Development of mycoinsecticide formulations with Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum for the control of Orosanga japonica (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae)

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi are promising microbial agents for agricultural pests, especially piercing-sucking insects. In this study, eight indigenous fungal isolates including four isolates of Metarhizium brunneum and four isolates of Beauveria bassiana were tested on Orosanga japonica Melichar (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) in order to find an effective control agent that can be utilised for the development of oil-based fungal mycoinsecticides. In the screening test using 1 Â 10 7 spores ml À1 concentration, KTU-24 (B. bassiana) and KTU-51 (M. brunneum) had the highest lethal activity against nymphs and adults of the target pest. Also, at the highest concentration (10 9 spores ml À1 ), KTU-24 showed 92.33 and 94.88% mortality on nymphs and adults at the dose-response tests, respectively, and the KTU-51 isolate showed 100% mortality on both stages of O. japonica under laboratory conditions. With these results, KTU-24 and KTU-51 isolates were used to develop biopesticides. While the mass production of B. bassiana was carried out with liquid-state fermentation, solid-state fermentation was used for mass production of M. brunneum. Spores of both isolates were formulated in oil, and products were named as RICANICIDAL Bbas-TR61 and RICANICIDAL Met-TR61, respectively. Formulations caused over 97% mortality against nymphs and adults of O. japonica under field conditions and both formulations showed higher efficacy than commercial mycoinsecticides at 10 8 spores/ml concentration 20 days after treatment. The currents study shows that both mycoinsecticide formulations are highly promising for management of O. japonica.

Main directions of plants integrated protection in the conditions of organic agriculture

“…A group of scientists from Karadeniz Technical University analysed the effect of Bacillus thuringiensis on individuals of the cicada family, namely Orosanga japonica, and managed to find an insecticide concentration that caused mortality of more than 97% of pests (Biryol et al, 2021). However, in this study, such results were not achieved even when combining the treatment of crops with Bacillus thuringiensis and pyrethrum.…”

“…The concentration of Bacillus thuringiensis was selected based on the analysis of previous studies ( Shahini et al, 2021). Following the experiments, the use of entomopathogenic fungi contributes to 58% to 98% of insect mortality (Biryol et al, 2021), most often used to control aphids or whiteflies that can damage the stems and leaves of cabbage, which further affects the yield of the crop (Khun et al, 2021). Additional treatment with a pyrethrin solution was supposed to increase the efficiency of Bacillus thuringiensis.…”

Biocontrol of the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae) using indigenous entomopathogenic fungi

“…As in this study, EPF isolated from a particular host or soil have shown to be virulent to other hosts. Biryol et al (2021b) reported that soil originated M. anisopliae (KTU-51) isolate showed 100% mortality on Orosanga japonica Melichar (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae). Since L. occidentalis is known to accumulate for overwintering in many different places, e.g., under loose bark, in holes of dead logs, or in bird nests, conidial transmission among adults may be possible during this time.…”

A mycoinsecticide from Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) based on a solid-state fermentation method against some aphid species in Türkiye

“…EPF infections are not limited to chewing insects, as they are not required to be ingested or eaten. They are unique in controlling insect pests that feed by sucking plant or animal juices (Lacey and Goettel 1995;Biryol et al 2021;Eski et al 2022). Despite all of the control methods, strategies and agents, the aphid species continue to be a major agricultural and horticultural pest, and their harm is gradually increasing.…”