Pathogenicity of an Indigenous Strain of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) (MET-GRA4 Strain) as a Potential Biological Control Agent Against the Red Palm Weevil (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

Abstract

Metarhizium anisopliae Metchnikoff (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) is a fungal pathogen that causes disease in various insect pests, and it can be exploited and developed as a biological control agent to combat the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae). The study on indigenous isolates is crucial especially for development of bioinsecticides in the future. The M. anisopliae strain called MET-GRA4 was tested for pathogenicity against adult red palm weevil and treated in vitro with different spore viabilities. The isolates exhibited pathogenicity with 100% mortality 21 d postinfection. The median lethal time (LT50) for 85% viable spores was 8.6 d, while 39% viable spores had an LT50 value of 21.37 d, with 92 and 16.6% mycosis, respectively. The species MET-GRA4 strain was molecularly characterized using ITS1 and ITS4 from pure culture (Isolate A), mass-produced spores (Isolate B), and infected red palm weevil cadavers (Isolate C). The DNA sequences obtained matched M. anisopliae sequences, with 99% similarity. This new isolate of M. anisopliae has potential as a targeted bioinsecticide for management of red palm weevil.

Perspectives for Synergic Blends of Attractive Sources in South American Palm Weevil Mass Trapping: Waiting for the Red Palm Weevil Brazil Invasion

“…Regarding using traps with the aggregation pheromone associated with attractive sources, the experiences disbelieve the importance of defining a standardized system that makes it possible to attract and efficiently collect mass for R. ferrugineus [92]. The evaluation of three types of traps with pheromones PO28 Ferrolure and different VOCs (ethyl acetate, sugar cane cubes, and fruit pieces) obtained the best capture by the provided traps of the fermenting chamber and a cover with funnel [100]. Studies [99] have explored the opportunity to increase the mass trapping of R. ferrugineus by stump traps, lures, lure synergists such as ethyl acetate, kairomones, food baits, and yeast.…”

A Review of Entomopathogenic Nematodes as a Biological Control Agent for Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Much research has been carried out on the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against insect pests, especially on the RPW [ 55 ]. Besides EPNs, Metarhizhium anisopliae and Beuveria bassiana are entomopathogenic fungi commonly applied in IPM to kill RPWs in the field [ 56 , 57 , 58 ]. The pathogenicity of indigenous isolates, M. anisopliae strain MET-GRA4 against adult red palm weevils (RPWs), was investigated in vitro with different spore viabilities.…”

“…The pathogenicity of indigenous isolates, M. anisopliae strain MET-GRA4 against adult red palm weevils (RPWs), was investigated in vitro with different spore viabilities. The isolates were pathogenic, with 100% mortality 21 days after infection [ 58 ].…”

Integration of Entomopathogenic Fungi into IPM Programs: Studies Involving Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) Affecting Horticultural Crops

“…cf. foveatus [ 92 ], Anthonomus signatus [ 93 ], Cosmopolites sordidus [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 ], Cylas formicarius [ 103 , 104 ], C. puncticollis [ 105 ], Heilipus lauri [ 106 ], Hypothenemus hampei [ 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 ], Kuschelorhynchus macadamiae [ 119 ], Odoiporus longicollis [ 120 , 121 , 122 ], Pantorhytes plutus [ 65 ], Pityophthorus juglandis [ 123 ], Rhynchophorus ferrugineus [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 ,…”