title: Effect of light quality and light-dark cycle on sporulation patterns of the mite pathogenic fungus Neozygites floridana (Neozygitales: Entomophthoromycota), a natural enemy of Tetranychus urticae.
abstract: A controlled climatic chamber microcosm experiment was conducted to examine how light affects the hourly sporulation pattern of the beneficial mite pathogenic fungus Neozygites floridana during a 24h cyclus over a period of eight consecutive days. This was done by inoculating two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) with N. floridana and placing them on strawberry plants for death and sporulation. Spore (primary conidia) discharge was observed by using a spore trap. Two light regimes were tested: Plant growth light of 150μmolm(-2)s(-1) for 12h supplied by high pressure sodium lamps (HPS), followed by either; (i) 4h of 50μmolm(-2)s(-1) light with similar HPS lamps followed by 8h darkness (full HPS light+reduced HPS light+darkness) or (ii) 4h of 50μmolm(-2)s(-1) red light followed by 8h darkness (full HPS light+red light+darkness). A clear difference in hourly primary conidia discharge pattern between the two different light treatments was seen and a significant interaction effect between light treatment and hour in day during the 24h cycle was observed. The primary conidia discharge peak for treatment (ii) that included red light was mainly reached within the red light hours (19:00-23:00) and the dark hours (23:00-07:00). The primary conidia discharge peak for treatment (i) with HPS light only was mainly reached within the dark hours (23:00-07:00).
authors.affiliation: NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway. Electronic address: ingeborg.klingen@nibio.no.
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klingen
authors.affiliation: NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Maren Pindsle
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Holthe
authors.affiliation: NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Westrum
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Aruppillai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suthaparan
authors.affiliation: NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy, Biotechnology and Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Torfinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004773:Entomophthora / Q000502:physiology*; D031985:Fragaria / Q000469:parasitology; D017440:Photoperiod; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development*; D040102:Tetranychidae / Q000469:parasitology; D020096:Zygomycosis / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Hourly effect of light; Microcosm study; Multi-trophic interaction; Neozygites; Primary conidia discharge; Two-spotted spider mite