Evaluation of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes), a potential biological control agent of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera, Psychodidae)

Intensive crop production and extensive use of harmful synthetic chemical pesticides create numerous socio-economic problems worldwide. Therefore, sustainable solutions are needed for insect pest control, such as biological control agents. The fungal insect pathogen Beauveria bassiana has shown considerable potential as a biological control agent against a broad range of insects. The insight into the virulence mechanism of B. bassiana is essential to show the robustness of its use. B. bassiana has several determinants of virulence, including the production of cuticle-degrading enzymes (CDEs), such as proteases, chitinases, and lipases. CDEs are essential in the infection process as they hydrolyze the significant components of the insect's cuticle. Moreover, B. bassiana has evolved effective antioxidant mechanisms that include enzyme families that act as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, e.g., superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases, and thioredoxins. In B. bassiana, the number of CDEs and antioxidant enzymes are characterized in recent years. These enzymes are believed to be crucial player of evolutionary process in this organism and their role in various mechanism of biological control. Recent discoveries have significantly increased our potential understanding on several potentially wanted unknown mechanisms of B. bassiana infection. This review focuses on the progress detailed in the studies of these enzymes and provides an overview of enzymatic activities and their contributions to virulence.

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Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana Vuill in compost media for Oryctes rhinoceros L. oil palm pest control

CROPSAVER - Journal of Plant Protection ◽

10.24198/cropsaver.v4i1.31039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Rina Novianti ◽

Hafiz Fauzana ◽

Rusli Rustam

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Pest Control ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Early Death ◽

Breeding Site ◽

Control Agent ◽

Oryctes Rhinoceros ◽

Plant Pest

The Oryctes rhinoceros pest is an important pest of palm oil plant. Pest problems occur because Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) is added for soil fertility to create a breeding site for larvae O. rhinoceros. Generally, OPEFB will receive the plants more quickly when composted, and pest control is carried out in the compost. Biological control is more recommended because it is environmentally friendly, Therefore compost is added with biological control agent O. rhinoceros namely B. bassiana. This study is aimed to obtain the best conidia density of Beauveria bassiana in compost in controlling larvae O. rhinoceros. The research was carried out at the Plant Pest Laboratory and Experimental Garden, Faculty of Agriculture, Riau of University. The study was carried out from February to November 2020. The experiment on the conidia density of B. bassiana fungi in compost media against larvae O. rhinoceros, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 6 treatments 4 replications obtained 24 experimental units, while the treatments were 0 g.l-1, 15 g.l-1, 30 g.l-1, 45 g.l-1, 60 g.l-1 and 75 g.l-1. The results of the research revealed that OPEFB compost + sawdust containing the fungus B. bassiana 75 g.l-1 (83,2 x108 kon/ml) had the best ability to control larvae O. rhinoceros with a total larvae mortality of 87% which caused early death of 54 hours after application, LT50 of 213 hours after application, and LC50 of 3,3% or the equivalent of 33 g.l-1 at 14 days after application.

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Pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana against Phyllophaga crinita and Anomala flavipennis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-40.1.67 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 67-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

L. A. Rodríguez-del-Bosque ◽

F. Silvestre ◽

V. M. Hernández ◽

H. Quiroz ◽

J. E. Throne

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Challenge Test ◽

Control Agent ◽

The Other ◽

White Grub ◽

Test Protocol ◽

Lethal Time

Five isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and 3 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin were tested against third-instar larvae of Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister) and Anomala flavipennis Burmeister under laboratory conditions using the “maximum challenge test” protocol. The M. anisopliae strains were more virulent than the B. bassiana strains, with the isolates MAGL3N and MAGL4N of M. anisopliae causing the highest mortality in both white grub species. Regardless of scarab species, mortality caused by MAGL3N was >63% after 4 days and >96% after 10 days. The other strain of M. anisopliae, MAGC2N, also caused high mortality in A. flavipennis, but at a slower rate than MAGL3N. Median lethal time (LT50) for MAGL3N was 2.9 days for P. crinita and 3.0 d for A. flavipennis. The LT50 for MAGL4N was 5.3 d for P. crinita and 7.6 d for A. flavipennis while the LT50 for MAGC2N was 4.4 d for A. flavipennis. Metarhizium anisopliae is a potential biological control agent for P. crinita and A. flavipennis and should be further investigated for possible development.

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Horizontal Transmission of the Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolate INRS-242 of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) in Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toz256 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Narin Srei ◽

Robert Lavallée ◽

Claude Guertin

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Control Agent ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Fungal Isolate ◽

Ash Trees ◽

Fungus Beauveria Bassiana

Abstract Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an invasive and destructive beetle that causes extensive damage to ash trees in North America. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana Vuillemin is considered as an effective biological control agent for EAB adult populations. Using an autodissemination device with a fungal isolate of B. bassiana, our research aims to investigate the possibility of horizontal transmission of the fungal disease from infected to uninfected EAB adults during mating. Results show that the efficiency of fungal transmission is significantly related to the sex of EAB carrying the fungal pathogen. EAB males are the promising vector to transmit mycosis to their partners during mating. Results strengthen the potential of the fungal autodissemination device as a powerful biological strategy to control EAB populations.

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