Efficiency of Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Abstract

The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) (Coleoptera, Dryophthoridae) is a well-known palm tree pest that has caused enormous economic damage all over the globe. Insecticides are still the primary method of controlling this pest at this period. However, field populations of RPW have been shown to be resistant to pesticides. Using Bacillus spp. might be one of the options for controlling R. ferruginous. In this study, 23 species of Bacillus spp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of date palm trees in Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. The isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. R. ferrugineus larvae and adults were tested on sugarcane pieces that were treated with the B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 and B. cereus strains (PDC-AHSAA2, PDC-AHSA3 and PDC-AHSA4). The LC50 values for larvae and adults were quite low when they were compared with those of the other isolated strains. The B. thuringiensis strain PDC-AHSAA1 was more effective against both the larvae and adults. The determined LC50 values for B. thuringiensis ranged from 4.19 × 107 - 3.78 × 109. After 21 days, the data on larval mortality and body weight were evaluated. The surviving larvae that were treated with the bacterial isolates did not acquire a substantial weight. For the RPW larvae and adults, the mortality and corrected mortality death rates were increased by increasing the concentration of B. thuringiensis. In conclusion, Bacillus-treated diets negatively influenced the growth and development of the RPW. This research reported on the interaction between the RPW and the rhizosphere Bacillus spp. and highlighted the tremendous potential for the development of microbial resource-based control strategies for this pest.

Advancements in Date Palm Genomics and Biotechnology Genomic Resources to the Precision Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review

“…Target Pest Mechanism of Action Beauveria bassiana [53,54] Red palm weevil Entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae [55] Dubas bug Entomopathogenic fungus Bacillus thuringiensis [56] Various pests Bacterial toxins Trichogramma spp. [57,58] Date moth Egg parasitoid…”

Sustainable Pest Management in Date Palm Ecosystems: Unveiling the Ecological Dynamics of Red Palm Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Infestations

“…The effectiveness of B. thuringiensis, an entomopathogenic bacterium known for producing insecticidal crystal proteins, has been studied against both larvae and adults of the RPW. In lab tests, B. thuringiensis and B. cereus showed high efficacy in controlling RPW larvae and adults [75]. Another investigation using the nematode S. carpocapsae in combination with chitosan (Biorend R ® ) reported high larval mortality (>50%) at a concentration as low as 0.5 mg/mL, with mortality reaching 85% at 2.0 mg/mL [76].…”

Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis ZW3 Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis and Enhances Gut Homeostasis

“…It has gained widespread recognition for its role as a biotechnological producer of enzymes, antibiotics, and bioactive peptides, owing to its efficient secretion capacity and ability to thrive in various fermentation conditions [ 12 ]. Additionally, Bacillus species have been employed in plant biocontrol and agricultural pest management strategies [ 13 , 14 ]. Notably, the spore-forming nature of Bacillus confers high resistance and makes them well-suited for processing, storage, and survival in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, establishing their potential as probiotics [ 15 ].…”