Evaluation of strains of Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea to control sugarcane aphids on grain sorghum

Abstract

The sugarcane aphid [Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner)] has become a persistent problem to sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] producers in the United States since its first identification on grain sorghum near Beaumont, TX, in 2013. Since then, this aphid “super‐clone” has spread to almost all sorghum‐growing areas of the country. Growers have managed the sugarcane aphid using Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Group 4 insecticides and the use of resistant hybrids. In order to provide additional methods of control especially for organic sorghum production, two strains of the fungal entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana and one strain of Isaria fumosorosea as well as water and Sivanto (flupyradifurone) were applied to the sugarcane aphid susceptible sorghum hybrid DKS53‐53 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications at Tifton and Fort Valley, GA. Aphid number, plant damage, grain yield, plant dry biomass, and plant height were measured for each treatment. As compared to the treatment with water, only the plots treated with Sivanto had significantly less aphid number and plant damage and significantly more grain yield and increased plant height. Thus, the applied entomopathogens did not reduce sugarcane aphid number, did not reduce plant damage, and did not increase grain yield in either location as compared to the treatment with water (the negative control). Thus, these three strains of entomopathogens were ineffective for controlling the sugarcane aphid under these field conditions.

Field Efficacy of Proteolytic Entomopathogenic Fungi against Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner

“…The population then declined (Figures 4-7). In a previous study, Shultz [42] also found that the population of sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), gradually increased up to 57 days, after planting of the sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench plant, and then declined.…”

“…The population number of the SWA was counted before the first spray, and 3, 7, and 10 days after each spray, following a visual observation of the leaves. A total of 15 leaves were selected from each pit (of five established plants), of which three leaves (upper, middle, and lower) from each plant were examined for aphid counts [10,42]. Therefore, the aphid population per leaf was calculated as the mean population value of 15 leaves.…”

“…The leaf length (m) was measured from the base of the leaf blade to the tip of the leaf. The leaf width (cm) was taken at 30 cm from the base of the leaf blade [42,46,47].…”

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Management (WFM) Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review

“…Co-treatment of tomato with Steinernema carpocapsae Wesier and chemical pesticides thiacloprid/spiromesifen results in 86.5% and 94.3% whitefly mortality [238]. The entomopathogenic fungi have been used on a commercial scale for regulation of insect densities [236,239]. There are about 20 species of entomopagous fungi detrimental to whiteflies, but Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin, Cordyceps fumosorosea (Wize) Kepler, B. Shrestha Brown and G. Smith, and Isaria fumosoroseus (Wize) A.H.S have been extensively studied [13,240].…”

Bemisia tabaci on Vegetables in the Southern United States: Incidence, Impact, and Management

“…Entomopathogenic fungi are also major components of plant protection programs for managing economically important insect pests [276,310,[322][323][324][325]. Most entomopathogenic fungi infect their insect hosts by directly penetrating the cuticle [276].…”