Isolation and Culture of Entomophthora Gammae, a Fungal Parasite of Noctuid Larvae
Abstract
Entomophthora gammae (Weiser) was isolated by allowing conidia from infected soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), larvae to shower onto egg yolk agar. Fungal and bacterial contaminants were always present, but at 20 @*C, E. gammae grew fast enough to allow the subculture of hyphal bodies to clean medium. Once isolated, the fungus was cultured on Czapek solution agar, potato dextrose agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar, and Sabouraud maltose agar, all containing 0.2% yeast extract, and on Grace's insect tissue culture medium. It did not grow on Wolf's medium, potato agar or potato dextrose agar without yeast extract. The fungus grew most rapidly in culture when maintained at 25 @*C and 100% RH. Conidia on glass slides held at 25 @*C germinated only at 100% RH. A gradual increase in conidium size occurred over a 10-month period of continuous culture. Attempts to infect larvae with the cultured fungus were unsuccessful.Downloads
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