity to insects. The germination rate of the viable fungal spores was 15.09% and the infection rate to the insect larvae of Atrijuglans hetaohei Yang reached 62.35%, 80.95% and 100% after infection at 7 d, 10 d, and 14 d, respectively. The results showed that action and feeding of earthworms promoted the distribution of B. bassiana TST05 in soil, but decreased B. bassiana viable spores. This study is important for understanding the interaction between earthworms and B. bassiana in soil and for guiding the scientific application of B. bassiana in the biological control of pests.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

e0275826

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

PLoS ONE (Volume 17, Issue 10)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 22/09/2022
  • Published - 13/10/2022

Publication status

Published - 13/10/2022

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625546
  • Scopus: 85139880558
  • PubMed: 36227877

Access to documents

Publication metrics

Metrics

Download statistics
Download count
6