[en] The natural occurrence of fungal pathogens of aphids and their ecological host range was investigated in Tunisia from 2009 to 2012. The survey focused on aphid infesting different crops and weeds and included 10 different aphid species. Samples were collected from eight agricultural crops sites belonging to three different bioclimatic zones. Four pathogens from the phylum Entomophthoromycota were found to occur naturally in Tunisian ecosystems: Pandora neoaphidis (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Entomophthora planchoniana (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Conidiobolus obscurus (Entomophthorales: Ancylistaceae) and Neozygites fresenii (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae). The occurrence of entomophthoralean fungi depended on the sampling area, the bioclimatic zone, and aphid species. P. neoaphidis and E. planchoniana were the predominant pathogens infecting a wide range of aphid species whereas C. obscurus and N. fresenii were sporadically present on a limited number of aphid species. This study is the first survey on ecological host range of entomophthoralean fungi in Tunisia, and the first documentation of C. obscurus and N. fresenii to occur in Tunisia and Maghreb Region.
Disciplines :
Entomology & pest control
Author, co-author :
Ben Fekih, Ibtissem ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs ; Plant Protection Laboratory, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Tunisia ; National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Cité Mahrajène, Tunisia
Boukhris-Bouhachem, Sonia; Plant Protection Laboratory, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Tunisia
Bechir Allagui, Mohamed; Plant Protection Laboratory, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Ariana, Tunisia
Bruun Jensen, Annette; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Eilenberg, Jørgen; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Language :
English
Title :
First survey on ecological host range of aphid pathogenic fungi (Phylum Entomophthoromycota) in Tunisia
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