Virulence of Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus for the Microbial Control of Spodoptera exigua

The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is difficult to control using chemical insecticides because of the development of insecticide resistance. Several pest control agents are used to control the beet armyworm. Entomopathogenic fungi are one of the candidates for eco-friendly pest control instead of chemical control agents. In this study, among various entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from soil two isolates were selected as high virulence pathogens against larva of beet armyworm. Control efficacy of fungal conidia was influenced by conidia concentration, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The isolates Metarhizium anisopliae FT83 showed 100% cumulative mortality against second instar larvae of S. exigua 3 days after treatment at 1 x 10(7) conidia/mL and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus FG340 caused 100% mortality 6 days after treatment at 1 x 10(4) conidia/mL. Both M. anisopliae FT83 and P. fumosoroseus FG340 effectively controlled the moth at 20~30degrees C. M. anisopliae FT83 was significantly affected mortality by RH: mortality was 86.7% at 85% RH and 13.4% at 45% RH. P. fumosoroseus FG340 showed high mortality as 90% at 45% RH and 100% at 75% RH 6 days after conidia treatments. These results suggest that P. fumosoroseus FG340 and M. anisopliae FT83 have high potential to develop as a biocontrol agent against the beet armyworm.

The Optimal Culture Conditions Affecting the Mycelial Growth and Fruiting Body Formation of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus

The fruiting body of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus was collected at Mt. Mani, Ganghwa Island, Korea in September, 2001. This study was carried out to obtain the basic informations for the mycelial growth and fruiting body production of P. fumosoroseus in artificial media. The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth were obtained at 25degrees C and in the range of pH 6~9, respectively. P. fumosoroseus showed the favorable growth on Hamada medium. The carbon and nitrogen source favorable for mycelial growth were dextrin and histidine, respectively. Optimum C/N ratio suitable for optimal growth of P. fumosoroseus was observed on the culture media adjusted to the ratio of 40:1. The mycelial growth of P. fumosoroseus was optimal on corn meal agar supplemented with 30% of silkworm pupae. The most favorable fruiting body formation of P. fumosoroseus was obtained in the medium containing unpolished rice supplemented with 20% (w/w) silk worm pupae at 25degrees C under 100 lux.