Entomophthorales

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Entomophthorales
Entomophthora muscae on Scathophaga stercoraria (lateral view).jpg
Entomophthora muscae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Entomophthoromycota
Class: Entomophthoromycetes
Order: Entomophthorales
Winter 1880
Families
Synonyms
  • Ancylistales Vines 1888 ex Schröter 1893
  • Ancylistineae Schröter 1893

The Entomophthorales are an order of fungi that were previously classified in the class Zygomycetes. A new subdivision, Entomophthoromycotina, in 2007, was circumscribed for them. [1]

Contents

Most species of the entomophthorales are pathogens of insects. A few attack nematodes, mites, and tardigrades, and some (particularly species of the genus Conidiobolus ) are free-living saprotrophs.

The name "entomophthorales" is derived from the Ancient Greek for insect destroyer ( entomo- = referring to insects, and phthor = "destruction"). Named after genus Entomophthora in 1856. [2]

Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, killed by the fungus Pandora neoaphidis (Zygomycota: Entomophthorales) Scale bar = 0.3 mm. Pandora neoaphidis.jpg
Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae , killed by the fungus Pandora neoaphidis (Zygomycota: Entomophthorales) Scale bar = 0.3 mm.

Highlighted species

Biology

Most species of the entomophthorales produce ballistic asexual spores that are forcibly discharged. When not landing on a suitable host, these spores can germinate to make one of several alternate spore forms, including a smaller version of the original spore, or (in some species) an adhesive spore elevated on a very slender conidiophore called a capilliconidiophore.

Classification

Debates have centred on whether the Basidiobolaceae should be included in the entomophthorales, or raised to ordinal status. Molecular systematics approaches so far give an ambiguous answer. Some analyses suggest the Basidiobolaceae are more closely related to certain chytrid fungi than to the entomophthorales. [4] and place it within the Chytridiales order. [5] Others find weak support to maintain them in the Entomophthorales. [6] Morphological characters can be found to support either hypothesis.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygomycota</span> Division or phylum of the kingdom Fungi

Zygomycota, or zygote fungi, is a former division or phylum of the kingdom Fungi. The members are now part of two phyla: the Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota. Approximately 1060 species are known. They are mostly terrestrial in habitat, living in soil or on decaying plant or animal material. Some are parasites of plants, insects, and small animals, while others form symbiotic relationships with plants. Zygomycete hyphae may be coenocytic, forming septa only where gametes are formed or to wall off dead hyphae. Zygomycota is no longer recognised as it was not believed to be truly monophyletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entomopathogenic fungus</span> Fungus that can act as a parasite of insects

An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can kill or seriously disable insects.

<i>Entomophthora</i> Genus of fungi

Entomophthora is a fungal genus in the family Entomophthoraceae. Species in this genus are parasitic on flies and other two-winged insects. The genus was circumscribed by German physician Johann Baptist Georg Wolfgang Fresenius (1808–1866) in 1856.

<i>Entomophthora muscae</i> Type of pathogenic fungus

Entomophthora muscae is a species of pathogenic fungus in the order Entomophthorales which causes a fatal disease in flies. It can cause epizootic outbreaks of disease in houseflies and has been investigated as a potential biological control agent.

<i>Entomophaga maimaiga</i> Species of fungus

Entomophaga maimaiga is a Japanese fungus which has shown striking success in managing spongy moth populations in North America.

<i>Entomophaga</i> (fungus) Genus of fungi

Entomophaga is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Entomophthoraceae family and also the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entomophthoromycota</span> Division of fungi

Entomophthoromycota is a division of kingdom fungi. In 2007, it was placed at the taxonomic rank of subphylum in the most recent revision of the entire fungus kingdom. In 2012, it was raised to the rank of phylum as "Entomophthoromycota" in a scientific paper by Richard A. Humber 2012. Divided into three classes and six families, it contains over 250 species that are mostly arthropod pathogens or soil- and litter-borne saprobes.

<i>Pandora</i> (fungus) Genus of fungi

Pandora is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Zoophthora is a genus of fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae. Like other taxa in this family, Zoophthora species cause disease in insects and as such are considered entomopathogenic fungi.

Entomophaga grylli is a fungal pathogen which infects and kills grasshoppers. It is the causal agent of one of the most widespread diseases affecting grasshoppers. This is sometimes known as summit disease because infected insects climb to the upper part of a plant and grip the tip of the stem as they die; this ensures widespread dispersal of the fungal spores. The fungus is a species complex with several different pathotypes, each one of which seems to be host-specific to different subfamilies of grasshoppers. The pathogen is being investigated for its possible use in biological pest control of grasshoppers.

Erynia is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

<i>Massospora</i> Genus of fungi

Massospora is a genus of fungi in the Entomophthoraceae family, within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entomophthoraceae</span> Family of fungi

Entomophthoraceae is a family of fungi in the order Entomophthorales. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis. Most species in the family are obligately entomopathogenic. There are two subfamilies, Erynioideae and Entomophthoroideae, which were proposed in 2005.

Strongwellsea is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. They are known to infect insects. Infected adult dipteran hosts develop a large hole in their abdomens, through which conidia (spores) are then actively discharged while the hosts are still alive.

Tarichium is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

<i>Furia</i> (fungus) Genus of fungi

Furia is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Batkoa is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Eryniopsis is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae and order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Meristacrum is a fungal genus in the monotypic family Meristacraceae, of the order Entomophthorales. They are parasites of soil invertebrates, they typically infect nematodes, and tardigrades.

References

  1. ↑ Hibbett DS, Binder M, Bischoff JF, et al. (May 2007). "A higher-level phylogenetic classification of the Fungi". Mycol. Res. 111 (Pt 5): 509–47. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.626.9582 . doi:10.1016/j.mycres.2007.03.004. PMID   17572334.
  2. ↑ Fresenius, G. 1856. Botanische Zeitung 14, 882-883.
  3. ↑ Dromph KM, Eilenberg J, Esbjerg P (November 2001). "Natural occurrence of entomophthoralean fungi pathogenic to collembolans". J. Invertebr. Pathol. 78 (4): 226–31. doi:10.1006/jipa.2002.5077. PMID   12009804.
  4. ↑ Nagahama, T.; Sato, H.; Shimazu, M.; Sugiyama, J. (1995). "Phylogenetic divergence of the entomophthoralean fungi: evidence from nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences". Mycologia. 87 (2): 203–209. doi:10.2307/3760906. JSTOR   3760906.
  5. ↑ Carl A. Batt and Pradip Patel (Editors) Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology (2014) , p. 59, at Google Books
  6. ↑ James, T. Y.; Kauff, F.; Schoch, C. L.; et al. (2006). "Reconstructing the early evolution of Fungi using a six-gene phylogeny". Nature. 443 (7113): 818–823. doi:10.1038/nature05110. PMID   17051209.
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