ABSTRACT
Aims: Subterranean termites, Globitermes sulphureus is one of the significant pests for agricultural crops such as coconut and oil palm, and occasionally attacks building structure in Malaysia. Efforts to control subterranean termite infestations depended heavily on liquid termiticide applications. Natural pathogen of termites such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is a promising alternative to chemical control. The objective of this study was to determine the most virulent EPF such as Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. against the subterranean termites, G. sulphureus for the development of bio-insecticide for future use of termite control. Methodology and results: Subterranean termites were collected from mound-building termites found in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Cultivating, harvesting and counting of conidia of EPF were carried out to prepare the desired concentrations for screening test and bioassays, which were 1×103 , 1x105 , 1×107 and control. The pathogenicity testing was observed daily within 1 week under laboratory conditions. Screening showed that M. anisopliae was found to be the most virulent compared to B. bassiana and Paecilomyces sp., achieving 100% mortality within 3-4 days. M. anisopliae was then further tested on termites and it was found that concentration of 1×107 showed the lowest LT50 value, while LC50 of M. anisopliae in 1 day was 2.0151×106 . Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It could be concluded that M. anisopliae is the most virulent EPF against termites and the most effective concentration was ±107 followed by strains of B. bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. However, there is limited field evaluation of EPF against termites in Malaysia. Evaluation on the efficiency of M. anisopliae in the field should be conducted so that its efficacy could be proven and marketed.
ABSTRACT
Entomopathogenic fungi are important controllers of pest-insects populations in agricultural production systems and in natural environment. These fungi have enzymatic machinery which involve since the recognition and adherence of spores in their hosts culminating with infection and death of these insects. The main objective of this study was to analyzed extracellular enzyme production of the fungi strains Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces sp when cultured on substrates. These fungi were grown in minimal media containing specific substrates for the analysis of different enzymes such as amylases, cellulases, esterases, lipases, proteases (gelatin and caseinase), pectinases and cuticles of Musca domestica larvae and adults. All the assays were performed with and without the presence of dextrose in the culture media. The quantification of enzyme activity was performed by the ratio of halo / colony (H/C) and the results subjected to variance analysis level of 5% (ANOVA) followed by post-Tukey test. All strains were positive for lipase and also they showed a high significant enzyme production for gelatin at concentrations of 4 and 1%. B. bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. were positive for amylase, pectinase and caseinase, and only Paecilomyces sp. showed cellulase activity.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Pests , Beauveria/genetics , Entomology , Hydrolases/analysis , Insecta , Mitosporic Fungi , Metarhizium/enzymology , Metarhizium/pathogenicity , Paecilomyces/enzymology , Spores, Fungal , Enzyme Activation , Methods , VirulenceABSTRACT
O efeito fungitóxico, in vitro, de três inseticidas neonicotinóides, acetamiprid (Saurus 200 PS), imidacloprid (Confidor 700 GrDA) e thiamethoxam (Actara 250 WG) em três concentrações (RM = recomendação média para campo, 0,7 RM e 1,3 RM), foi avaliado sobre os fungos entomopatogênicos Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae e Paecilomyces sp. O efeito dos inseticidas sobre a germinação dos conídios, o crescimento vegetativo e a produção de conídios também foi avaliado. Os resultados mostraram que os produtos não afetaram a germinação dos conídios, com exceção do acetamiprid na maior concentração (1,3 RM) onde ocorreu uma inibição (Pú0,05) de M. anisopliae. O crescimento vegetativo foi inibido nos tratamentos acetamiprid, nas três concentrações, para B. bassiana e M. anisopliae. Também no tratamento thiamethoxam, na concentração RM e 1,3 RM o crescimento vegetativo foi inferior à testemunha para B. bassiana. Para Paecilomyces sp. o crescimento vegetativo foi superior ao da testemunha para os tratamentos 0,7 RM e RM de acetamiprid, todas as concentrações de imidacloprid e as duas menores de thiamethoxam. A produção de conídios foi menor para o tratamento de acetamiprid na maior concentração (1,3 RM) para os fungos Paecilomyces sp. e M. anisopliae e para imidacloprid na maior concentração (1,3 RM) para Paecilomyces sp. Já thiamethoxam inibiu a produção de conídios somente na menor concentração (0,7 RM) para M. anisopliae. Aumento de produção de conídios foi observado somente nos tratamentos acetamiprid nas duas menores concentrações (0,7 RM) e RM e thiamethoxam nas duas maiores (RM e 1,3 RM) para o fungo Paecilomyces sp. Assim, os inseticidas testados nas concentrações e formulações utilizadas mostraram, na maioria dos casos, compatibilidade com os entomopatógenos B. bassiana, M. anisopliae e Paecilomyces sp. Portanto, estes produtos poderão ser recomendados em programas de MIP, nas formulações e concentrações testadas, para o controle...
The in vitro fungitoxic effect of the neonicotinoid insecticides acetamiprid (Saurus 200 SP), imidacloprid (Confidor 700 WDGr) and thiamethoxam (Actara 250 WG) in three concentrations (AR= average field recommendation; 0.7 AR and 1.3 AR) to the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces sp. was studied. The effect of the insecticides on conidia germination, vegetative growth and conidiogenesis was compared. The insecticides had no effect on conidia germination, except under the highest concentration (1.3 AR) of acetamiprid, in which significant inhibition of M. anisopliae occurred. Vegetative growth of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae was significantly inhibited only by the three concentrations of acetamiprid treatment. Thiamethoxam treatment, in the AR and 1.3 AR concentrations, was significantly lower for B. bassiana vegetative growth. Paecilomyces sp. vegetative growth was higher than the control in the following treatments: 0.7 AR and AR of acetamiprid; all concentrations of imidacloprid; and in the two smallest concentrations, 0.7 AR and AR, of thiamethoxam. Conidia production was significantly smaller for Paecilomyces sp. and M. anisopliae, in the highest concentration (1.3 AR) of acetamiprid treatment and, for Paecilomyces sp., in the highest concentration (1.3 AR) of imidacloprid. Thiamethoxam significantly inhibited M. anisopliae conidia production, only in the smallest concentration (0.7 AR).Significant increase in the conidia production of Paecilomyces sp. fungus was observed in the following treatments: two concentrations, 0.7 AR and AR of acetamiprid; and in the two highest concentrations, AR and 1.3 AR, of thiamethoxam treatments. The use of insecticides, in the recommended formulations and other concentrations tested, in most cases, had no negative effect on conidia germination, conidia production and vegetative growth of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and Paecilomyces sp. Consequently...