Potential of the parasitoid Heterospilus prosopidis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a vector of plant-pathogenic Colletotrichum spp.
Nemeye P. S., Moore D., Prior C.
Author Affiliation: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5?7PY, UK.
Annals of Applied Biology 116 : 11-19
Abstract : H. prosopidis was contaminated with C. coffeanum [Glomerella cingulata] or C. gloeosporioides [G. cingulata], causal agents of coffee berry disease and mango anthracnose, respectively. Adult parasitoids could collect wetted and unwetted pathogen spores on their bodies. Viable spores were recovered in washings from insects 10 d after infestation. Wetted spores had lower viability on the parasitoid's body than unwetted spores, probably due to the loss of the mucilage coating which protects against desiccation. The results suggest that the use of a related parasitoid, H. coffeicola in biological control against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei could pose a phytosanitary risk.