Muhammad Hamid Bashir

Antioxidant enzyme influences germination, stress tolerance, and virulence of Isaria fumosorosea

Antioxidizing enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidae) are important enzymatic systems used to degrade hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, thereby lowering intracellular hydrogen peroxide levels. Entomopathogenic fungi display increased activities of antioxidizing enzymes during growth and germination, which is necessary to counteract the hyperoxidant state produced by oxidative metabolism. We studied the influence of different carbon sources on antioxidizing enzyme production by Isaria fumosorosea to determine the importance of antioxiding enzymes induction in fungal germination, stress tolerance and virulence. Conidia produced by colonies grown on hydrocarbons showed higher rates of enzyme activities compared to the control and the enzyme activities of the conidia produced on n‐octacosane were higher than all the other treatments. The lipid peroxidation activities were observed as an indicative marker of oxidative damage to cells and the lowest levels of lipid peroxidation activities were observed for n‐octacosane treatment. The increased enzyme activities of n‐octacosane‐ grown conidia were accompanied by higher levels of resistance to exogenous hydrogen peroxide, reduction in germination time and higher virulence against Spodoptera exigua. Our study has helped to identify that increased activities of antioxidizing enzymes can improve the germination and tolerance to antioxidant stress response of I. fumosorosea.

Efficacy of different insecticides against mushroom phorid Fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood) in Punjab, Pakistan

Phorid fly, Megaselia halterata is the most destructive insect pest of mushroom causing serious threat to mushroom production and cultivation in Pakistan. Chemical control is the most effective and quicker approach used by our farming community. So there was a dire need to evaluate some commercial insecticides against this pest. The present study was therefore, conducted to evaluate six commercial insecticides (deltamethrin, spinosad, spintoram, trichlorphon, malathion and permethrin) against phorid fly for three consecutive years (2008 to 2010). The insecticides evaluation was done on the bases of three parameters viz. percent reduction in adult emergence, mushroom damage rate by phorid fly larvae and mushroom yield per unit area. All insecticides caused significant reductions in adult emergence and mushroom damage rates as compared to control. On overall bases, the average of three years data revealed that maximum reduction of adult emergence and minimum damage rate by phorid flies as well as maximum yield per plot was observed in spinosad treated plots, followed by trichlorphon and deltamethrin which were statistically at par. The results of present study showed that deltamethrin, spinosad and trichlorphon may be employed in the field for controlling mushroom phorid fly in Pakistan.

The effect of insecticides on growth, germination and cuticle-degrading enzyme production by Isaria fumosorosea

Abstract The influence of six chemical insecticides on growth, sporulation, conidial germination and cuticle-degrading enzyme production by Isaria fumosorosea were investigated under laboratory conditions. Maximum reduction in vegetative growth, sporulation and conidial germination in relation to the control treatment was observed for Chloranthraniliprole whereas Indoxacarb proved to be the safest insecticide causing lowest reduction in these parameters. Chloranthraniliprole, Chlorpyrifos and Chlorfenapyr caused higher reduction in enzyme activities (chitinase, Pr1, Pr2 and lipase) at all three concentrations whereas very low reduction in enzyme activities was caused by Hubendamide+ Avermectin and Indoxacarb when used at 10 µg/ml. The data presented can be used for future recommendations of these insecticides in IPM programmes where I. fumosorosea is an important control agent.

Checklist of the mites of Pakistan

We present the first comprehensive inventory of the mites of Pakistan, based on data from published books and papers. The fauna as presently understood includes 126 families, 316 genera, and 1105 species. The best-documented genera are those that include pests of stored food (for example Acotyledon, 28 species), plant pests (Brevipalpus, 49 species; Tenuipalpus, 35 species), and beneficial predators (Euseius, 44 species; Neoseiulus, 37 species; Phytoseius, 36 species; Typhlodromus, 47 species). Some economically important families such as the Eriophyidae are almost completely unknown. Some of the Cryptostigmata have been studied, but other groups of soil mites are very poorly known. Other large groups such as the feather mites, water mites, Uropodina, and parasitic Astigmata and Prostigmata, have not been studied in a systematic way. An increase in knowledge of these groups would help an assessment of their economic importance, and would make a valuable contribution to the biogeography of the western section of the Oriental Region and the southern section of the Palaearctic Region.

First record of Macrocheles matrius (Hull, 1925) (Acari: Macrochelidae) from Turkey

Poultry manure is common microhabitat of mites, especially for macrochelid mites. Macrocheles matrius was recorded as a new report for the Turkish mite fauna. The morphological characters of this species are presented with description, diagnosis and original figures from Turkish specimens. In addition, a key of poultry manure-inhabiting adult (females) of known species from Samsun, Turkey is provided.

First record of Amblyseiulella paraheveae (Wu & Ou, 2002) from Pakistan

ABSTRACT Amblyseiulella paraheveae (Wu & Ou 2002) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is reported for the first time from Pakistan. The specimens were collected in Punjab province, on Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (Rosaceae). Morphological information of the Pakistani specimens is presented in this manuscript. This is also the first record of the genus Amblyseiulella Muma for the Pakistani fauna. A key to the 15 species in this genus is provided here.

A New Predatory Mite Species of the Genus Agistemus (Agistemus Layyahensis) Stigmaeidae: Acari from Punjab, Pakistan

Stigmaeidae (Acari), the largest family within Raphignathoidea and are well recognized predators against the phytophagous mites and other small soft bodied insects. A survey was conducted to explore the predatory mite fauna from Punjab-Pakistan and a species of the genus Agistemus was collected and described. The drawings and measurements of different body parts were made with the help of an ocular grid and the specimen were compared with the already world described species. Ceremonial description, illustration of main body parts, host range and comparison remarks are also given. Sixteen (16) paratype (females) were collected from different localities of Jhang and Toba Tek Singh (Punjab). All specimens were deposited in the Acarology Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

On the identity of Paragigagnathus amantis (Chaudhri et al., 1979) (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Amblyseiinae) from Pakistan

Abstract The genus Paragigagnathus comprises nine valid species across the world. Due to an inadequate original description, Paragigagnathus amantis (Chaudhri et al. 1979) from Pakistan was previously considered an uncertain inclusion within this genus. Here, this species is redescribed in detail and its placement within Paragigagnathus is confirmed. A table of comparisons between species of desertorum species group is also given.

Subfamily Coleoscirinae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Cunaxidae), with description of one new species from Pakistan.

Abstract The Coleoscirinae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Cunaxidae) from Pakistan are summarized in this paper. Two species of Scutascirus Den Heyer (S. pirgus Chaudhri and Akbar and S. tactus Chaudhri and Akbar), ten species of Coleoscirus Berlese (C. baptos (Chaudhri and Akbar), C. carex (Inayatullah and Shahid), C. carnus Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. comis Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. disparis Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. irroratus Muhammad and Chaudhri, C. mardi (Inatullah and Shahid), C. raviensis Afzal, Ashfaq and Khan, C. tobaensis Bashir, Afzal, Ashfaq, and Khan, and C. trudus Bashir, Afzal and Akbar), and three species of Pseudobonzia Smiley (P. ashfaqi Bashir, Afzal and Akbar, P. numida Chaudhri and Akbar, and P. parilus Chaudhri) have been previously reported. One new species of Pseudobonzia, Pseudobonzia bakeri sp. n., is herein described and illustrated. A key to the genera of the subfamily and keys to the species in each genus are given to incorporate the new species from Pakistan. Distribution records of all known species in Pakistan are also given.

The effect of alkanes on the physiology and metabolism of the entomopathogenic fungus, Isaria fumosorosea

The influence of different alkanes on spore morphology, glyoxlate pathway enzyme activities, total lipid contents and fatty acid composition of Isaria fumosorosea were investigated under laboratory conditions. Fungal spores grown on different alkanes showed higher germination and mycelial growth when compared to control. A strong induction of glyoxlate cycle enzymes in cell-free extracts was observed for cells grown on different alkanes when compared to glucose and control. Higher activities of glyoxlate cycle enzymes were observed for cells grown on alkanes when compared to other treatments. Even numbered fatty acids accounted for the majority of fatty acid production with a significant increase in relative amounts of linoleic acid and palmatic acid observed for conidia grown on alkanes. These results indicate that addition of alkanes to culture media can be a tool to pre-induce metabolic adaptations that can facilitate successful infection of insect host by entomopathogenic fungi.