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Isolate-Specific Effect of Entomopathogenic Endophytic Fungi on Population Growth of Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and Levels of Steroidal Glycoalkaloids in Tomato

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Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can be experimentally established in several plant species as endophytes. Ecological effects of EPF inoculations on plant growth and plant-herbivore interactions have been demonstrated, potentially by altering plant physiological responses. However, the role of these responses in plant-fungus-herbivore tripartite interactions has not been well elucidated. Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are plant specialized metabolites with bioactive properties against arthropod herbivores. Here, the effects of seed treatments by three EPF isolates, representing Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium brunneum, and M. robertsii, on population growth of two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) were evaluated on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The levels of two SGAs, α-tomatine and dehydrotomatine, were determined in tomato leaves by LC-MS with and without T. urticae infestations after EPF inoculations. Interestingly, the population growth of T. urticae was significantly highest with M. brunneum and lowest with M. robertsii and B. bassiana at 15 days after infestation. Overall there was a significant negative correlation between SGAs content and the number of T. urticae. The levels of SGAs were significantly induced by T. urticae presence in all treatments, while only M. robertsii showed significantly higher levels of SGAs than M. brunneum and control in one of two experiments. Contrastingly, the effects on SGAs accumulation and population growth of T. urticae did not directly correlate with EPF endophytic colonization patterns of the inoculated plants. This study suggests a link between ecological effects and physiological responses mediated by EPF inoculations and T. urticae infestation with potential implications for plant protection.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Prof Italo Delalibera Jr. from University of Sao Paolo, Brazil for sharing the Metarhizium robertsii isolate ESALQ1622. The research was supported by Punjab Educational Endowments Fund, Pakistan under Chief Minister Merit Scholarship program. We thank two anonymous reviewers for insightful comments and suggestions for improvement of the manuscript.

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The research was supported by the Punjab Educational Endowments Fund, Pakistan under Chief Minister Merit Scholarship program.

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Study design and conceptualization were originated by Shumaila Rasool and Nicolai V. Meyling. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Shumaila Rasool. Method optimization for specialized metabolites was done by David I. Pattison and analysis was performed by David I. Pattison, Pablo D. Cárdenas and Shumaila Rasool. Shumaila Rasool performed Statistical analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All the authors contributed to the manuscript revisions and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Shumaila Rasool or Nicolai V. Meyling.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal participants.

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The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

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Rasool, S., Cárdenas, P.D., Pattison, D.I. et al. Isolate-Specific Effect of Entomopathogenic Endophytic Fungi on Population Growth of Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and Levels of Steroidal Glycoalkaloids in Tomato. J Chem Ecol 47, 476–488 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01265-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01265-y

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