<em>In situ</em> immunofluorescence localization: A method for rapid detection of <em>Beauveria</em> spp. in the rhizosphere of <em>Quercus robur</em> saplings
For biological control of plant pests, e.g. cockchafer grubs, in the rhizosphere of oak, apple or pine trees, entomopathogenic Beauveria spp. are increasingly applied. For successful use, it is important to monitor the spread and persistence of the inoculated fungi, both qualitatively and quantita...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
| Published: |
Julius Kühn-Institut
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Journal für Kulturpflanzen |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.openagrar.de/index.php/Kulturpflanzenjournal/article/view/13009 |
| Summary: | For biological control of plant pests, e.g. cockchafer grubs, in the rhizosphere of oak, apple or pine trees, entomopathogenic Beauveria spp. are increasingly applied. For successful use, it is important to monitor the spread and persistence of the inoculated fungi, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The determination of both parameters by plating on selective nutrient media or by molecular methods such as PCR of soil samples are quite laborious and often do not yield satisfactory results. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a specific in situ method using immunofluorescence labelling of Beauveria spp. growing on young fine roots of three-year old oak saplings. All fine roots investigated were covered with a dense net of soil rhizosphere fungi, as visualized by staining with the nonspecific dye blankophor. On non-inoculated roots, polyclonal Beauveria antibodies did not label any of these naturally growing fungi. Only samples of roots inoculated with Beauveria brongniartii displayed specific labelling up to ten months after inoculation. Whereas the natural rhizosphere fungi were detected growing in the intercellular space of the root cortex in an ectomycorrhiza-like manner up to the endodermis, hyphae of the inoculated B. brongniartii were never seen within the root tissue but only growing on the surface of the rhizodermis. These observations indicate that B. brongniartii does not grow endophytically, and that the method used allows to discriminate B. brongniartii from the resident fungal flora in the oak tree rhizosphere. Detection by immunofluorescence labelling employed in the current study may be a useful tool to follow B. brongniartii in experiments aimed at establishing the entomopathogen in the rhizosphere and to monitor its fate in long-term control of entomopathogens. |
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| ISSN: | 1867-0911 1867-0938 |