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Keywords = Nemea terroir

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14 pages, 1227 KB  
Article
Microbial Terroir of Nemea Vineyards: Isolation and Characterization of an Endemic Purpureocillium lilacinum Genotype with Biocontrol Potential
by Ioannis Lagogiannis, Christina Kaloudi, Dimitra Dimou, Giorgos Patakioutas, Panagiotis E. Eliopoulos and Spyridon Mantzoukas
Horticulturae 2026, 12(6), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060746 - 19 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Mediterranean organic viticulture requires sustainable pest management strategies that leverage local soil biodiversity. This study isolated endemic entomopathogenic fungi from vineyard soils in Nemea, Greece, using a dual-insect baiting system with Tribolium confusum and Sitophilus spp. The recovered isolates caused complete mortality in [...] Read more.
Mediterranean organic viticulture requires sustainable pest management strategies that leverage local soil biodiversity. This study isolated endemic entomopathogenic fungi from vineyard soils in Nemea, Greece, using a dual-insect baiting system with Tribolium confusum and Sitophilus spp. The recovered isolates caused complete mortality in bait insects, with mycelial emergence from 93.75% of cadavers. DNA sequencing of the ITS1 region identified the recovered isolates as Purpureocillium lilacinum. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Nemea isolates (TD and TM series) form a monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support, showing distinct genetic divergence from the reference strain P. lilacinum NRRL 895—evidence of a unique “microbial terroir.” Virulence assays demonstrated species-dependent mortality against stored-product pests: Sitophilus granarius was the most susceptible (76.7% mortality; LT50 = 1.9 days), followed by Sitophilus zeamais (61.1%; LT50 = 2.7 days), Tribolium confusum (56.7%; LT50 = 2.8 days), and Sitophilus oryzae (50.0%; LT50 = 3.3 days). Mycosis confirmation (65–83%) and 0% control mortality confirmed pathogenicity. As locally adapted biological control agents, these endemic P. lilacinum strains are highly suitable for protecting crops from major insect pests. Full article
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