scholarly journals Isolation, identification and virulence of indigenous entomopathogenic fungal strains against the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

2022 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Ullah ◽  
Abu Bakar Muhammad Raza ◽  
Mohamed Alkafafy ◽  
Samy Sayed ◽  
Muhammad Imran Hamid ◽  
...  

Abstract Background As different biogeographic strains and isolates of entomopathogenic fungi vary in their genetic, enzymatic and pathogenic characteristics, this study assessed the virulence of 2 indigenous strains of Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin (Ascomycota, Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), isolated from naturally infected insect cadavers, against the 3rd instar nymphs of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and 3rd instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using leaf-dip and larval-dip methods, respectively. Results Both fungal isolates exhibited considerable pathogenicity against M. persicae and S. frugiperda. Mortality in all bioassays was conidial concentration and exposure time dependent and increased significantly along with both factors (R2 = 0.86–0.99 for B. bassiana and 0.82–0.94 for M. anisopliae). Moreover, M. anisopliae isolate appeared more virulent to S. frugiperda larvae than B. bassiana isolate, while the later fungal isolate was more lethal to M. persicae nymphs than the former one. At the highest conidial concentration (1.0 × 109 conidia/ml), M. anisopliae caused maximum mean mortality of S. frugiperda (88%) and M. persicae (65%) and B. bassiana exhibited maximum mean mortality of S. frugiperda (76%) and M. persicae (94%). Moreover, probit regression analyses showed LT50 values for M. persicae of 4.57 and 6.86 days at 1.0 × 109 conidia/ml for the isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, respectively, while LC50 values were 7.75 × 106 and 8.70 × 107 conidia/ml after 10th day of application, for the isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, respectively, against M. persicae. Similarly, LT50 values for S. frugiperda were 7.75 and 7.03 days for 1.0 × 109 conidia/ml concentration and LC50 values were 2.84 × 107 and 8.84 × 105 conidia/ml at 10th day data for the isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, respectively. Conclusion Overall study results demonstrated the effectiveness of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae against M. persicae and S. frugiperda, respectively. However, field evaluations of these indigenously isolated promising fungal strains against these insect pests.

Author(s):  
Yago Barros Triboni ◽  
Luciano Del Bem Junior ◽  
Carlos Gilberto Raetano ◽  
Matheus Mereb Negrisoli

ABSTRACT Fall armyworm is one of the main insect pests in Brazil. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the seed treatment effect on the control of Spodoptera frugiperda in initial infestations of soybean crops. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates of six insecticide treatments applied through seed treatment: imidacloprid plus thiodicarb at the dose of 52.5 plus 105 g a.i. (active ingredient) 100 kg-1 of seed (Cropstar® 0.350 L 100 kg-1 of seed); thiamethoxam at 105 g a.i. 100 kg-1 of seed (Cruiser 350 FS® 0.3 L 100 kg-1 of seed); chlorantraniliprole at 62.5 g a.i. 100 kg-1 of seed (Dermacor® 0.1 L 100 kg-1 of seed); cyantraniliprole at 120 g a.i. 100 kg-1 of seed (Fortenza 600 FS® 0.2 L 100 kg-1 of seed); fipronil plus pyraclostrobin and thiophanate-methyl 50 + 5 + 45 g a.i. 100 kg-1 of seed (Standak Top® 0.2 L 100 kg-1 of seed), and a control treatment. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. Diamide insecticides (chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole) presented the best results among all treatments, with lower consumption of the treated leaves by the caterpillars and greater control efficacy of this insect. We verified that seed treatment is a viable alternative for controlling S. frugiperda at the beginning of crop development, when the caterpillar presents the behavior of cutting the seedlings and/or the consumption of leaf area, causing a reduction in the plant population and a consequent yield loss.


2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 432-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. T. Scully ◽  
G. S. Nuessly ◽  
R. L. Beiriger

The corn silk fly, Euxesta stigmatias Loew (Diptera: Otitidae), and related otitid species can cause severe crop losses to sweet corn, Zea mays L., grown in tropical and subtropical regions. In Florida, the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and E. stigmatias are two debilitating insect pests on the sweet corn ear that are considered the most costly and difficult to control. Our purpose was to search for resistance to the corn silk fly in a diverse set of maize germplasm that included sweet, floury, field and popcorn, and to determine if any empirical relationship existed between E. stigmatias damage and S. frugiperda infestation in corn ears. The overall means across two sites, 3 yrs and 16 genotypes was 1.77 for corn silk fly damage, rated on a 0 to 4 prototype scale, and 30.1% for fall armyworm infestation. Clear differences existed between the sweet and popcorn types when compared to the field and floury types. The field and floury corns sustained significantly less damage by the corn silk fly than the sweet and popcorn types (0.91 vs 3.33). Five of these genotypes, CEW-R58, DDSB, GT-RI4, Mp704 and ‘Zapalote Chico 2451’, had both lower corn silk fly damage ratings and lower levels of fall armyworm infestation. Across this broad germplasm base no statistical relationship was identified between corn silk fly damage and fall armyworm infestation, suggesting that each insect species responds independently to different maize genotypes. Husk extension was partly related to reduced S. frugiperda infestation, and tip tightness was partly related to reduced E. stigmatias damage. These results indicate that field corn could possibly serve as source of resistance to the corn silk fly for the improvement of sweet corn.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizzy A. Mwamburi

Abstract Background The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest of tomatoes that reduces yield and fruit quality resulting in losses of up to 100%. The pest has developed resistance to chemical insecticides, therefore necessitating alternative control measures. The entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae have been exploited extensively for biological control of the insect pests of economic importance. Results The potential of B. bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) (BbC1) and M. anisopliae (Metchn.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) (M150) to persist as endophytic EPF in two tomato varieties, Matina and Harzfeuer, which spread within host tissues and protect plants against larval attack of S. frugiperda was evaluated. Tomato seedlings were inoculated by dipping roots in either BbC1 or M150 spore suspensions (108 spores/ ml). The qPCR analyses revealed the presence of both fungi in > 65% of the tested samples. Second-instar larvae of S. frugiperda were introduced onto inoculated plants that revealed the presence of fungal DNA and non-inoculated plants, 14 days after inoculation. Treating tomato plants with the EPF resulted in reducing weights and slowing larval development of Spodoptera. Larvae fed on BbC1 and M150-treated Matina significantly reduced weights than those treated with Harzfeuer tomato plants. The tomato variety Matina conferred enhanced level of resistance to the S. frugiperda larvae, further aggravated by the presence of both fungi through dietary stress resulting in slow development and reduce larval weight. Conclusion These results may serve the tomato production systems and the S. frugiperda integrated management programs.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1074
Author(s):  
Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame ◽  
Boaz Musyoka ◽  
Julius Obonyo ◽  
François Rebaudo ◽  
Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman ◽  
...  

The interactions among insect communities influence the composition of pest complexes that attack crops and, in parallel, their natural enemies, which regulate their abundance. The lepidopteran stemborers have been the major maize pests in Kenya. Their population has been regulated by natural enemies, mostly parasitoids, some of which have been used for biological control. It is not known how a new exotic invasive species, such as the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), may affect the abundance and parasitism of the resident stemborers. For this reason, pest and parasitism surveys have been conducted, before and after the FAW invaded Kenya, in maize fields in 40 localities across 6 agroecological zones (AEZs) during the maize-growing season, as well as at 3 different plant growth stages (pre-tasseling, reproductive, and senescence stages) in 2 elevations at mid-altitude, where all maize stemborer species used to occur together. Results indicated that the introduction of the FAW significantly correlated with the reduction of the abundance of the resident communities of maize stemborers and parasitoids in maize fields; moreover, the decrease of stemborer density after the arrival of FAW occurred mostly at both reproductive and senescent maize stages. It also suggests a possible displacement of stemborers by FAW elsewhere; for example, to other cereals. However, since this study was conducted only three years after the introduction of the FAW, further studies will need to be conducted to confirm such displacements.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharanabasappa S. Deshmukh ◽  
S. Kiran ◽  
Atanu Naskar ◽  
Palam Pradeep ◽  
C. M. Kalleshwaraswamy ◽  
...  

AbstractThe fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has become a major threat in maize cultivation since its invasion to India in 2018. The humpbacked fly, Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), was recorded as a laboratory parasitoid of FAW, for the first time in India. Initially, 30–40 maggots of M. (M) scalaris emerged out from the dead pre-pupa and pupa of laboratory-reared FAW. The fly laid up to 15 eggs on the outer surface of 6th instar larva or pre-pupa of the FAW. The incubation period was 1–2 days. The fly had 3 larval instars which lasted 3–4 days and a pupal period of 10–11 days. The adults survived for 6–7 days.


2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin M. Cunha ◽  
Valéria Wanderley-Teixeira ◽  
Jorge B. Torres ◽  
Álvaro A.C. Teixeira ◽  
Thiago J.S. Alves ◽  
...  

Despite the efficiency of transgenic plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins as insecticides against several lepidopterans, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one species that presents low susceptibility to most Bt crops. This study investigated the effects of the Cry1Ac toxin expressed by Bt cotton in the midgut of S. frugiperda and its effects on the humoral and cellular immune responses. Three hypotheses were proposed and tested with contributing factors for the natural tolerance of S. frugiperda: (i) midgut regenerative cells are activated by the Cry1Ac toxin, and thus renew the epithelial cells damaged by the protein, (ii) Cry1Ac increased production of nitric oxide or phenoloxidase in the hemolymph, and (iii) there are qualitative and quantitative variations in the hemocyte levels of S. frugiperda. Caterpillars were reared using Bt cotton (Acala 90B) and non-Bt isolines (Acala 90), from the first to the fourth instar. The Bt cotton promoted elongation of the epithelial cells in the midgut of S. frugiperda caterpillars. Hence, evidence only supported the hypothesised increase of phenoloxidase (ii) and qualitative and quantitative differences in hemocyte levels (iii) in insects that were fed with Bt and non-Bt cotton. These parameters seem to explain the low susceptibility of S. frugiperda to Cry1Ac toxin and they are a viable set of responses for the evaluation of other xenobiotic factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Barcelos ◽  
Fabrício O. Fernandes ◽  
Caroline Lopes ◽  
Beatriz M. Emygdio ◽  
Ricardo Valgas ◽  
...  

Saccharine sorghum has been analyzed as a supplementary prime matter for ethanol production, especially during the sugarcane off-season period. However, it has proven to be highly susceptible to insect attacks during the cultivation cycle. The fall armyworm should be emphasized due to its voracity and high damage capacity enhanced by feeding-caused decrease in photosynthetic area. Current analysis studies the biology and determines the nutritional indexes of Spodoptera frugiperda in saccharine sorghum. Cultivars of saccharine sorghum BRS 506, BRS 509 and BRS 511were evaluated. Duration and survival of the egg, caterpillar, pre-pupal and pupal phases were determined, coupled to weight of pupae and caterpillar, life span, fecundity and pre-egg laying period. Although S. frugiperda completed its life cycle on cultivars BRS 506 and BRS 511, egg-laying and egg feasibility rates were low, whereas insects did not lay eggs on cultivar BRS 509. There was no significant difference in feeding intake by S. frugiperda among these three sorghum cultivars. Results suggest that saccharine sorghum is not a suitable host for S. frugiperda. Biological data reveal that the three saccharine sorghum cultivars are recommended for the grain production system since the number of specimens of the next generation is low or null.


2008 ◽  
pp. 1409-1412
Author(s):  
E. S. Krafsur ◽  
R. D. Moon ◽  
R. Albajes ◽  
O. Alomar ◽  
Elisabetta Chiappini ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document