Use of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, Cordyceps bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea to control Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in Persian lime under field conditions

The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Isaria fumosorosea were tested against the stored-grain pest Sitophilus oryzae. The fungi were isolated from the soil (from three locations in Attica, Greece: B. bassiana from Tatoion, M. anisopliae from Marathon, and I. fumosorosea from Aghios Stefanos) using larvae of Galleria mellonella as bait. Suspensions of 2.11 × 107 and 2.11 × 108, 1.77 × 107 and 1.77 × 108, and 1.81 × 107 and 1.81 × 108 conidia per ml of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, and I. fumosorosea, respectively, were applied by three treatments: (i) sprayed on food and set in petri dishes with adults of S. oryzae, (ii) sprayed on adults of S. oryzae and set in petri dishes without food, and (iii) sprayed on adults of S. oryzae and set in petri dishes with food. The observed mortality of S. oryzae adults during the overall exposure period for the lowest, as well as for the highest, concentrations of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, and I. fumosorosea ranged from 0 to 100%. Concentration was, in most of the cases tested, a critical parameter that determined the “speed of kill” of the exposed insect species for B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. Conversely, concentration was not that critical for I. fumosorosea, and survival was high in some of the combinations tested, even after 14 days of exposure. Both in the highest and the lowest concentrations of fungi, the mortality of S. oryzae adults was higher when the fungi were applied on adults than when they were applied on food. Higher mortality was observed when food was absent than when food was present, in most of the cases tested. The high efficacy levels recorded in the current study indicate that the tested fungi could be effective biocontrol agents against S. oryzae.

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Synergistic Action of Isaria fumosorosea Wize (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Spirotetramat against Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) under Field Conditions

Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.17582/journal.pjar/2018/31.2.194.201 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Fiaz ◽

Muhammad Afzal ◽

Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed

Keyword(s):

Synergistic Action ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Asian Citrus Psyllid ◽

Diaphorina Citri ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea

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Transmission potential of the entomopathogenic fungi Isaria fumosorosea and Beauveria bassiana from sporulated cadavers of Diaphorina citri and Toxoptera citricida to uninfected D. citri adults

BioControl ◽

10.1007/s10526-016-9733-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

pp. 567-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Marcos Roberto Conceschi ◽

Celeste Paola D’Alessandro ◽

Rafael de Andrade Moral ◽

Clarice Garcia Borges Demétrio ◽

Italo Delalibera Júnior

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Diaphorina Citri ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea ◽

Transmission Potential ◽

Toxoptera Citricida

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Evaluación de insecticidas biorracionales en el control de mosca blanca (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) en la producción de hortalizas//Evaluation of biorational insecticides for whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) control in vegetables production

Biotecnia ◽

10.18633/biotecnia.v22i1.1123 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 39-47

Author(s):

Félix D. Murillo-Cuevas ◽

Héctor Cabrera-Mireles ◽

Jacel Adame-García ◽

José Antonio Fernández-Viveros ◽

Jazmin Villegas Narváez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

High Technology ◽

The State ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea ◽

Traditional Production ◽

Sky Conditions ◽

Production Conditions

En el estado de Veracruz, el control de mosca blanca con insecticidas sintéticos en las hortalizas ha provocado problemas de contaminación. El objetivo de la presente investigación consistió en evaluar la eficiencia de productos biorracionales en el control de mosca blanca en el cultivo de jitomate en condiciones de invernadero y en los cultivos de chile y calabacita en condiciones de cielo abierto. Para jitomate los tratamientos fueron Nim aceite 4% IA, Nim aceite + Metarhizium anisopliae 1x107 mL-1, Nim aceite + Beauveria bassiana 1x107 mL-1, Nim aceite + Isaria javanica 1x 107 mL-1 y un testigo (sin aplicación), y para chile y calabacita Metarhizium anisopliae 1x107 mL-1, Isaria fumosorosea 1x107 mL-1, Beauveria bassiana 1x107 mL-1 y un testigo (sin aplicación). Los tratamientos de Nim aceite + M. anisopliae y Nim aceite + I. javanica fueron los más eficientes en jitomate y los insecticidas a base de B. bassiana y M. anisopliae en chile y calabacita, respectivamente. Existe un potencial para el uso de hongos entomopatógenos para control de mosca blanca en los cultivos de jitomate en invernadero, chile y calabacitas a cielo abierto, potencial aplicable a condiciones de alta tecnología y de producción tradicional.ABSTRACTIn the state of Veracruz, the control of whitefly with synthetic insecticides in vegetables has caused contamination problems. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the efficiency of biorational products for whitefly control in tomato cultivation under greenhouse conditions, and in chili and squash under open sky conditions. In tomato, treatments were Nim oil 4% IA, Nim oil + Metarhizium anisopliae 1x107 mL-1, Nim oil + Beauveria bassiana 1x107 mL-1, Nim oil + Isaria javanica 1x107 mL-1 and Blank (control). In chili and squash, treatments were Metarhizium anisopliae 1x107 mL-1, Isaria fumosorosea 1x107 mL-1, Beauveria bassiana 1x107 mL-1 and Blank (control). The Nim oil + M. anisopliae and Nim oil + I. javanica treatments were the most efficient in tomato and the B. bassiana and M. anisopliae based insecticides in chili and zucchini, respectively. There is a potential for the use of entomopathogenic fungi for whitefly control in tomato under greenhouse conditions, and chili and squash under open sky conditions, a potential applicable to high technology and traditional production conditions.

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Suppression of Rice Planthopper Populations by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae without Affecting the Rice Microbiota

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01337-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (21) ◽

Author(s):

Yifan Peng ◽

Jifeng Tang ◽

Mingsheng Hong ◽

Jiaqin Xie

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Fungal Strain ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Content Type ◽

Insecticide Application ◽

Rice Planthoppers ◽

Good Potential

ABSTRACT Entomopathogenic fungi can regulate insect populations and function as crucial biological control agents against insect pests, but their impacts on nontarget microorganisms are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the potential of the fungal strain Metarhizium anisopliae CQMa421 to control rice planthoppers under field conditions and its effects on rice microbiota. This fungus suppressed rice planthoppers during this period, and its control efficiency was more than 60% 7 days after application and did not significantly differ from that of the chemical treatment except in 2019. Both treatments showed a smaller population of rice planthoppers than the controls. After application, M. anisopliae was maintained on rice plants for approximately 14 days, showing a decreasing trend over time. Furthermore, the results showed that the bacterial and fungal richness (operational taxonomic units) and diversity (Shannon index) did not significantly differ between the fungal treatment and the controls after application. The major bacterial taxa of Proteobacteria (including Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Deltaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria accounted for more than 80% of the bacterial community after fungal application, and the major fungal taxa Ascomycota (including Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Sordariomycetes) and Basidiomycota (including Ustilaginomycetes) represented more than 90% of the fungal community. However, the microbial communities of the rice phyllosphere did not significantly change after entomopathogenic-agent application, indicating that the indigenous microbial communities may adapt to fungal insecticide application. Taken together, the results suggest that this fungal agent has good potential for rice planthopper control with no substantial effects on rice microbial communities. IMPORTANCE Entomopathogenic fungi may be used as crucial biocontrol agents for the control of insect pests, but few effective fungal strains have been reported for the control of the rice planthopper, a major pest of rice. More importantly, the impacts of fungal insecticide application on nontarget microorganisms have not been well evaluated, especially under field conditions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of the fungal strain M. anisopliae CQMa421 on rice planthopper populations from 2017 to 2019 and evaluated its potential impacts on the microbiota of rice plants after application. The results suggested that this fungal agent has good potential for use in the control of rice planthoppers with no significant effects on rice microbial communities, representing an alternative strategy for the control of rice pests.

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Effect of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, on Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations in different onion cultivars

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-021-00445-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Quratul Ain ◽

Ata Ul Mohsin ◽

Muhammad Naeem ◽

Ghulam Shabbir

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Thrips Tabaci ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Spray Application ◽

Offspring Production ◽

Population Reduction ◽

Thrips Population

Abstract Background Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is the key pest of onions that causes economic yield losses in commercial onion production in Pakistan. In this study, potential of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, as a bio agent was evaluated to manage buildup of thrips population on onion crop. Results Efficacy tests for EPF were conducted against T. tabaci infesting 3 different onion varieties (Phulkara, Swat 1, and Virio 7). Commercial formulations of B. bassiana strain GHA and M. anisopilae strain ESC-1, were evaluated at 4 different concentrations (108, 109, 1010, and 1011 conidia/ml) under field conditions for 2 years. The efficacy was assessed 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after spray application of the whole onion plant. Efficacy expressed as T. tabaci (nymphs and adults) percent population reduction in comparison to controls. Maximum corrected percent population reduction was observed in onion plants treated with B. bassiana 1011 conidia/ml, i.e., 86.62, 84.59, and 86% in Phulkara, Swat 1, and Virio 7 onion varieties respectively, after 10 days of spray application. While onion plants treated with M. anisopliae 108 conidia/ml showed minimum corrected percent population reduction, i.e., 69.42, 68.45, and 69.11% in Phulkara, Swat 1, and Virio 7 onion varieties respectively, after 10 days of spray. Conclusions Beauveria bassiana could significantly reduce thrips population and could provide a better long-term management of T. tabaci on onion. B. bassiana had a high toxic effect against offspring production of the T. tabaci under field conditions than M. anisopliae.

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Biological control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) by Entomopathogenic fungi and their side effects on natural enemies

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-020-00358-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ana Belén Corallo ◽

Evelin Pechi ◽

Lina Bettucci ◽

Susana Tiscornia

Keyword(s):

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Citrus Fruit ◽

Management Program ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Asian Citrus Psyllid ◽

Pest Species ◽

Diaphorina Citri ◽

Citrus Greening Disease

Abstract Background The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is an insect pest species responsible for damages of citrus fruit quality and tree health. This insect is a vector of bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp. a putative causal agent of citrus greening disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB), considered one of the most destructive diseases of citrus orchards worldwide. Disease management is mainly based on vector control using pesticides which can affect natural enemies that play an important role in pest control. The entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana (2067 and 2121) and Metarhizium anisopliae (2411) were achieved by applying a suspension of 1 × 107 spores against D. citri nymphs and artificially infected the citrus seedlings under controlled and semi-field conditions. Also, the activity of these EPFs on the coccinellid and lacewing predators was evaluated. The effects of the main chemicals used in citrus plantations on the selected fungi for possible combined use was also investigated. Results The obtained results showed that under controlled conditions, the percentage of insect mortality produced by EPF varied between 82.8 and 85.9%. Under semi-field conditions, the infection and mortality of D. citri caused by the M. anisopliae 2411 strain was significantly higher than that of B. bassiana 2067, 78.9 and 51%, respectively. Non-significant effect of EPF on the natural enemies of D. citri was observed, suggesting that EPF and predators had compatible effects. Conclusion This study clearly demonstrated that EPF were able to kill D. citri and can be explored as a promissory biocontrol candidate. Simultaneous use in an integrated pest management program could be possible by applying EPF combined with pesticides.

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Susceptibility of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to entomopathogenic fungi isolated from poultry houses litter and nearby soil

Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae ◽

10.21697/seb.2017.15.4.04 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 31-39

Author(s):

Elżbieta Popowska-Nowak ◽

Dorota Tumialis ◽

Elżbieta Pezowicz

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

High Mortality ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea ◽

Alphitobius Diaperinus ◽

Poultry Houses ◽

Insect Mortality ◽

Lesser Mealworm ◽

Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

The lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus is present in great numbers in poultry houses. These insects are especially dangerous as a potential carriers of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. We explored the possibility of using local strains of entomopathogenic fungi isolated from litter and from soil to control lesser mealworm populations. Isolated fungi showed low pathogenicity to lesser mealworm beetles. Infection with a suspension at a concentration of 1 × 108 spores/ml resulted in only 4 Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato isolates showing the highest insect mortality in the range of 30–36%. Still lower pathogenicity was found in isolates of Beauveria bassiana, with only 4 isolates of B. bassiana causing a mortality of 17–26%. Isolates of Isaria fumosorosea and I. farinosa did not cause mortality in beetles that differed significantly from that in the control variant. The larvae were more susceptible to infection. Except for I. fumosorosea, all species caused 100% mortality in larvae. For further studies, the B. bassiana 3K isolate (from the litter) could be selected because of its high mortality (100%) and high larval infectivity (50% overgrown with mycelium).

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Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Potential of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea for Management of Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11121290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1290

Author(s):

James Kisaakye ◽

Hendrika Fourie ◽

Danny Coyne ◽

Laura Cortada ◽

Shirlyne Masinde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Cosmopolites Sordidus ◽

Banana Weevil ◽

Isaria Fumosorosea ◽

Environmentally Sustainable ◽

Beauveria Bassiana Isolates

The banana weevil (BW), Cosmopolites sordidus, is the main coleopteran pest of banana, causing up to 100% yield loss. In this study, we screened 20 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for the management of BW. In the lab, eight Beauveria bassiana isolates caused >50% mortality of the adult BW, whereas Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea isolates were less pathogenic. B. bassiana isolates ICIPE 648, ICIPE 660 and ICIPE 273 were the most pathogenic, killing ≥80% of adult BW. B. bassiana isolate ICIPE 622 yielded the highest spores per BW cadaver (1.84 × 108 spores), followed by ICIPE 660, ICIPE 273 and ICIPE 648—1.17 × 108, 3.8 × 107 and 3.6 × 107 spores, respectively. ICIPE 273 had the shortest LT50 (5.3 days) followed by ICIPE 648 (9.8 days) and 660 (11.1 days). Similarly, the LC50 values for the three isolates were 5.18 × 107, 5.49 × 107 and 5.2 × 107 spores mL−1, respectively. In the field, ICIPE 273 and ICIPE 648 had the highest (31.3%) and lowest (20.8%) pathogenicity, respectively. This study indicates that the B. bassiana isolates ICIPE 273, ICIPE 648 and ICIPE 660 are potential candidates for the environmentally sustainable management of BW.

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