Effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Clonostachys rosea on mortality rates and gene expression profiles in Diaphorina citri adults

[Display omitted] •A strain of entomopathogenic fungus Clonostachys rosea was characterized.•C. rosea induced mortality in Diaphorina citri adults.•A total of 259 DEGs were identified in D. citri adults after inoculation with C. rosea.•Unigenes encoding proteins involved in immunity, apoptosis and cuticle were changed significantly. Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a serious pest of citrus. The insect also transmits Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, the pathogen of a devastating citrus disease called Huanglongbing. Clonostachys rosea is a versatile fungus that possesses nematicidal and insecticidal activities. The effect of C. rosea against D. citri remains unclear. Here we examined the pathogenicity of C. rosea against D. citri adults. A mortality rate of 46.67% was observed in adults treated with 1 × 108 conidia/mL spore suspension. Comparative transcriptomic analyses identified 259 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between controls and samples treated with fungi. Among the DEGs, 183 were up-regulated and 76 down-regulated. Genes with altered expression included those involved in immunity, apoptosis and cuticle formation. Our preliminary observation indicated that C. rosea is virulent against ACP adults and has the potential as a biological control agent for ACP management in the field.