Performance and Virulence of the Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana Grown in Media Derived from Biodegradable Agricultural Wastes Enriched with Cricket Powder

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can be an eco-friendly alternative to control pests. To produce large-scale EPF requires underused economical substrates containing high carbon and nitrogen; hence the production could be cost-effective. This study investigates the effects of organic agricultural waste, i.e., rice bran, rice husks, tea dregs, and wheat bran enriched with cricket powder as culture media on the mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidia viability of Beauveria bassiana and the fungal pathogenicity towards Spodoptera litura larvae. For each type of medium, five independent cultures of B. bassiana are treated as replications. B. bassiana grown on a PDA medium is treated as a control. This study shows that rice bran enriched with cricket powder became the most suitable waste medium to support the mass production of virulent B. bassiana. Therefore, rice bran media enriched with cricket powder can be used as an appropriate medium for the mass production of B. bassiana.

The effect of chitin on the effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana formulation product to control cocoa pod borer in vitro

“…This finding is in accord with previous research declaring that chitin is an essential source of carbon and nitrogen, where the main components of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids (Gerding et al, 2007), for mycelium development and the generation of fungal conidia (Afandhi et al, 2023;Barreto et al, 2004). For chitinolytic organisms, this carbon source can improve their efficiency of growth and multiplication (Gerding et al, 2007;Saputro et al, 2019).…”

“…This bioassay resulted in Bb-P2, applied chitin addition into PDA and PDB as the subculture media and the rice for mass production, is the most suitable method for formulation of the B. bassiana to kill the CPB pupa. The carbon and nitrogen (CN) ratio of each medium affects germination (Mustafa & Kaur, 2009), morphological growth (Deb et al, 2017), and conidia production (Afandhi et al, 2023;Mustafa & Kaur, 2009) of B. bassiana isolates. Afandhi et al (2023) explained that the rise of conidia production is related to the content of the CN ratio.…”

“…The carbon and nitrogen (CN) ratio of each medium affects germination (Mustafa & Kaur, 2009), morphological growth (Deb et al, 2017), and conidia production (Afandhi et al, 2023;Mustafa & Kaur, 2009) of B. bassiana isolates. Afandhi et al (2023) explained that the rise of conidia production is related to the content of the CN ratio. It may imply that the difference in nutrient content between carbon and nitrogen as a nutrient source became an essential factor in producing the fungal bioinsecticide.…”

“…According to Saputro et al (2019), adding chitin to the growth media can increase the effectivity of B. bassiana in controlling Cyclas formicarius pest. Furthermore, Afandhi et al (2023) study informed that for mass production of virulent B. bassiana, rice bran combined with cricket flour was the most appropriate waste medium. The insect's mortality caused by using entomopathogenic fungus happens due to the presence of poisonous chemicals and enzymes in their host.…”

“…Chitin-based powder addition to the culture media of B. bassiana can induce chitinase enzymes used to control insect pests (Afandhi et al, 2023). This condition may result in maintaining entomopathogenic fungal infection (Herlinda et al, 2006).…”