Nematophagous Fungi: Guide by Philip Jacobs, BRIC-Version

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Paecilomyces lilacinus

Paecilomyces lilacinus (THOM) SAMSON 1974
[ = Penicillium lilacinum THOM 1910 ]

Form Genus: Paecilomyces BAINIER 1907
Form Subfamily: Hyalosporae
Form Family: Moniliaceae
Form Order: Moniliales (Hyphomycetes)
Form Class: Deuteromycetes (Fungi imperfecti)
Division: Eumycota

(System of anamorphs according to SACCARDO 1886)

Conidiophore of Paecilomyces lilacinus

Paecilomyces lilacinus strains have been repeatedly isolated from insect larvae. The first strain to be isolated from egg-pouches of Meloidogyne GOELDI sp. (root knot nematode) was found in Peru. Isolates from eggs of other nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis WOLLENWEBER, Heterodera glycines ICHINOHE u. a.) are also known (JATALA 1982).
The Conidiophores of the genus Paecilomyces ramify in grouped branches or irregularly. The one-celled conidia are separated from the phialides in form of chains (SAMSON 1975).
P. lilacinus shows fast hyphal groth. The conidiophores are up to 600 µm high and develop groups of lateral branches, from which each 2-4 bottle-shaped phialides grow. The ellipsoid, 2.5-3.0 µm long and 2.0-2.2 µm broad conidia are of lilac colour (SAMSON 1975). In case of vibration or air movements they are whirled up in great quantities, so that the fungus spreads effectively (own observations).
The facultative egg parasite is sometimes also able to infect mobile nematode stages or sedentary females, but it is most aggressive against eggs (CABANILLAS et al. 1989).
There have already been some successful trials for its utilization in biological plant protection, e. g. against Meloidogyne incognita in tomato (CABANILLAS et al. 1989) or in potato (JATALA et al. 1981).

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