Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea strains SB005, SM016 and SP020 were isolated from soil and insect hosts by the authors. When gave the concentration of 1 × 10⁷ conidiospores/mL, their LT₉₀ values to diamond moth were determined as 4.5 d, 6.3 d and 6.1 d, respectively. To get conidiospores, these strains were inoculated from slants to PDA plates and cultured for 14 days at 26˚C. Then, the conidiospores were scraped from the plates. The conidiospores were suspended with 0.05% Tween 80 solution. The suspensions concentrations were determined by means of haemacytometer and regulated to 1 × 10⁷ conidiospores/mL for using.

The population of P. xylostella was reproduced more than 10 generations in lab. They were reared on the plant of cabbage, Brassica oleracea, in an air-conditioned greenhouse at 25˚C ± 1˚C and the photoperiod of L: D 16 h: 8 h. The third instars larvae were selected to use.

The immersion method [11] was used for inoculation. The individuals of diamondback moth’s third instars larvae were dipped into the conidiospores suspension (1 × 10⁷ conidiospores/mL) or 0.05% Tween 80 solution (CK) for 10s. There were 20 larvae treated in each fungal strain. After dryness, each pest was removed to a 20-cm diameter Petri dish placed a piece of wet filter paper (20 cm diameters) at the bottom. Then, the dishes were transferred in a climatic cabinate (Zhujiang LRH-250-Gb, Shaoguan Hongtai Medical Instrument Ltd. Guangdong, China) at 25˚C ± 1˚C and >95% R.H. Every 12 h, 2 - 3 larvae were picked out for paraffin sections. Also, the pictures were taken on time when the outer symptoms were found on the pests.

The larvae were fixed with Carnoy’s fluid for 24 hours, then, washed 2 times with 70% alcohol (w/w). The fixed samples were embedded in paraffin wax and cut into sections of 5 - 6 µm. The sections were stained with Mayer’s hematoxylin and 1% eosin Y solution according to the procedure described by Sano [12] (1965). The samples were examined and taken pictures with microscope system (Leica-DM 4000B, Leica Microsystems Ltd. North Point, Hong Kong, China).

On the earlier periods, a few melanized little points were firstly found on larvae cuticles of P. xylostella larvae about 30 h after treatment with the three fungi species (strains). Then, after treatments 40 h, more, larger and blacker spots were recorded (Figure 1). Inoculated by strain SB005, lots of small, irregular and numerous spots were found in the insects mainly at the abdominal segment and legs (Figures 1B1 and B2). Furthermore, the caudal legs turned black more than abdominal segments. On the contrary, a few of large and roughly spherical spots were found in strain SM016 treatments (Figures 1C1 and C2). As to strain SP020 treatments, many larger, irregular shaped spots appeared on the thoracic section back, abdominal segment and the legs (Figures 1A1 and A2).

On the late periods, the symptoms of the larvae were different when treated by different fungi strains. After 72 h treated with the strain SP020, the body shrank and deformed to a shape as “C” with light green and yellowish color and occasionally moved when touched (Figure 2A). At the 56 h treated by the strain SB005, the larvae were closed to die, the inactive and red-like bodies were covered by a few white hyphae (Figure 2B). However, the different symptoms were found in the larvae treated with the strain SM016, its bodies were spasticity at the midterm of the infection and then shrank deformation to the shape of “C” with green thoracic feet and abdomen and yellowish back (Figure 2C).

In order to check the changes in treatments, the health moths were sectioned firstly. The pictures of paraffin sections showed that tissues and cuticles were clear and no hyphae were found (Figure 3).

From the Paraffin sections, hyphae were found in cuticles of body and appendage (specially, legs and mouthpart) within 24 h treated with the three fungi strains (Figures 4-7). Totally, there were more mycelia in cuticles of strain SP020 and SM016 treatments (Figures 4-6). However, only the SB005 treatment was found hyphae in cuticle of head capsule (Figure 7).

Totally, it took less than 72 h from the insect inculated with fungi strains to death. The Beauveria strain SB005 had the fastest infection process for about 56 h, while the strains need more than 70 h. However, there were similar histopathological changes in the infection processes in the three strains (Figures 8-10). SB005 was taken as an example (Figure 8) to address the infection process. After 12 h treated, conidia attaching to the epidermis began to germinate and penetrate into the cuticle (Figure 8A). After 24 h, laminated structure of cuticle around the hyphae became hardened and the hyphae reproduced in the cuticle (Figures 8B and C). After 36 h, hyphae were seen to break cells of the epidermis and were surrounded by many Blood lymphocytes (Figure 8D). After 48 h, hyphae in the haemocoel reproduced rapidly with the fat body disintegrated beginning (Figure 8E). Meanwhile, a few hyphae invaded into the muscle and other tissues. At 56 h, fat body was almost disintegrated, cuticle was degraded and hyphal layer appeared (Figure 8G). Mycelia overgrew in the insect body (Figure 8H). Haemocoel and legs were almost captured by hyphae and detachment of the midgut cells was observed. Contents in the silkgland disappeared and digestive tract tissues began to disintegrated, compared to various tissues and organs of the healthy body (Figures 8I-K).

In the dying periods, there were some different changes in three strains treatments. In SB005 treatment, hyphae were just found around the visceral muscle. Perivisceral fat body, Malpighian tubes and muscle were not influenced,

but the peripheral fat bodies were nearly disintegrated and the midgut was almost integrated but the peritrophic membrane got separated from gut cells (Figure 11A). However, in the strain SP020 treatment (Figure 11B), hyphae grew vigorously in the body, organs were almost destroyed, fat bodies were completely decomposed, Malpighian tubes were damaged with a monolayer cell membrane left and the intestinal wall cells were damaged with decomposition and shedding. Similar with SP020, after 72 h treated with SM016 strain, the haemocoel was filled with the hyphae and a few hyphae bodies invaded into the gut, tissues like the Malpighian tubes and muscle

were also invaded by hyphae (Figure 11C).

The entire process of entomogenous fungi infecting insects included conidia attachment, germination and appressoria formation, penetrating cuticle and invading hemoceol, damaging inner organisms and tissues, to the end producing new generation conidia. The speed to kill insects is clearly related to the infection process.

In this experiment, we observed that diamond moth treated with Beauveria bassiana SB005 strain had more small brown melanisms spots over their body surface. It indicates that the strain has more penetrating points which is benefit to defeat the host immunity. So, it seems that more penetrating points may be an important reason for fungi being more quickly in killing host insects.

Meanwhile, SB005 strain could invade head capsule of diamondback moth. It means that it may soon damage brain tissues resulting in the destruction of the nervous system. It is maybe another reason for Beauveria bassiana with faster effectiveness against the moth.

However, we also found that SB005 strain had less hyphae in moth dying states. It implies that moth probably died before its nutrition is exhausted by SB005 strain mycelia. It is maybe related to earlier death of brain, mycotoxins secreted and killed hosts or other more complicated reasons.

After all, a preliminary conclusion could be given, more invading points and penetrating head cuticle probably are the reasons for Beauveria bassiana SB005 strain being more quickly in killing diamond moth.