Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Background The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is considered as one of the most destructive pests of many field crops in Egypt. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have long been accepted as relatively safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. In the past deca...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed, Shimaa Sayed Hassan Khalil, Ahmed Farahat Sahab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2022-06-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-022-00564-0
_version_ 1818469622045736960
author Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed
Shimaa Sayed Hassan Khalil
Ahmed Farahat Sahab
author_facet Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed
Shimaa Sayed Hassan Khalil
Ahmed Farahat Sahab
author_sort Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is considered as one of the most destructive pests of many field crops in Egypt. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have long been accepted as relatively safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. In the past decades, many researchers have compared the effective local isolates of EPF to the formulated product of the same fungus and reported that local isolates were more efficient than formulations when used against target insects. Results The present study discussed the pathogenic activity of local isolate after scientific characterization. Two insect species [Galleria mellonella L. and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.)] were used in this evaluation. The fungus was isolated from soil samples by trapping method, and fourth-instar larvae of Galleria were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the isolate. The isolate was identified as Beauveria bassiana. Different levels of the fungus development depending on the test temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) were tested. Optimal growth of the isolate fungus was recorded at 25 °C. The corrected mortality rate for fourth-instar larvae of G. mellonella treated with the isolate spores at 6.4 × 105 spores/ml was (96%) after 10 days, while the mortality of last instar larvae of A. ipsilon was (48 and 100%) at the concentrations of 9.2 × 104 and 2.9 × 106 spores/ml, respectively, after 14 days compared to (24%) in the control. Both pupation and the sex ratio in adults were affected at different levels according to the concentration. The effect was also very clear in the increased rates of malformation in adults. Conclusion The EPF, B. bassiana, isolated from the soil, was highly effective against G. mellonella larvae in storage and A. ipsilon larvae in soil; therefore, it could be recommended as an alternative control agent for chemical pesticides.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T21:27:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8ad7b502750e44bd8056ca5e2e46625b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2536-9342
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T21:27:12Z
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control
spelling doaj.art-8ad7b502750e44bd8056ca5e2e46625b2022-12-22T02:29:18ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control2536-93422022-06-013211810.1186/s41938-022-00564-0Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed0Shimaa Sayed Hassan Khalil1Ahmed Farahat Sahab2Department of Pests and Plant Protection, National Research CentreDepartment of Pests and Plant Protection, National Research CentreDepartment of Plant Pathology, National Research CentreAbstract Background The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is considered as one of the most destructive pests of many field crops in Egypt. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have long been accepted as relatively safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. In the past decades, many researchers have compared the effective local isolates of EPF to the formulated product of the same fungus and reported that local isolates were more efficient than formulations when used against target insects. Results The present study discussed the pathogenic activity of local isolate after scientific characterization. Two insect species [Galleria mellonella L. and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.)] were used in this evaluation. The fungus was isolated from soil samples by trapping method, and fourth-instar larvae of Galleria were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the isolate. The isolate was identified as Beauveria bassiana. Different levels of the fungus development depending on the test temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) were tested. Optimal growth of the isolate fungus was recorded at 25 °C. The corrected mortality rate for fourth-instar larvae of G. mellonella treated with the isolate spores at 6.4 × 105 spores/ml was (96%) after 10 days, while the mortality of last instar larvae of A. ipsilon was (48 and 100%) at the concentrations of 9.2 × 104 and 2.9 × 106 spores/ml, respectively, after 14 days compared to (24%) in the control. Both pupation and the sex ratio in adults were affected at different levels according to the concentration. The effect was also very clear in the increased rates of malformation in adults. Conclusion The EPF, B. bassiana, isolated from the soil, was highly effective against G. mellonella larvae in storage and A. ipsilon larvae in soil; therefore, it could be recommended as an alternative control agent for chemical pesticides.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-022-00564-0Entomopathogenic fungiIsolateBeauveria bassianaGalleria mellonellaAgrotis ipsilonTemperature
spellingShingle Adel Anwar Ismail Ahmed
Shimaa Sayed Hassan Khalil
Ahmed Farahat Sahab
Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control
Entomopathogenic fungi
Isolate
Beauveria bassiana
Galleria mellonella
Agrotis ipsilon
Temperature
title Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
title_full Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
title_fullStr Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
title_full_unstemmed Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
title_short Identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from Egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
title_sort identification and evaluation of isolated entomopathogenic fungus from egyptian soil against the black cutworm larvae of agrotis ipsilon hufnagel lepidoptera noctuidae
topic Entomopathogenic fungi
Isolate
Beauveria bassiana
Galleria mellonella
Agrotis ipsilon
Temperature
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-022-00564-0
work_keys_str_mv AT adelanwarismailahmed identificationandevaluationofisolatedentomopathogenicfungusfromegyptiansoilagainsttheblackcutwormlarvaeofagrotisipsilonhufnagellepidopteranoctuidae
AT shimaasayedhassankhalil identificationandevaluationofisolatedentomopathogenicfungusfromegyptiansoilagainsttheblackcutwormlarvaeofagrotisipsilonhufnagellepidopteranoctuidae
AT ahmedfarahatsahab identificationandevaluationofisolatedentomopathogenicfungusfromegyptiansoilagainsttheblackcutwormlarvaeofagrotisipsilonhufnagellepidopteranoctuidae