Contamination of Insects by the Plant Pathogen Verticillium albo-atrum in an Alfalfa Field

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Abstract
Pests and predatory insects in a field of hay alfalfa carried on their bodies spores of Verticillium albo-atrum , the causal organism of verticillium wilt of alfalfa. The percentage of insects of each species that were contaminated with spores varied with the stage of development of the insect and the date of collection. Field-collected alfalfa weevils, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), that were contaminated with spores of V. albo-atrum were able to cause verticillium wilt when caged on healthy alfalfa. Because spores of V. albo-atrum are found on both beneficial and harmful insects, biological control of alfalfa pests by predators may have to be reassessed in areas where verticillium wilt is prevalent.

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