title: Frozen section and electron microscopy studies of the infection of the red palm weevil,Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(coleoptera:curculionidae) by the entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliae.
abstract: This study determined the pathogenicity ofMetarhizium anisopliaestrain SD-3 against invasive red palm weevil (RPW),Rhynchophorus ferrugineusOlivier (coleoptera:curculionidae) larvae in Hainan Province, China. Inoculation of 1 × 108conidia/mL caused 100 % mortality ofR. ferrugineus, indicating that the conidia of strain SD-3 were highly virulent. The process of invasion mechanism was showed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and frozen section as follows. OnceR. ferrugineuswas infected by strain SD-3,M. anisopliaehyphae first invaded the cuticular and body cavity ofR. ferrugineus. Secondly, well-developed muscles, fat, tracheaes and digestive tube tissues in the abdomen ofR. ferrugineuswere then decomposed and absorbed byM. anisopliaehyphae, leading to the total destruction of the larvae. Finally,M. anisopliaehyphae reproduced, resulting in a large number of conidia in the body of RPW. The SEM and frozen section are convenient tools to observe the mode of action of entomopathogenic fungi and to observe howM. anisopliaeis able to colonize and infect the host.
authors: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Oil Crops Biology/Coconuts Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang, 571339 Hainan People's Republic of China ; College of Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 Heilongjiang Province People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Oil Crops Biology/Coconuts Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang, 571339 Hainan People's Republic of China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Yan
authors: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Oil Crops Biology/Coconuts Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang, 571339 Hainan People's Republic of China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Oil Crops Biology/Coconuts Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang, 571339 Hainan People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaoqing
authors: X
authors: Niu
authors: College of Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 Heilongjiang Province People's Republic of China.
authors: Fuheng
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Oil Crops Biology/Coconuts Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang, 571339 Hainan People's Republic of China.
authors: Weiquan
authors: W
authors: Qin
authors: Environment and Plant protection Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101 Hainan People's Republic of China.
authors: Guangchang
authors: G
authors: Ma
keywords: Electron microscopy studies; Frozen section; Metarhizium anisopliae; Rhynchophorus ferrugineus