Metarhizium robertsii illuminated during mycelial growth produces conidia with increased germination speed and virulence

Author(s)

Oliveira, Ariel S. ; Braga, Gilberto U. L. ; Rangel, Drauzio E. N.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FUNGAL BIOLOGY; v. 122, n. 6, p. 8-pg., 2018-06-01.

Abstract

Light conditions during fungal growth are well known to cause several physiological adaptations in the conidia produced. In this study, conidia of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium robertsii were produced on: 1) potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium in the dark; 2) PDA medium under white light (4.98 W m(-2)); 3) PDA medium under blue light (4.8 W m(-2)); 4) PDA medium under red light (2.8 W m(-2)); and 5) minimum medium (Czapek medium without sucrose) supplemented with 3 % lactose (MML) in the dark. The conidial production, the speed of conidial germination, and the virulence to the insect Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were evaluated. Conidia produced on MML or PDA medium under white or blue light germinated faster than conidia produced on PDA medium in the dark. Conidia produced under red light germinated slower than conidia produced on PDA medium in the dark. Conidia produced on MML were the most virulent, followed by conidia produced on PDA medium under white light. The fungus grown under blue light produced more conidia than the fungus grown in the dark. The quantity of conidia produced for the fungus grown in the dark, under white, and red light was similar. The MML afforded the least conidial production. In conclusion, white light produced conidia that germinated faster and killed the insects faster; in addition, blue light afforded the highest conidial production. (C) 2017 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/11386-5 - Mechanistic study of perception and response to visible light in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum
• Grantee: Gilberto Úbida Leite Braga
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/15204-8 - Mechanistic study of the photodynamic inactivation of human and plant pathogenic fungi
• Grantee: Gilberto Úbida Leite Braga
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50518-6 - Stress related genes are induced by visible light during mycelial growth resulting in increased conidial tolerance to stress conditions
• Grantee: Drauzio Eduardo Naretto Rangel
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/06374-1 - Visible light during growth enhances conidial tolerance to different stress conditions in fungi
• Grantee: Drauzio Eduardo Naretto Rangel
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants