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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #338481
Research Project: Development of Production and Formulation Technologies for Microbial Biopesticides in Conjunction with the Development of Attractants and Repellents for Invasive Insect Pests

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Rapid discrimination of Isaria javanica and Isaria poprawskii from Isaria spp. using high resolution DNA melting assays

Author
item Dunlap, Christopher
item MASCARIN, GABRIEL - Embrapa
item ROMAGNOLI, EMILIANA - Embrapa
item Jackson, Mark

Submitted to: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2017
Publication Date: 9/21/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5822276
Citation: Dunlap, C.A., Mascarin, G.M., Romagnoli, E.M., Jackson, M.A. 2017. Rapid discrimination of Isaria javanica and Isaria poprawskii from Isaria spp. using high resolution DNA melting assays. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 150:88–93.

Interpretive Summary: This study describes a rapid method to identify two important species of insect killing fungi. This method will allow for improved identification and tracking of the fungi when they are used as to control insect pests. Understanding the environmental fate and survival of these fungi after application will improve the use of these microbial biological control agents in integrated pest management systems. This research benefits U.S. farmers and consumers that rely on crops impacted by insect pests.

Technical Abstract: The current study evaluates the potential of using high resolution DNA melting assays to discriminate species in the genus, Isaria. The study utilizes a previously identified 103 base pair PCR amplicon, which was reported to be selective for Isaria fumosorosea. Our study finds the amplicon selective for Isaria javanica and Isaria poprawskii, when assayed against all members of the genus. In addition, the high resolution melting profile of this amplicon can be used to discriminate between I. javanica, I. poprawskii and a 1:1 mixture of the two species. The practical application of this technique was confirmed using a bioassay on whitefly nymphs (Bemisia tabaci biotype B) inoculated with I. javanica, I. poprawskii or a 1:1 mixture of the two species. This assay provides a simple assay to identify these two species of entomopathogenic fungi.