Contagious sterility in the parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Elad Chiel; Dan Gerling; Shimon Steinberg; Johannette Klapwijk; Karel Bolckmans; Einat Zchori-Fein

doi:10.1080/09583157.2011.642338

Contagious sterility in the parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Elad Chiel, Dan Gerling, Shimon Steinberg, Johannette Klapwijk, Karel Bolckmans, Einat Zchori-Fein

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is used commercially to control the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Recently, a rapid deterioration of E. mundus populations has been documented under mass-rearing conditions. We found that deteriorating cultures consist of increasing proportions of sterile individuals, up to 90% within 6 months. Microscopic examination revealed that the gonads of wasps from both sexes are severely underdeveloped. Preliminary screening for potential pathogen candidates by means of polymerase chain reaction and denaturating-gradient gel electrophoresis did not provide any indication of possible causative agents.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	61-66
Number of pages	6
Journal	Biocontrol Science and Technology
Volume	22
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2011.642338
State	Published - Jan 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Bemisia tabaci
biological control
gonad
pathogen
symbiont

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agronomy and Crop Science
Insect Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/09583157.2011.642338

Cite this

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abstract = "The parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is used commercially to control the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Recently, a rapid deterioration of E. mundus populations has been documented under mass-rearing conditions. We found that deteriorating cultures consist of increasing proportions of sterile individuals, up to 90% within 6 months. Microscopic examination revealed that the gonads of wasps from both sexes are severely underdeveloped. Preliminary screening for potential pathogen candidates by means of polymerase chain reaction and denaturating-gradient gel electrophoresis did not provide any indication of possible causative agents.",

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AU - Chiel, Elad

AU - Gerling, Dan

AU - Steinberg, Shimon

AU - Klapwijk, Johannette

AU - Bolckmans, Karel

AU - Zchori-Fein, Einat

PY - 2012/1

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N2 - The parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is used commercially to control the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Recently, a rapid deterioration of E. mundus populations has been documented under mass-rearing conditions. We found that deteriorating cultures consist of increasing proportions of sterile individuals, up to 90% within 6 months. Microscopic examination revealed that the gonads of wasps from both sexes are severely underdeveloped. Preliminary screening for potential pathogen candidates by means of polymerase chain reaction and denaturating-gradient gel electrophoresis did not provide any indication of possible causative agents.

AB - The parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is used commercially to control the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Recently, a rapid deterioration of E. mundus populations has been documented under mass-rearing conditions. We found that deteriorating cultures consist of increasing proportions of sterile individuals, up to 90% within 6 months. Microscopic examination revealed that the gonads of wasps from both sexes are severely underdeveloped. Preliminary screening for potential pathogen candidates by means of polymerase chain reaction and denaturating-gradient gel electrophoresis did not provide any indication of possible causative agents.

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KW - gonad

KW - pathogen

KW - symbiont

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Contagious sterility in the parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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