Toxicity of the insect growth regulator lufenuron on the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin assessed by conidia germination speed parameter

Abstract

Metarhizium anisopliae has been considered a promising alternative with low environmental impacts for the biological control of a variety of insect-pests. Another alternative is the use of biological pesticides such as insect growth regulators, including lufenuron. An assessment of the potential impact of fungicides on M. anisopliae is of critical importance to integrated pest management, permitting the compatible use of this entomopathogen with chemical defensives. Based on this, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of lufenuron on the conidia germination speed of M. anisopliae. Conidia were incubated at 28°C and sampled throughout 12 h. Bayesian analysis showed an inhibition of conidia germination in the presence of 2.0 mg/ml of lufenuron, whereas their compatibility was observed in the concentrations of 1.0 mg/ml and 700 µg/ml. It indicates that in these last two concentrations, the fungicide has no toxicity on M. anisopliae, what suggests that it can be employed in biological-chemical combinations, maintaining viable the fungal inoculums after its application in the field, with a low environmental impact.

Lufenuron induces reproductive toxicity and genotoxic effects in pregnant albino rats and their fetuses

“…What deepens the problem is that most of the chemicals that are used as pesticides are not necessarily selective; however, they may be generally toxic to many non-target species, including man, and other lifeforms 49 . The controversy that is generated regarding the excessive use of chemical pesticides leads to the evolution of more biologically harmful pesticides, such as IGRs, including lufenuron that was previously considered to be safe 50,51 . www.nature.com/scientificreports/ One of the major concerns about the consequences of pesticide residue exposure is the transmission of exposure-induced damage to the next generations.…”

Efecto de Metarhizium robertsii asociado al lufenuron en la mortalidad de Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…Resultados similares fueron demostrados por Alves et al (2011); mediante los mismos agentes y verificaron la compatibilidad entre ambos, en las concentraciones de 0,7 y 1g/L de lufenuron, sin embargo, con 2g/L hubo inhibición en la germinación de conidios. También observaron que a la concentración más baja hubo un aumento en la velocidad inicial de germinación, lo que indica la ocurrencia de hormesis (baja dosis de estimulación).…”

“…La combinación del hongo M. robertsii con insecticidas es un componente importante del MIP (Alves et al, 2011;Jaramillo et al, 2005). Existen algunos estudios sobre la asociación de M. robertsii con insecticidas botánicos, reguladores de crecimiento, o con tierra de diatomeas, bacterias y nematodos que muestran la compatibilidad y el efecto aditivo de esa combinación.…”

Exposure to Lufenuron During the Third Gestational Period Induces Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Effects in Pregnant Albino Rats and Their Fetuses

“…The fact that most of the currently approved insecticides may be also toxic to several non-target species, including humans, aggravates the problem (Ilboudo et al, 2014). Moreover, the controversy about the excessive use of insecticides eventually led to the development and use of more biologically harmful insecticides, such lufenuron and other IGRs that were previously considered to be safe (Alves et al, 2011;Payá et al, 2009).…”