Brevibacterium frigoritolerans a novel entomopathogen of Anomala dimidiata and Holotrichia longipennis (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera)

We describe the isolation, biochemical characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and pathogenecity of a novel entomopathogenic bacterium Brevibacterium frigoritolerans to first instar larvae of Anomala dimidiata and Holotrichia longipennis. The almost full length 16S rRNA sequence of the bacterium has 99% identity with the type strain of B. frigoritolerans, while phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate formed a tightly linked branch with the type strain of B. frigoritolerans. Under in vitro bioassay conditions, the isolate infected and caused 89±5.4 and 74±7.7% mortality, in first instar larvae of A. dimidiata and H. longipennis, respectively. The infected larvae exhibited bacteremia like symptoms and mortality occurred between the second and fifth weeks after inoculation. This is an early report on the entomopathogenic potential of the hitherto lesser-known bacterium Brevibacterium frigoritolerans.

Keywords:

• scarab larvae
• entomopathogenic bacterium
• Brevibacterium frigoritolerans

Acknowledgements

Part of this work was funded by the Government of India under the Horticultural Technology Mini Mission–I, program for Uttarakhand.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Govindan Selvakumar

Present address: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India

Satya N. Sushil

Present address: Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India

Muthugounder Mohan

Present address: Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad, India

Hari S. Gupta

Present address: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India