%I University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%A Annette B. Jensen
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%J Bæredygtighed for fremtiden. Temahæfte 2008
%X I det dyrkede land ønsker vi en høj produktion af sunde fødevarer samtidig med, at økosystemets biologiske mangfoldighed er så høj som muligt. Naturlige fjender er med til at holde skadedyrene nede uden brug af pesticider. Men når nogle svampearter angriber de nyttige insekter som rovinsekterne og bierne, kan det indirekte hæmme fødevareproduktionen.
%L orgprints14190
%D 2008
%T Hvem gavner hvem i marken?

%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Annette B. Jensen
%X In Europe, insect pathogenic fungi have in decades played a significant role in biological control of insects. With respect to the different strategies of biological control and with respects to the different genera of insect pathogenic fungi, the success and potential vary, however. Classical biological control: no strong indication of potential. Inundation and inoculation biological control: success stories with the genera Metarhizium, Beauveria, Isaria/Paecilomyces and Lecanicillium (previously Verticillium). However, the genotypes employed seem to include a narrow spectrum of the many potentially useful genotypes. Conservation biological control: Pandora and Entomophthora have a strong potential, but also Beauveria has a potential to be explored further.  The main bottleneck for further exploitation of insect pathogenic fungi in biological control is the limited knowledge of host pathogen interaction at the fungal genotype level. 
%I International Organization for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants
%E Ralf-Udo Ehlers
%E Neil Crickmore
%E Jürg Enkerli
%E Itamar Glazer
%E Miguel Lopez-Ferber
%E Cezary Tkaczuk
%T Insect pathogenic fungi in biological control: status and future challenges
%L orgprints16060
%J IOBC wprs Bulletin
%P 7-10
%D 2009

%A KIran Kumar Katakam
%A Sundar Thapa
%A Nicholai V. Meyling
%A Anders Dalsgaard
%A Allan Roepstorff
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%J Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology
%X The rising demand for pigs produced in organic farming systems, which require access to outdoor areas and associated increased risk of gastrointestinal nematode infections, is creating growing interest in alternative control strategies. Also development of anthelminthic resistance due to extensive use of anthelmintics is a concern in intensive pig production. Use of chitin-degrading microfungi is one of the options. Extensive research has been conducted on biological control of plant pathogenic nematodes using such fungi, and some fungal species are commercially available for plant protection. In contrast, there are only limited laboratory studies conducted on eggs from nematodes which are animal parasites. The aim of present study is to investigate the antagonistic effect of chitin-degrading microfungi on thick-shelled pig helminth eggs (i.e. Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis) both in the laboratory as well as in the field. We have performed a pilot study of the ovicidal effect of Paecilomyces lilacinus alone and in combination with chitin supplement on A. suum eggs over 4 weeks in 2% water agar. Within 1 week more than 90% of the eggs were hatched in both cases within the Petri dish as compared to controls, indicating that the fungus is capable of degrading the chitin wall so the larvae are becoming free. Soon we will proceed for full-fledged study with 2 fungal species (P. lilacinus and Pochonia chlamydosporia) which were proven to have ovicidal activity against nematode eggs. This will be done in the laboratory using soil samples amended with A. suum eggs, under semi-natural (pasture plot) conditions and finally on heavily contaminated pastures.
%D 2011
%T Antagonistic effect of chitin-degrading microfungi on thick-shelled pig helminth eggs
%L orgprints20007

%L orgprints16989
%T Økologisk dyrkning af hvidkål fremmer biodiversitet og naturlig regulering af skadedyr
%I ICROFS Internationalt Center for Forskning i Økologisk Jordbrug og Fødevaresystemer
%X Naturlig regulering af kålfluer er effektiv i økologisk dyrkede hvidkålsparceller. Økologiske dyrkningssystemer med lavt input og høj strukturel kompleksitet skaber gode livsbetingelser for en række nyttedyr. Mellemafgrøder af foregående sæsons grøngødning gavner de store arter, mens små løbe- og rovbiller bliver tilgodeset i et økologisk system med bar jord mellem afgrøderækkerne.
%A N.V. Meyling
%A S. Navntoft
%A J. Eilenberg
%D 2010
%N 1
%P 8-9
%J ICROFS nyt

%D 2010
%P 4-5
%N 1
%J ICROFS news
%L orgprints16988
%T Organic farming systems benefit biodiversity and natural pest regulation in white cabbage
%I ICROFS International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems
%A N.V. Meyling
%A S. Navntoft
%A J. Eilenberg
%X Natural regulation of cabbage root flies works well in experimental organic cropping systems of white cabbage. Low input and complex organic systems benefit functional biodiversity by providing good living conditions to several groups of natural enemies. Intercropped green manure benefits large predators while small predatory beetles favour low input organic systems with bare soil between crop rows.

%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%X Conservation biological control (CBC) is a pest management strategy in which farming management practices are adopted to enhance the living conditions for specific natural enemies of pests with the specific objective to suppress pest populations. Research in CBC strategies have mostly focused on provisioning of good living conditions for arthropod predators and parasitoids, usually ignoring entomopathogens as regulators of pest populations. 

Fungal entomopathogens are widespread in agro-ecosystems and infect a range of arthropod pests, and these fungi should therefore also be included in CBC. Knowledge of the ecology of indigenous populations of fungal entomopathogens is a prerequisite for the evaluation of their contributions to pest control and for predicting consequences of agricultural practices. 

The anamorphic entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are among the most abundant fungi infecting insects and arachnids in temperate regions. Much focus has been on the development of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae as biological control agents (for inundation and inoculation biological control) to be applied in agriculture and forestry. However, few studies have focused on the fundamental ecology of these fungi in terrestrial ecosystems, including agro-ecosystems.

I will present recent results providing several new insights into the abundance, distribution and diversity of B. bassiana in agricultural fields and their surrounding habitats and discuss these in relation to CBC. Systematic uses of traditional isolation techniques show complex distributions of B. bassiana in both soil and aboveground environments. Applications of molecular markers demonstrate remarkable diverse structures of Beauveria communities as well as novel insights into the interpretation of host range. Numerous interactions among fungal entomopathogens and their hosts (including both pests and beneficials) potentially affect the impact of the fungi on pest regulation. Novel data on spatio-temporal distribution of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae in above- and belowground environments will also be presented. These results have impact on interpretation of fungal life cycles and which taxa we should expect to infect which hosts and where.

%D 2010
%T Distribution, Abundance and Diversity of Fungal Entomopathogens: Foundations for Conservation Biological Control
%L orgprints17403

%T Distribution patterns of fungal entomopathogens in soil habitats: Natural occurrence, diversity and dynamics
%D 2009
%L orgprints16056
%X Fungal entomopathogens are seemingly ubiquitous in soils. An increasing number of surveys around the world have shown that ascomycete fungi from the Hypocreales can be isolated from soils of many habitats. Based on morphological characteristics of the fungi some patterns of distribution have emerged. However, recent developments in molecular characterization of entomopathogenic fungi have revealed significant new insights into the distribution of genetic groups of some taxa, including Beauveria spp, and possible restrictions to certain habitats. I will present and discuss some of these distribution patterns and include new findings which indicate that some fungi are restricted to underground lifestyles while others cycle between below- and aboveground habitats within an agroecosystem. 
%K Entomopathogenic fungi; soil; conservation biological control; Beauveria; Metarhizium
%A Nicolai V. Meyling

%L orgprints14345
%D 2008
%T PCR-based characterisation of entomopathogenic fungi for ecological studies
%I University of Copenhagen
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%K Insect pathogens, ecology, molecular methods
%X The implementation of PCR-based tools for characterisation of organisms has greatly advanced our understanding of the phylogenies and species boundaries in entomopathogenic fungi, especially the widespread taxa Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. These fungi have received a lot of interest due to their potential as biocontrol agents of pests. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the fundamental ecology of these fungi in both managed and natural ecosystems, but such information is necessary both for risk assessments prior to release of biocontrol agents in the environment as well as if we wish to understand the distribution of the fungi and their impact on host populations. This latter focus is essential if the fungi are to be included in pest management strategies based on conservation biological control.
	A series of unspecific PCR methods have been used to characterise isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, and many studies have concluded that the fungi contain a lot of genetic diversity. The problem with these methods is that they provide little phylogenetic information of the fungi and the characters can not be used to explicitly compare data between studies. Sequences from specific targets in the DNA provide tools for explicit comparison between isolates across studies. There is now a range of primer sets published along with reference sequences in GenBank to make these comparisons possible. Multi-gene phylogenies have revealed that both B. bassiana and M. anisopliae are complexes of species that contain cryptic taxa or clades. Using merely morphological characteristics will not result in the same degree of taxa identification as will the use of DNA sequence data. Similarly, when using microsatellite markers for population genetic studies of fungal communities, it is necessary to first separate the populations in clades as allele sizes can convert across populations. In the near future, USDA-ARS in Beltsville will launch a web-based platform (MBID, Metarhizium-Beauveria ID) including lists of primers, databases of reference sequences and type isolates of new described species for the reliable identification of taxa for the scientific community. This tool should provide a common framework and nomenclature for scientists and create basis for making comparisons among studies. There should be great potential to learn more about the ecology of the entomopathogenic fungi with the application of these molecular markers. However, designing an appropriate sampling scheme in the environment is absolutely necessary to conduct these ecological studies. The use of isolates from culture collections should be avoided.


%K Conservation biological control; ecosystem services; insect pathology
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%X Fungi that infect insects have received considerable attention by scientists for their potential for biological control of pests. Many research projects have focussed on the selection of virulent strains for target pests and their development as biological control agents. In contrast, surprisingly little is known about the fundamental ecology of most of these fungi in nature. This knowledge is essential in order to receive the most ecosystem services provided by entomopathogenic fungi in agricultural production. Knowledge of the basic ecology of the fungi is also necessary to include them in conservation biological control. In this biological control strategy, agricultural practices and/or habitat manipulations are applied to the farming system to favour living conditions for specific natural enemies of pests (Eilenberg et al., 2001). 

%D 2008
%T Ecology of entomopathogenic fungi in agroecosystems
%L orgprints14149

%T Methods for isolation of entomopathogenic fungi from the soil environment - laboratory manual
%D 2007
%L orgprints11200
%X Descriptions of methods and recommendation of laboratory procedures for the isolation of soil borne entomopathogenic fungi (specifically Beauveria spp. and M. anisopliae) are presented. For screening of occurrences of indigenous populations of entomopathogenic fungi the insect bait method is recommended. Further recommendations are: 1) Collect sufficient number of soil samples to cover the area of investigation; 2) if the bait method is used, apply sufficient individuals of bait insects to each sample to increase the likelihood of isolating the fungi present. Descriptions of isolation methods, statistical analyses of the data and preparation of media and bait insects are given.
%K Insect pathogens; natural enemies; biological control; pest management
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%I Department of Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen

%K Apparent competition; conservation biological control; density and trait mediated effects
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%X Entomopathogenic fungi infect a wide array of insects from most orders and they are among the natural enemies that contribute to the regulation of insect populations. However, only a limited number of studies have focused on the impact of fungal pathogens on populations of non-pest insects. Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on non-pest host populations should receive more attention based on the increasing interest in conservation biological control. In this strategy, founded on competition theory, non-pest host populations adjacent to cropping systems will in principle affect pest populations through shared natural enemies. We present examples of selected non-pest host-fungus systems from temperate ecosystems that are relevant for the expected ecosystem service provided by entomopathogenic fungi. Predators are among the non-pest hosts that are infected by fungi. Recent advances in our understanding of the effect of pathogens on the behaviour of predators may shed light on the significance of entomopathogenic fungi for the regulation of predator populations. We discuss what we can learn about host-pathogen interactions from behavioural ecology and which life history parameters in the host that may be important for the impacts of fungal pathogens on their host populations.
%D 2008
%T Entomopathogenic fungi infecting non-pest insects: Implications for ecosystem services and relevance of behavioural ecology
%L orgprints14152

%P 145-155
%J Biological Control
%V 43
%D 2007
%E John Vandenberg
%I Elsevier Inc
%X It is increasingly recognized that the biodiversity in agroecosystems deliver significant ecosystem services to agricultural production such as biological control of pests. Entomopathogenic fungi, specifically the anamorphic taxa Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, Hypocreales (Ascomycota), are among the natural enemies of pests in agroecosystems and the fungi are candidates for future conservation biological control in temperate regions. Conservation biological control is a biological control strategy in which farming practices and environmental manipulations are adopted to enhance the living conditions for specific natural enemies of pests. However, in order to manipulate the environment for the benefit of populations of the entomopathogens, knowledge of fundamental aspects of the ecology of the fungi considered is necessary. This knowledge is still scarce despite the large bulk of recent research into inoculation and inundation biological control with these fungi. Here, we review the current knowledge of the ecology of indigenous populations of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae in agroecosystems of temperate regions, primarily Europe and North America. We suggest anamorphic life cycles of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae in these regions based on the literature of their natural occurrence and distribution in agroecosystems, population dynamics, and interactions with other organisms, environmental factors, and agronomical practices. 
%K Pest management; natural enemies; entomopathogens; biological control
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%L orgprints11196
%T Ecology of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in temperate agroecosystems: potential for conservation biological control

%L orgprints14189
%D 2007
%T Økologisk dyrkning fremmer den naturlige regulering af skadedyr
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%J FØJOenyt, nyhedsbrev fra FØJO
%X Naturlige svampesygdomme, som hjælper med til at regulere skadedyr i grønsager, er hyppigere i økologiske dyrkningssystemer sammenlignet med konventionelle. Samtidig er der færre overvintrende kålfluepupper. Det viser de foreløbige resultater fra den første dyrkningssæson i FØJO III-projektet VegQure.

%I CUL - Centrum för Uthålligt Landbruk
%X Det er et vigtigt mål i økologisk jordbrug at inddrage skadedyrenes naturlige fjender i reguleringen af skadedyrpopulationer. En vigtig gruppe af disse fjender er insekternes naturligt forekommende svampesygdomme, som blandt andet findes i jorden. Danske studier viser, at landbrugslandet rummer en stor diversitet af disse svampe, og det er en fremtidig udfordring at udnytte denne diversitet i regulering af skadedyrspopulationer.
%K Biologisk bekæmpelse
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%L orgprints11199
%T Diversitet af insekternes svampesygdomme i økologisk jordbrug - hvorledes kan den øges?
%N 2
%P 18-20
%J Forskningsnytt
%D 2007

%J Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
%V 164
%P 183-189
%D 2013
%X Population dynamics of the cabbage root fly Delia radicum in three different organic and one conventional cabbage cropping systems were evaluated over 3 years. Oviposition was reduced over time, but not affected by organic farming practice. Pupal production was reduced in all organic systems compared to the conventional system in all years, but pupal parasitation rates were similar among systems. More predators of fly eggs were present in the organic system O2. Reduced larval survival rates in the organic systems may be result of increased natural enemy activity and plant effects.
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Søren Navntoft
%A Holger Philipsen
%A Kristian Thorup-Kristensen
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%T Natural regulation of Delia radicum in organic cabbage production
%L orgprints43871

%T Pathogen avoidance by insect predators
%D 2008
%L orgprints14151
%X Insects can detect cues related to the risk of attack by their natural enemies. Pathogens are among the natural enemies of insects and entomopathogenic fungi attack a wide array of host species. Evidence documents that social insects in particular have adapted behavioural mechanisms to avoid infection by fungal pathogens. These mechanisms are referred to as 'behavioural resistance'. However, there is little evidence for similar adaptations in non-social insects. 
We have conducted experiments to assess the potential of common insect predators to detect and avoid their entomopathogenic fungal natural enemy Beauveria bassiana. The predatory bug Anthocoris nemorum was able to detect and avoid nettle leaves that were treated with B. bassiana. Females laid fewer eggs on leaf halves contaminated with the pathogen. Similarly, females were very reluctant to contact nettle leaves contaminated with the fungus compared to uncontaminated control leaves in ‘no-choice’ experiments. 
Adult seven spot ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata, overwinter in the litter layer often in groups.  Adult C. septempunctata modified their overwintering behaviour in relation to the presence of B. bassiana conidia in soil and sporulating conspecifics by moving away from sources of infection.  Furthermore active (non-overwintering) adult C. septempunctata were also able to detect and avoid B. bassiana conidia on different substrates; bean leaves, soil and sporulating on dead conspecifics. 
Our studies show that insect predators have evolved mechanisms to detect and avoid pathogens that they are susceptible to. Fungal pathogens may be significant mortality factors among populations of insect predators, especially long-lived species that must diapause before reproduction. Likewise, actively foraging species are more likely to come in contact with pathogens than predators that sit and wait for prey. These particular groups of insects will benefit from adaptations to avoid pathogens.

%K Entomopathogenic fungi
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Emma Ormond
%A Helen E. Roy
%A Judith K. Pell

%D 2008
%P 19-22
%N 2
%J moMentum, Jord og Viden Tema
%V 6
%L orgprints14146
%T Bevar naturens egen regulering
%E Michael B. Hansen
%I Jordbrugsakademikerne
%X Naturlig regulering af bestande i naturen foregår hele tiden. Derfor bliver langt fra alle potentielle skadedyr til virkelige skadedyr et givet år eller sted. Planteædende insekter reguleres bl.a. via fødekæden; nedefra gennem planten og oppefra ved deres naturlige fjender. Blandt skadedyrenes naturlige fjender er rovinsekter, edderkopper og rovmider, snyltehvepse (samlet kaldet nyttedyr) samt sygdomme af størst betydning for den naturlige regulering. Den intensive landbrugspraksis i det moderne jordbrug har dog reduceret effekten af disse fjender. Den manglende regulering medvirker til de skadedyrangreb, som opleves i forskellige afgrøder. I de seneste år er der skabt en øget interesse for at forstå og anvende disse naturlige reguleringsmekanismer for at holde skadedyrene i skak. Det kræver viden om planternes, de planteædende insekters og nytteorganismernes biologi og samspil at øge effekten af reguleringen. I artiklen præsenteres aktuelle projekter, hvor vi fokuserer på effekter af den naturlige regulering af skadedyr.
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Lene Sigsgaard
%K Conservation biological control; ecosystem services; predators; parasitoids; pathogens

%D 2013
%P 183-189
%J Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment
%V  164
%L orgprints22837
%T Natural regulation of Delia radicum in organic cabbage production
%X In a field experiment, we evaluated effects of three different organic white cabbage-cropping systems (O1, O2, O3) on the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, and its egg predators and pupal parasitoids over 3 years. The three systems all complied with regulations for organic production, but varied in external nutrient input and N-recycling, and were compared to a conventionally farmed control. One organic system (O3) included an intercropped strip of green manure between crop rows. Oviposition by D. radicum was generally not reduced in organic cropping systems. However, higher pupae/egg ratios were observed in the conventional compared to all organic systems, indicating that immature survival from oviposition to pupation was reduced under all the three organic farming practices. In organic system O2 most small coleopteran predators were recorded, but predation on fly eggs was not significantly higher in organic treatments. Pupal parasitization rates ranged from 26.5% to 59.5%, but no significant differences among farming systems were found. Although reduced D. radicum survival could not be attributed solely to natural enemies, the results indicated that organic farming practices in general contribute to the suppression of belowground pests in cabbage production.
%A N. Meyling
%A S. Navntoft
%A H. Philipsen
%A K. Thorup-Kristensen

%P 180-186
%V 59
%J Biological Control
%D 2011
%R doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2011.07.017
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Kristian Thorup-Kristensen
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%X The below- and aboveground communities of fungal  entomopathogens (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) were investigated in an experimental conventional and organic vegetable cropping system over two seasons in Denmark. The experimental design allowed for evaluating differences between farming practices in the occurrence of soil-borne fungal entomopathogens and as natural infections aboveground in arthropod hosts. Belowground, Metarhizium anisopliae dominated the agricultural field with Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium flavoviride and Isaria fumosorosea being present at lower frequencies. Abundances of M. anisopliae were not different between conventional and organic soils. Aboveground, B. bassiana was the most common fungal entomopathogen in arthropod host cadavers. Infections of M. flavoviride, Isaria farinosa and Gibellula spp. were also recorded. Most mycosed cadavers were recovered in August and September from conventionally farmed plots. Cadaver sizes ranged from 1.9 mm to 23.6 mm with means of 3.7 mm to 4.1 mm. Among host functional groups, predators dominated (47% - 63%) over herbivores, parasitoids and nectar-feeders. No occurrence of M. anisopliae was recorded among >200 mycosed cadavers aboveground. The results therefore suggest that M. anisopliae is not involved in direct below- and aboveground interactions in the investigated agroecosystem. Conservation biological control strategies targeting M. anisopliae should thus be solely for controlling soil-dwelling pests in temperate regions as this fungus is unlikely naturally to infect aboveground hosts in the agroecosytem.
%L orgprints19680
%T Below- and aboveground abundance and distribution of fungal entomopathogens in experimental conventional and organic cropping systems

%A S. Navntoft
%A K. Thorup-Kristensen
%A J. Eilenberg
%A K. Kristensen
%A N.V. Meyling
%X Organic farming should support high levels of biodiversity and rely on biological pest control by natural enemies. Management of organic systems must comply with specific regulations, but within this frame management is not clearly defined. In experimental cabbage fields we studied ground beetle abundance and diversity in three different organic farming systems (O1, O2, and O3). All systems complied with regulations for organic production, but relied on either high (O1) or low (O2 and O3) external input of nutrients. The systems O2 and O3 also included green manures, and in O3 strips of green manure were left between crop rows. A conventional system was included as control. Only organic systems O2 and O3 showed benefits for ground beetles, but in different ways. Abundance of all ground beetle species was highest in May in O2, while O3 supported the highest abundance of habitat specialists with preferences for field margins reflecting the conservation of green manure strips. The ground beetle community of O3 was most diverse characterized by highest number of species and evenness (equitability among species). Organically farmed fields can therefore be designed to promote specific predators or high ground beetle diversity at the field scale by implementing different management practices.
%T Variable effects of organic farming systems on ground beetle abundance and diversity
%L orgprints19303
%V NA
%J Crop Protection
%P 1-30
%D 2011

%T Isolation of Metarhizium spp. from root systems of different crops: Are specific genotypes associated with certain plants?
%L orgprints22838
%A B.M. Steinwender
%A J. Enkerli
%A F. Widmer
%A M. Bidochka
%A J. Eilenberg
%A H.L. Kristensen
%A N.V. Meyling
%X Isolation of Metarhizium spp. from root systems of different crops: Are specific genotypes associated with certain plants?
%D 2013
%V  
%J  
%P  - 

%L orgprints19302
%T Molecular diversity of the Metarhizium anisopliae lineage in an agricultural field
%X Entomopathogenic fungal isolates identified by morphology  as Metarhizium anisopliae may belong to different species when identified by molecular characters. We isolated Metarhizium spp. from an experimental agricultural field under both conventional and organic farming regimes using Tenebrio molitor as bait insect to assess the molecular diversity within the soil. Isolates were analyzed using DNA sequencing and applying SSR markers. Within the former M. anisopliae lineage, we found M. brunneum (86.3%), M. robertsii (11.3%) and M. majus (3.4%) in the soil samples. Several genotypes of each species were identified based on SSR markers. Differences in abundance of the species and their genotypes suggest different adaptations to the soil environment of the agricultural field. There were no effects of conventinal or organic farming regimes on diversity of the fungi.
%A Bernhardt M. Steinwender
%A Jürg Enkerli
%A Franco Widmer
%A Jørgen Eilenberg
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%D 2011
%P 113-115
%J IOBC/WPRS Bulletin
%V 66

%X Thick-shelled ascarid eggs have been reported to remain infective in the environment for several years, thus posing a prolonged risk of infection to animals and/or humans. The following in vitro study was therefore conducted to evaluate the negative impact of two species of naturally occuring soil microfungi (Pochonia chlamydosporia and Paecilomyces lilacinus), on the viability of Ascaridia galli, Toxocara canis and Ascaris suum eggs. Approximately 150 fresh eggs of individual ascarid species were embryonated on a 2% water agar in Petri dishes with or without a fungus (P. chlamydospria or P. lilacinus). On days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 post experimental set up (p.s.), the viability of the eggs in each experimental group was evaluated (destructive sampling). By day 14 p.s., P. chlamydosporia had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by 70-86% and 52-67%, respectively, compared to the controls. In contrast, P. lilacinus had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by only 17-30% and 6-28%, respectively. Neither fungal species was found to be effective against A. suum eggs (<4% reduction in both cases). These results indicate interspecies differences in the susceptibility of ascarid eggs to microfungi. Ascaridia galli and T. canis eggs seemed to have been degenerated mainly due to hydrolysis of shells by fungal enzymes. The present study demonstrates that P. chlamydosporia may potentially be utilized as a biological control agent against A. galli and T. canis eggs in the environment. 
%A Thapa Sundar
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Kiran Kumar Katakam
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%A Helena Mejer
%T Evaluation of soil microfungi as biological control agents against ascarid eggs 
%D 2013
%L orgprints27371

%L orgprints27341
%T Relative ovicidal effect of soil microfungi on thick-shelled eggs of animal-parasitic nematodes
%D 2014
%J Biocontrol Science and Technology
%X Thick-shelled eggs of animal-parasitic ascarid nematodes can survive and remain infective in the environment for years. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of two species of soil microfungi (Pochonia chlamydosporia and Purpureocillium lilacinum) on the development and survival of eggs (all of faecal origin) of three ascarid species, Ascaridia galli (chicken roundworm), Toxocara canis (canine roundworm) and Ascaris suum (pig roundworm), in vitro. Ascarid eggs were embryonated on water agar with or without one fungal species, and viability of the eggs was evaluated on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 post set up (p.s.). By day 14 p.s., P. chlamydosporia had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by 70-86% and 52-67%, respectively, compared to controls without fungus. In contrast, P. lilacinum had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by only  17-30% and 6-28%, respectively. Ascaris  suum eggs were extremely resistant to both fungi. The differences in results are likely due to the variability in egg shell morphologies of the three ascarid species. The current in vitro study demonstrates that P. chlamydosporia may potentially be utilized as a biocontrol agent to reduce A. galli and T. canis egg contamination of the environment.  
%A Sundar Thapa
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Kiran Kumar Katakam
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%A Helena Mejer

%A Sundar Thapa
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Kiran Kumar Katakam
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%A Helena Mejer
%X Thick-shelled eggs of ascarid nematodes have been reported to remain infective in the environment for several years, thus posing a prolonged risk of infection to animal livestock and/or humans. An in vitro study was therefore conducted to evaluate the negative impact of two species of soil microfungi, Pochonia chlamydosporia and Purpureocillium lilacinum (syn. Paecilomyces lilacinus), on the viability of Ascaridia galli, Toxocara canis and Ascaris suum eggs. Approximately 150 fresh eggs of individual ascarid species were embryonated on a 2% water agar in Petri dishes with or without a fungus (P. chlamydospria or P. lilacinum). On days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 post experimental set up (p.s.), the viability of the eggs from each experimental group was evaluated (destructive sampling). By day 14 p.s., P. chlamydosporia had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by 70-86% and 52-67%, respectively, compared to the controls. In contrast, P. lilacinum had reduced the viability of A. galli and T. canis eggs by only 17-30% and 6-28%, respectively. Neither fungal species was found to be effective against A. suum eggs (<4% reduction in both cases). These results indicate interspecies differences in the susceptibility of ascarid eggs to soil microfungi. Ascaridia galli and T. canis eggs seemed to have been degenerated mainly due to hydrolysis of shells by fungal enzymes. The present study demonstrates that P. chlamydosporia may potentially be utilized as a biological control agent against A. galli and T. canis egg contaminations in the soil environment. 

%D 2013
%T Evaluation of soil microfungi as biological control agents against eggs of animal parasitic nematodes
%L orgprints27372

%D 2013
%T NEW ORGANIC APPROACH TO PARASITES: Biological control of parasitic roundworms in organic laying hens using microfungi

%L orgprints24751
%A Sundar Thapa
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%A Helena Mejer
%X Microfungi can kill chicken roundworm eggs. This project investigates the use of naturally occuring soil microfungi to clean up contaminated pastures and bedding material, thereby controlling roundworm infections in organic laying hens. 

%P 1-4

%X Mikrosvampe kan dræbe æg af fjerkræets spolorm. Projektet er derfor i gang med at undersøge om naturlige jordsvampe kan bruges til at inaktivere æg på smittede marker og i strøelsesmateriale og dermed kontrollere infektioner med spolorm i økologiske æglæggende høns. 

%A Sundar Thapa
%A Nicolai V. Meyling
%A Stig Milan Thamsborg
%A Helena Mejer
%T NYT ØKOLOGISK TILTAG OVERFOR PARASITTER: Mikrosvampe kan bruges til biologisk kontrol af parasittiske spolorm i økologiske æglæggere

%D 2013
%L orgprints24752