Damage to the host cadaver, simulating the effects of scavenging, differentially affects fitness of entomopathogenic nematode species.

Insect cadavers infected by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are defended against scavengers by chemical mechanisms and other means. Despite these defences, the cadaver may be bitten before being rejected. In this study, we investigated the effect of damage to the cadaver cuticle on the fitness of nematodes (Heterorhabditis downesi Stock, Griffin & Burnell or Steinernema feltiae Filipjev) developing inside.

Susceptibility of germinating seedlings of European and Eurasian populations of to damping-off caused by .

The effect of inoculation with on survival of seed and seedlings of 19 populations of was examined under environmentally controlled conditions, with four treatments (0, 50, 10, 10 spores ml). A single seed source of was included as a positive control. Germination (emergence of the plumule above the compost) and health of seedlings was assessed daily, for 85 days.

An in silico analysis revealed a novel evolutionary lineage of putative mitoviruses.

Mitoviruses (family Mitoviridae) are small capsid-less RNA viruses that replicate in the mitochondria of fungi and plants. However, to date, the only authentic animal mitovirus infecting an insect was identified as Lutzomyia longipalpis mitovirus 1 (LulMV1). Public databases of transcriptomic studies from several animals may be a good source for identifying the often missed mitoviruses.

New qPCR protocol to detect Diplodia corticola shows phoretic association with the oak pinhole borer Platypus cylindrus.

Background: Botryosphaeria canker (causal agent: Diplodia corticola) is considered one of the most important diseases of cork oak (Quercus suber) stands since it necrotizes the subero-phellodermic layer preventing cork regeneration after harvesting. One of the most intriguing etiological issues of this disease is its plausible spreading through trunk borer insects. In this study, we highlight the phoretic relationship between D.

Characterization of small RNAs originating from mitoviruses infecting the conifer pathogen Fusarium circinatum.

Deep sequencing of small RNAs has proved effective in the diagnosis of mycovirus infections. In this study, the presence of mycoviruses in ten isolates of the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium circinatum was investigated by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of small RNAs. The contigs resulting from de novo assembly of the reads were aligned to viral genome sequences.