Niche adaptations and plasticity within entomopathogenic Metarhizium communities in sugar cane ecosystems

• Grant number: 17/20491-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2018
• End date: May 01, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Italo Delalibera Júnior
• Grantee: Joel da Cruz Couceiro
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/13282-8 - Differential gene expression of Metarhizium spp., BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Metarhizium spp. constitute a diverse group of fungi with the ability to cause disease in insects and to associate endophytically with plants. Isolates of this genus are very common in soils of the whole world, although the most abundant species vary between regions. In Brazil, the most prevalent species are Metarhizium robertsii Bischoff, Rehner & Humber and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin. While the former is very abundant in the soil, associated to roots, the latter is more found infecting insects in the aerial part of the plants. In temperate regions, the most commonly isolated species are M. robertsii and Metarhizium brunneum Petch. In these places, both species are frequently isolated in soil samples, in the rhizosphere. Despite the high abundance in temperate regions, M. brunneum ir rarely found in Brazilian soils. The spatial distribution of fungi species is directly affected by factors such as UV radiation, temperature and interactions with other organisms. The objective of this work is to investigate the responses of M. anisopliae, M. robertsii and M. brunneum isolates to biotic and abiotic factors, and to relate them to their ecology and distribution. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COUCEIRO, JOEL DA CRUZ; FATORETTO, MAIRA BLUMER; DEMETRIO, CLARICE GARCIA BORGES; MEYLING, NICOLAI VITT; DELALIBERA JR, ITALO. UV-B Radiation Tolerance and Temperature-Dependent Activity Within the Entomopathogenic Fungal Genus Metarhizium in Brazil. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 2, p. 12-pg., 2021-03-08. (17/20491-0)

COUCEIRO, JOEL DA CRUZ; LICHT, HENRIK H. DE FINE; DELALIBERA JR., ITALO; MEYLING, NICOLAI V.. Comparative gene expression and genomics reflect geographical divergence in the plant symbiotic and entomopathogenic fungal genus Metarhizium. Fungal Ecology, v. 60, p. 13-pg., 2022-08-20. (18/13282-8, 17/20491-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COUCEIRO, Joel da Cruz. Niche adaptations and plasticity within the fungal entomopathogenic genus Metarhizium in Brazil. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.