Author:
Islam Shah Mohammad Naimul,Chowdhury Md. Zahid Hasan,Mim Mahjabin Ferdaous,Momtaz Milia Bente,Islam Tofazzal
Abstract
AbstractThe entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Beauveria bassiana, is reported as the most potent biological control agent against a wide range of insect families. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the native B. bassiana from various soil habitats in Bangladesh and to evaluate the bio-efficacy of these isolates against an important vegetable insect pest, Spodoptera litura. Seven isolates from Bangladeshi soils were characterized as B. bassiana using genomic analysis. Among the isolates, TGS2.3 showed the highest mortality rate (82%) against the 2nd instar larvae of S. litura at 7 days after treatment (DAT). This isolate was further bioassayed against different stages of S. litura and found that TGS2.3 induced 81, 57, 94, 84, 75, 65, and 57% overall mortality at egg, neonatal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae, respectively, over 7 DAT. Interestingly, treatment with B. bassiana isolate TGS2.3 resulted in pupal and adult deformities as well as decreased adult emergence of S. litura. Taken together, our results suggest that a native isolate of B. bassiana TGS2.3 is a potential biocontrol agent against the destructive insect pest S. litura. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the bio-efficacy of this promising native isolate in planta and field conditions.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference45 articles.
1. Islam, S. M. N. Systematics, Ecology and Plant Associations of Australian Species of the Genus Metarhizium (Queensland University of Technology, 2018).
2. Dhanapal, R., Kumar, D., Lakshmipathy, R., Rani, C. S. & Kumar, V. M. Isolation of indigenous strains of the white halo fungus as a biological control agent against 3rd instar larvae of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Egypt. J. Biol. Pest Control 30, 1–5 (2020).
3. Kaur, S., Kaur, H. P., Kaur, K. & Kaur, A. Effect of different concentrations of Beauveria bassiana on development and reproductive potential of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). J. Biopest. 4, 161 (2011).
4. Mkenda, P. A. et al. Knowledge gaps among smallholder farmers hinder adoption of conservation biological control. Biocontrol Sci. Tech. 30, 256–277 (2020).
5. Dhar, S., Jindal, V., Jariyal, M. & Gupta, V. Molecular characterization of new isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and their efficacy against the tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Egypt. J. Biol. Pest Control 29, 1–9 (2019).