Biological control potential of entomopathogenic fungal strains against peach Fruit fly,Bactrocera zonata(Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

The peachfruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is a polyphagous pest in nature, belonging to order, Diptera and their respective family is Tephritidae. It mostly feeds on different crops, vegetables and fruits. Different traditional chemical insecticides have been used to control this notorious pest. Excessive consumption of pesticides has become a major threat to the fresh fruits trade since many importing countries refused to accept the shipments due to public health and environmental concerns. There is a growing trend to control these pests using the most effective biological control methods and other preventive measures have been adopted for reducing their attacks. Fungal agents have been used as biological agents to manage the attack of different insects pest through biological means. The present study was conducted to assess the virulence of three entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii, against Bactrocera zonata stages under different laboratory conditions. The results showed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were more effective in pathogenicity and potentially kill at all stages of B. zonata as compared to V. lecanii. The highest mortality rate for the third larval instar and the pupal stage were recorded after exposure to the 1 × 1010 conidia/ml concentrations, B. bassiana, with 68.67% and 89.67%, respectively. Adult B. zonata flies were the most susceptible to all entomopathogenic fungi. However, M. anisopliae was more virulent against B. zonata adult flies than B. bassiana and V. lecanii at 1 × 1010 conidial concentration. Therefore, the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae can be used as an cost effective bio-insecticide in the integrated pest management programs to control B. zonata. This study will be helpful to overcome this pest through biological control means.

Field evaluation of glutathione and glutamic acid as host marking pheromones for control of Tephritid fruit flies in a mango orchard in Kenya

“…Various management techniques are used to control fruit flies including use of biological control agents such as parasitoids, predators and pathogens, 6 synthetic insecticides, 7 and cultural methods, such as early harvesting, fruit bagging, and orchard sanitation, 7–9 within an integrated pest management (IPM) framework.…”

“…4 Indirect losses are primarily linked to quarantine restrictions imposed by importing countries to prevent the entry and establishment of fruit flies and farmers exceeding maximum residue levels by overuse of pesticides, which restricts free trade and export of fresh horticultural produce to lucrative international markets. 5 Various management techniques are used to control fruit flies including use of biological control agents such as parasitoids, predators and pathogens, 6 synthetic insecticides, 7 and cultural methods, such as early harvesting, fruit bagging, and orchard sanitation, [7][8][9] within an integrated pest management (IPM) framework.…”

First Report of Field Efficacy and Economic Viability of Metarhizium anisopliae-ICIPE 20 for Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Management on Tomato

“…Among the sustainable, one safe option being explored is to develop pest-specific microbial biopesticides from entomopathogens [15][16][17][18]. For instance, the fungal-based biopesticide is reported to kill the host insect in 7 to 21 days by contact through a process that starts with viable spores attaching to the cuticle of the insect, germinating and producing a penetrating germ tube and establishing a systemic infection which finally kills the host (https://realipm.com (accessed on 4 July 2019)) [19].…”