Chemical Management of Invasive Shot Hole Borer and Fusarium Dieback in California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) in Southern California

Cost effectiveness of spread mitigation strategies for polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff was detected in Western Australia in September 2021, and an eradication campaign funded by the Commonwealth government is underway. As part of contingency planning, we examined the cost effectiveness of alternative control strategies that could be used to mitigate urban forest impacts and maintain the benefits of trees to the local communities if eradication was not feasible. At the time this work was undertaken, decision-makers were concerned about the potential need to replace all urban trees susceptible to attack. We considered this strategy alongside less destructive strategies and assessed their cost effectiveness in terms of material and labor costs and the loss of ecosystem services resulting from reduced tree foliage. Using a stochastic simulation model, we found that a strategy that involved pruning necrotic limbs and treating trees biennially with systemic insecticide was almost always more cost effective than removing infested trees and replanting to resistant varieties. We estimated this strategy would cost A$55-110 million over 50 years, while tree removal would cost $105-195 million. A third strategy using a mix of chemical suppression and tree removal was also considered in light of new information about the pest's host preferences. With an estimated cost of $60-110 million, this strategy was only slightly more expensive than using chemical suppression alone and could actually lead to eradication if the host range is as narrow as recent survey data suggests.

Transcriptome analysis of Euwallacea interjectus reveals differentially expressed unigenes related to developmental stages and egg laying

Euwallacea interjectus (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is an ambrosia beetle species in its early stages of research. Therefore, studying the related molecular mechanism associated with the development and egg laid is essential. Transcriptome sequencing was used in this study to compare the gene expression of the beetles at different developmental stages and female adults before and after oviposition. A total of 40,047 annotated unigenes were obtained. There were 4225 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) from larva to prepupa stage, 3651 DEUs between prepupa and pupa, 1675 DEUs generated from pupa to adult, and 4762 DEUs between females before and after oviposition. The most significant pathway differences between different development stages and before and after oviposition were selected through functional annotation of DEUs between different stages. Among them, there were many pathways related to protein metabolism including: neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, endoplasmic reticulum and RNA transport. This study provides valuable information on the molecular regulation mechanism of development and the egg laid of E. interjectus.

Long-Chain Molecules with Agro-Bioactivities and Their Applications

Long-chain molecules play a vital role in agricultural production and find extensive use as fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. This review article specifically addresses the agricultural biological activities and applications of long-chain molecules. The utilization of long-chain molecules in the development of pesticides is an appealing avenue for designing novel pesticide compounds. By offering valuable insights, this article serves as a useful reference for the design of new long-chain molecules for pesticide applications.

The biological relevance of the FspTF transcription factor, homologous of Bqt4, in Fusarium sp. associated with the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus morigerus

Transcription factors in phytopathogenic fungi are key players due to their gene expression regulation leading to fungal growth and pathogenicity. The KilA-N family encompasses transcription factors unique to fungi, and the Bqt4 subfamily is included in it and is poorly understood in filamentous fungi. In this study, we evaluated the role in growth and pathogenesis of the homologous of Bqt4, FspTF, in Fusarium sp. isolated from the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus morigerus through the characterization of a CRISPR/Cas9 edited strain in Fsptf. The phenotypic analysis revealed that TF65-6, the edited strain, modified its mycelia growth and conidia production, exhibited affectation in mycelia and culture pigmentation, and in the response to certain stress conditions. In addition, the plant infection process was compromised. Untargeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, clearly showed that FspTF may regulate secondary metabolism, transmembrane transport, virulence, and diverse metabolic pathways such as lipid metabolism, and signal transduction. These data highlight for the first time the biological relevance of an orthologue of Bqt4 in Fusarium sp. associated with an ambrosia beetle.

An Assessment of the Potential Economic Impacts of the Invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa

Studies addressing the economic impacts of invasive alien species are biased towards ex-post assessments of the costs and benefits of control options, but ex-ante assessments are also required to deal with potentially damaging invaders. The polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a recent and potentially damaging introduction to South Africa. We assessed the potential impact of this beetle by working across economic and biological disciplines and developing a simulation model that included dynamic mutualistic relations between the beetle and its symbiotic fungus. We modeled the potential growth in beetle populations and their effect on the net present cost of damage to natural forests, urban trees, commercial forestry, and the avocado industry over 10 yr. We modeled high, baseline, and low scenarios using discount rates of 8, 6, and 4%, and a plausible range of costs and mortality rates. Models predicted steady growth in the beetle and fungus populations, leading to average declines in tree populations of between 3.5 and 15.5% over 10 yr. The predicted net present cost was 18.45 billion international dollars (Int. $), or about 0.66% of the country's GDP for our baseline scenario ($2.7 billion to $164 billion for low and high scenarios). Most of the costs are for the removal of urban trees that die as a result of the beetle and its fungal symbiont, as has been found in other regions. We conclude that an ex-ante economic assessment system dynamics model can be useful for informing national strategies on invasive alien species management.

Integration of Control Strategies to Optimize Management of Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and Phytophthora Root Rot (Peronosporales: Peronosporaceae) in Flowering Dogwoods (Cornalaes: Cornaceae) After Simulated Flooding

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and Phytophthora root rot (Peronosporales: Peronosporaceae) cause significant damage to the ornamental industry in the United States. In this study, mefenoxam (fungicide), permethrin (insecticide), and charcoal + kaolin were used in different combinations with Phytophthora cinnamomi (Rands: Peronosporales: Peronosporaceae) inoculated and noninoculated plants to optimize the management of ambrosia beetles and Phytophthora root rot. Treatment applications were performed in two trials on 1 (mefenoxam, drench), 18 (P. cinnamomi inoculation), or 19 (permethrin, spray) days before instigating flood stress or 2 d after flood stress (charcoal + kaolin, spray), respectively. Flooding was maintained for 21 d. Ambrosia beetle attacks and plant growth data were recorded. Tree roots were rated at study end for disease severity and root samples were plated on PARPH-V8 medium to determine the percentage of pathogen recovery. In both trials, the combination of mefenoxam + permethrin treatment had reduced disease severity and ambrosia beetle attacks compared to the inoculated controls. Permethrin-treated trees had shorter galleries compared to controls in trial 1 and no gallery formation in trial 2. In both trials, no differences were observed among the treatments in numbers of galleries with eggs and adults, but mefenoxam + charcoal + kaolin had significantly fewer galleries with larvae among the noninoculated trees compared with the respective control in trial 1. Overall, treatments containing combinations of mefenoxam + permethrin had reduced disease severity and ambrosia beetle attacks.

Antifungal Effect of Copper Nanoparticles against Fusarium kuroshium, an Obligate Symbiont of Euwallacea kuroshio Ambrosia Beetle

Copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) have shown great antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi, making them a promising and affordable alternative to conventional fungicides. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of Cu-NPs against Fusarium kuroshium, the causal agent of Fusarium dieback, and this might be the first study to do so. The Cu-NPs (at different concentrations) inhibited more than 80% of F. kuroshium growth and were even more efficient than a commercial fungicide used as a positive control (cupric hydroxide). Electron microscopy studies revealed dramatic damage caused by Cu-NPs, mainly in the hyphae surface and in the characteristic form of macroconidia. This damage was visible only 3 days post inoculation with used treatments. At a molecular level, the RNA-seq study suggested that this growth inhibition and colony morphology changes are a result of a reduced ergosterol biosynthesis caused by free cytosolic copper ions. Furthermore, transcriptional responses also revealed that the low- and high-affinity copper transporter modulation and the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) are only a few of the distinct detoxification mechanisms that, in its conjunction, F. kuroshium uses to counteract the toxicity caused by the reduced copper ion.

Photocatalytic properties of Cu-containing ZnO nanoparticles and their antifungal activity against agriculture-pathogenic fungus

In this work, nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO, ZnO with Cu incorporated at 2 and 30 wt%, and CuO were prepared by the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction pattern (DRX) analysis showed that ZnO with high Cu incorporation (30 wt%) generates the formation of a composite oxide (ZnO/CuO), while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the Cu (2 wt%) sample indicated that Cu is incorporated as a dopant (ZnO/Cu_2%). The samples with Cu incorporated had enhanced visible light absorption. Methyl orange (MO) dye was used to perform photocatalytic tests under UV radiation. The antifungal activity of the NPs was tested against four agricultural phytopathogenic fungi: Neofusicoccum arbuti, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The ZnO/Cu_2% nanoparticles showed adequate photocatalytic and high antifungal activity in comparison to pure oxides and the composite sample.

In this work, nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO, ZnO with Cu incorporated at 2 and 30 wt%, and CuO were prepared by the hydrothermal method.

The polyphagous shot hole borer beetle: Current status of a perfect invader in South Africa

The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) beetle is a recent invader in South Africa. Together with its fungal symbiont, Fusarium euwallaceae, it can rapidly kill highly susceptible host plants. Its impact is most profound in urban areas, but it has also been found infesting important forestry, agricultural crop and native species. Since its first detection in 2012, PSHB has spread to all but one province in the country. The beetle–fungus complex has several biological traits that enhance its anthropogenically mediated dispersal, establishment and survival in novel environments – factors that have likely facilitated its rapid spread across the country. We review the history of the PSHB invasion in South Africa, its taxonomic status and the reasons for its rapid spread. We highlight its potential impact and challenges for its management. Finally, we provide an updated distribution map and list of confirmed host plants in South Africa. Of the 130 plant species identified as hosts, 48 of these (19 indigenous and 29 introduced) are reproductive hosts able to maintain breeding PSHB populations. These reproductive hosts may succumb to beetle infestations and act as ‘pest-amplifiers’. The economic impact on urban forests, plantation forestry and agricultural crops may be severe, but the ecological impact of PSHB invasion in native ecosystems should not be underestimated.

Diffusible and volatile organic compounds produced by avocado rhizobacteria exhibit antifungal effects against Fusarium kuroshium

Rhizobacteria emit bioactive metabolites with antifungal properties that could be used for biocontrol of fungal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the potential of diffusible and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by avocado rhizobacteria to inhibit the growth of Fusarium kuroshium, one of the causal agents of Fusarium dieback (FD) in avocado. Three bacterial isolates (INECOL-6004, INECOL-6005, and INECOL-6006), belonging to the Bacillus genus, were selected based on their capacity to inhibit several avocado fungal pathogens, and tested in antagonism assays against F. kuroshium. The three bacterial isolates significantly inhibited F. kuroshium mycelial growth by up to 48%. The composition of bacterial diffusible compounds was characterized by the analysis of EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The three bacterial isolates produced cyclo-lipopeptides belonging to the iturin, fengycin, and surfactin families. The antifungal activity of n-BuOH extracts was larger than that of EtOAc extracts, probably due to the greater relative abundance of fengycin in the former than in the latter. In addition, isolates INECOL-6004 and INECOL-6006 significantly inhibited F. kuroshium mycelial growth through VOC emission by up to 69.88%. The analysis of their VOC profiles by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of ketones and pyrazine compounds, particularly of 2-nonanone, which was not detected in the VOC profile of isolate INECOL-6005. These results emphasize the need to further investigate the antifungal activity of each bioactive compound for the development of new formulations against fungal phytopathogens.

Probe-Based Multiplex Real-Time PCR as a Diagnostic Tool to Distinguish Distinct Fungal Symbionts Associated With Euwallacea kuroshio and Euwallacea whitfordiodendrus in California

California has been invaded by two distinct Euwallacea spp. that vector unique plant pathogenic symbiotic fungi on multiple hosts and cause Fusarium dieback. The objective of this study was to develop multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assays using hydrolysis probes targeting the β-tubulin gene to detect, distinguish, and quantify fungi associated with the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB; Euwallacea whitfordiodendrus, Fusarium euwallaceae, Graphium euwallaceae, and Paracremonium pembeum) as well as the Kuroshio shot hole borer (KSHB; Euwallacea kuroshio, Fusarium kuroshium, and Graphium kuroshium) from various sample types. Absolute quantification reaction efficiencies ranged from 88.2 to 104.3%, with a coefficient of determination >0.992 and a limit of detection of 100 copies µl^-1 for all targets across both assays. Qualitative detection using the real-time assays on artificially inoculated avocado shoot extracts showed more sensitivity compared with conventional fungal isolation from wood. All symbiotic fungi, except P. pembeum, from PSHB and KSHB female heads were detectable and quantified. Field samples from symptomatic Platanus racemosa, Populus spp., and Salix spp. across 17 of 26 city parks were positively identified as PSHB and KSHB through detection of their symbiotic fungi, and both were found occurring together on five trees from three different park locations. The molecular assays presented here can be utilized to accurately identify fungi associated with these invasive pests in California.

Impacts of the invasive shot hole borer (Euwallacea kuroshio) are linked to sewage pollution in southern California: the Enriched Tree Hypothesis

The Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (KSHB, Euwallacea kuroshio) and the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (E. whitfordiodendrus; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) have recently invaded southern California and are attacking live trees in commercial agriculture groves, urban parks and native riparian forests. Among native forests the worst impacts observed to date have been in the Tijuana River Valley in south San Diego County, where approximately 30% of the native willows (Salix spp.), or 120,000 trees, have died as a result of a KSHB infestation. This paper examines wood densities, wood moisture contents, KSHB infestation rates, and KSHB-induced mortality rates in two willow species (Salix lasiolepis and S. gooddingii) at sites near and far from sewage input. Comparisons were made on two spatial scales: broadly among sites within San Diego County; and locally among sites within the Tijuana River Valley. The results showed that, on average, willow trees growing closest to sewage pollution had significantly lower wood density, higher wood moisture content, higher KSHB infestation rates, and higher KSHB-induced willow mortality rates than those growing farther away. We present the Enriched Tree Hypothesis to explain the link between sewage pollution and KSHB impacts; it is as follows: (A) Riparian trees subject to nutrient enrichment from frequent sewage pollution grow quickly, and their fast growth results in wood of low density and high moisture content. If attacked by the KSHB, the trunks and branches of these nutrient-enriched trees provide an environment conducive to the fast growth of the symbiotic fungi upon which the KSHB feeds. With an abundant food supply, the KSHB population increases rapidly and the trees are heavily damaged by thousands of KSHB galleries in their trunks and branches. (B) Riparian trees not subject to frequent sewage pollution grow more slowly and have denser, drier wood. Conditions in their trunks and branches are not conducive to the fast growth of the KSHB's symbiotic fungi. The KSHB generally ignores, or has low abundances in, these slow-growing trees. This new hypothesis explains current patterns of KSHB impact in San Diego County and focuses attention on the important roles of the environment and preexisting conditions of trees in determining the extent of KSHB impact. It highlights the Tijuana River Valley as an unusual site due to high sewage inputs and predicts that the high KSHB-induced willow mortality seen there should not occur in other natural riparian habitats in southern California. Most importantly, by identifying sewage pollution (or nutrient enrichment) as a major risk factor for KSHB impacts, the hypothesis ratchets down the KSHB-threat level for most riparian sites in southern California and directs attention to other nutrient-enriched sites as those most at risk.