Phyllosphere Arthropods Facilitate Secondary Dispersal of Putative Mycoparasite <i>Simplicillium</i>: A Potential Biocontrol Strategy for Soybean Rust.

ABSTRACT: Soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is a major foliar disease that often escapes fungicide control, necessitating alternative strategies. We investigated whether phyllosphere arthropods, such as mites and thrips, facilitate the secondary dispersal of the mycoparasitic fungus Simplicillium under controlled conditions. Detached soybean leaves inoculated with P. pachyrhizi were subjected to either arthropod-exposed or arthropod-excluded treatments. Simplicillium isolates were significantly more abundant in the presence of arthropods. Molecular identification revealed identical ITS genotypes of S. lamellicola from both infected pustules and thrips, indicating vector-mediated fungal transmission. While some Simplicillium strains persisted epi

SUBMITTER: Nada T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12472870 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature