The Investigation of the Biological Control of Icerya purchasi Maskell, 1878 (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) with Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract

Cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi Maskell, 1878 (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) is an important pest that inhibits the plant growth and development by sap sucking of the plants, and causes sooty mold in more than 200 plant species, especially in citrus plantation. The present study investigated the biological control of the nymphs and adult I. purchasi, which densely populates the mimosa plants (Acacia dealbata) in Artvin, Turkey. For this purpose, one fungal isolate [Beauveria bassiana (ET 10)] and eight bacterial strains [Brevibacillus brevis (CP-1), Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kenyae (FDP-8, FDP-42), B. thuringiensis (FDP-1), B. sphaericus (FD-49), B. pumilus (TV-67C), Pseudomonas fluorescens (RK-1773) and B. atrophaeus (RK-1774)] were assessed against the nymphs and adult of I. purchasi under controlled conditions. Fungal and bacterial suspensions were sprayed onto 20 nymphs and 20 adults of I. purchasi in plastic boxes. The death rates of the nymphs and adults were recorded. The B. bassiana (ET 10) caused a death up to 100% and 80% in nymphs and adults, respectively. Moreover, P. flourescens (RK 1773) caused 90.5% death of nymphs and B. thuringiensis subsp. kenyae (FDP-42) presented 88.5% death to the nymphs of I. purchase. However, the use of the bacterial strains was not much successful against the adults, as compared to the nymphs.

Biological Control of Coniella granati Saccardo in Pomegranate

“…Tozlu et al (2016), tested two isolates of B. substilis in vitro and in vivo against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and determined that TV 17C isolates were highly effective in preventing the disease. Again, Tozlu et al (2017) and Tozlu et al (2018c) noted that the same isolate yielded effective results against Penicillium digitatum and Alternaria alternata, respectively. These results indicate that TV 17C is also effective on other pathogens.…”

“…These results indicate that TV 17C is also effective on other pathogens. In addition, Tozlu et al (2018c) showed that this isolate inhibits the development of the pathogen by degrading the chitin found in the cell wall of the pathogen with glucanase and protease enzymes. In this study, the fact that TV 17C at 64.29% in vitro conditions prevented the development of C. granati showed that this bacterial isolate can be used as an important biological warfare agent.…”