Effect of Beauveria bassiana-Seed Treatment on Zea mays L. Response against Spodoptera frugiperda

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda is a widely distributed insect pest that causes major economic losses in various crops, particularly maize. On the other hand, Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that establishes symbiotic associations with many plants and contributes to tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present work, in laboratory experiments, the effects of the B. bassiana strain GHA, in addition to a native strain (PTG4), delivered via seed treatment in maize seedlings, were evaluated on S. frugiperda growth, development, and mortality. We inoculated maize seeds with 1 × 106B. bassiana blastospores; then these seeds were germinated and grown to seedlings under growth chamber conditions. Third-instar S. frugiperda larvae were allowed to feed on B. bassiana-treated and -untreated (negative control) seedlings until reaching the sixth instar and transferred to an artificial diet until reaching adult stage. Results showed that larvae feeding on B. bassiana strain PTG4-treated plants prolonged their larval stage. Furthermore, feeding on plants treated with B. bassiana strains yielded fewer S. frugiperda male moths compared with feeding with the untreated control plants. Under field conditions, 1 × 106 (first trial) and 1 × 108 (second trial) of B. bassiana (GHA strain) blastospores were used for corn seed inoculation. In the first field trial, there were a higher number of larvae in the negative control plants compared to those in the plants treated with B. bassiana. No larvae were found in negative control and B. bassiana-treated plants in the second field trial. In conclusion, seed treatment with B. bassiana in maize reduced S. frugiperda infestation of maize plants in field trials. S. frugiperda development was also affected in laboratory trials.

Field Efficacy, Sub-lethal, and Biochemical Effects of Certain Biorational Insecticides Against the New Intruder, Spodoptera frugiperda in Bani-Suef, Upper Egypt

“…In contrary, Gao et al ( 2021 ) found that the exposed 3rd instar larvae of S. frugiperda to sub-lethal concentrations of spinetoram had no effects on the emergence rate of adults. Nevertheless, feeding of the 3rd to 6th instars larvae of S. frugiperda on maize seedlings inoculated with B. bassiana (1 × 10 6 spores mL −1 ) reproduced fewer adult male moths compared to the control treatment (Kuzhuppillymyal-Prabhakarankutty et al 2021 ). We also observed no significant changes in the adult longevities of both instar larvae treated with the selected insecticides and their control treatments.…”

Biological Control of Diamondback Moth—Increased Efficacy with Mixtures of Beauveria Fungi

“…The isolate B. bassiana GHA has been developed into several commercially available biopesticide products (BotaniGard ® ES and Mycotrol ® ) (BioWorks, Inc., New York, NY, USA) in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the US [ 46 , 47 , 60 ]. The isolate is able to control a diversity of invertebrate pests, including DBM [ 48 ], Colorado potato beetle [ 61 ], emerald ash borer [ 62 ], tobacco whitefly [ 63 ], plant bugs [ 64 ], coffee borer beetle [ 65 ], house fly [ 66 ], western cherry fruit fly [ 67 ], and fall armyworm [ 68 ]. Testing isolates CTL20 and I12 Damo against other insect pests is required to assess their host range and examine their consistency.…”

In Planta Detection of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Strains as Endophytes in Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…Some protect host plants from stress and promote their growth [ 3 , 4 ]. In addition to Beauveria bassiana ’s potential as an entomopathogen, this fungus establishes as an endophyte, after being naturally implanted in plant tissues or artificially applied, which protects from herbivores [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], pathogens [ 8 , 9 ], or abiotic stress, among others [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”