Light and scanning electron microscopy of conidia germination and formation of the appressorium of <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> transformant (MA05-169) and wild type (BCRC35505) on a mylar polyester film or on a diamondback moth (<i>Plutella xylostella</i>).

<p>A–B) MA05-169, 16 and 48 h after spreading onto a mylar polyester film for 16 and 48 h, respectively; C) BCRC35505, 72 h after spreading. D–E) Note the presence of a distinct extracellular adhesion mucilage on the appressorium of the transformant after germination for 16 h and 72 h on the mylar polyester film (white arrow heads) compared with the indistinct appressorium and barely visible mucilage of the wild type at 72 h (arrow head) (F). G) The growth of the transformant on the insect body surface after inoculation for 16 h compared with the growth of the wild type for 24 h (H). Co: conidia; Ap: appressorium.