Differential Efficacies of Nomuraea Rileyi and Isaria Fumosorosea on Some Serious Pests and the Pests’ Efficient Predator Prevailing in Tomato Fields in Egypt

Abstract

The efficiency of the two microbial control agents Nomuraea rileyi and Isaria fumosorosea, were evaluated against Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae pests in tomato cultivations The safety levels of the agents, to the predator Coccinella undecimpunctata, were also studied under laboratory and field conditions. Results showed that under laboratory conditions, LC50 values for N. rileyi and I. fumosorosea were 103.7x104 and 139.4x104 spores/ml against B. tabaci, respectively, while the corresponding values for M. persicae were 89.1x104 and 149.8x104 spores/ml, respectively. Under the field conditions, the percentages of infested plants with B. tabaci and M. persicae were significantly decreased after treatments with both fungi as compared with the corresponding controls. At the El-Esraa farm (Nobaria region), the weights of the tomato yield were 2,417 and 2,911 kg/feddan when I. fumosorosea and N. rileyi were applied respectively, as compared with 2,010 kg/feddan in the corresponding controls. The corresponding yields in El-Kassaseen were 2,699 and 2,999 kg/feddan, respectively, as compared to 1,990 kg/feddan in the control. The present study showed that C. undecimpunctata exhibit relatively high and reasonable resistance to N. rileyi and I. fumosorosea at the highest lethal concentration (1x108 spores/ml) for both tested preys.

Bibliometric analysis of global research on fungal Metarhizium rileyi based on Web of Science

“…Since 2001, after the arrival of soybean Asian rust in the country, studies and the incidence of these entomopathogens have decreased, raising the status of the species C. includens from secondary pest to primary pest in soybean (Braga et al., 2011; Godoy et al., 2016; Zulin et al., 2018). Studies aimed at the maintenance of natural enemies have increased in crops where management is used, and the incidence of the fungus is more evident, demonstrating high potential for control and minimal or non‐existent risks against natural enemies like Coccinella undecimpunctata (Matter & Sabbour, 2013).…”

Metarhizium rileyi with broad‐spectrum insecticidal ability confers resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests as a phytoendophyte

“…44 EPF has been found to exert direct control effects on various agricultural and forestry pests including S. litura, S. frugiperda, Anticarsia gemmatalis and Heliothis zea. 20,27,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51] However, M. rileyi was regarded as an entomopathogenic fungus with a narrow host range, which distinguishes it from the other Metarhizium species with broad host ranges. 52 There have been a few reports on the broad-spectrum control effects of M. rileyi against Asian corn borers and rice stem borers that cause huge damage to cereal crops, and aphids such as R. maidis and A. pisum that harm both cereal and vegetable crops.…”