Ground and tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelidae) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: a provisional faunistic checklist based on literature data.

  A provisional checklist and a synopsis of published records and localities (occurrence data) in Ethiopia for ground and tiger beetles are presented. The checklist comprises 878 species, of which 313 (ca. 36%) are endemic or potentially endemic (i.e., so far not recorded from elsewhere) to Ethiopia. In addition, 36 Ethiopian endemic subspecies are listed. The known distribution of each species and subspecies is shown in grid cell-based distributional maps. An annotated gazetteer of included collection localities is provided with the respective synonymic names and variant spellings used in the literature.

In Vitro Evaluation of Extracellular Enzyme Activity and Its Biocontrol Efficacy of Bacterial Isolates from Pepper Plants for the Management of Phytophthora capsici.

Phytophthora capsici is one of the most devastating fungal pathogens, causing severe diseases that lead to economic loss in the pepper industry. As a result of the infections, the chemical approach is becoming more popular. Biological control, on the other hand, is better suited to controlling fungal pathogens. The biological control approach significantly reduces the problems associated with chemical applications while restoring natural environmental balance. As a result, the overall findings indicate that certain bacterial isolates play a beneficial role in lytic enzyme production and biocontrol activities against P. capsici. Bacterial isolates obtained from the pepper plants were screened for lytic enzyme and anti-oomycete activity against Phytophthora capsici in Ethiopia. Sixty bacterial isolates were isolated and tested against Phytophthora capsici. From these bacterial isolates, different inhibition zones and hydrolytic enzyme production were detected. Biochemical tests using an automated machine (MALDI-TOF, VITEK 2 compact and 16S rRNA) revealed that three of them, AAUSR23, AAULE41, and AAULE51, showed a high inhibition zone and high production of hydrolytic enzymes and were identified as Enterobacter cloacae (AAUSR23), Pseudomonas fluorescens (AAULE41), and undetermined (AAULE51). The effects of diffusable metabolite isolate AAULE51 has a 66.7% inhibition zone against Phytophthora capsici, followed by AAULE41 and AAUSR23, which have 59.7% and 14.1% inhibition zones, respectively. These bacterial isolates showed high production of hydrolytic enzymes like protease, cellulase, chitinase, and lipase (5-34 diameter of inhibition zone). As a result, the overall findings show that selected bacterial isolates play a beneficial role in lytic enzyme production and for their biocontrol activities against P. capsici.

In-vitro compatibility assay of indigenous Trichoderma and Pseudomonas species and their antagonistic activities against black root rot disease (Fusarium solani) of faba bean (Vicia faba L.).

BACKGROUND: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivation is highly challenged by faba bean black root rot disease (Fusarium solani) in high lands of Ethiopia. To ensure sustainable production of faba beans, searching for eco-friendly disease management options is necessary to curb the progress of the disease timely. The indigenous biocontrol agents that suit local environments may effectively strive with in-situ microorganisms and suppress local pathogen strains. This study aimed to screen antagonistic indigenous compatible Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains against Fusarium solani. In the pathogenicity test, soil-filled pots were arranged in complete random block design and sown with health faba bean seeds. The effect of some fungicides was evaluated against Fusarium by food poisoning methods to compare with the biocontrol agents. The antagonistic efficacy of biocontrol agents and their compatibility was investigated on Potato dextrose agar medium. RESULTS: Fusarium solani AAUF51 strain caused an intense root rotting in faba bean plant. The effect of Mancozeb 80% WP at 300 ppm was comparable with Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains against Fusarium. The mycelial growth of test the pathogen was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced to 86.67 and 85.19% by Trichoderma harzianum AAUW1 and Trichoderma viridae AAUC22 strains in dual culture, respectively. The volatile metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31 (77.78%) found the most efficient in reducing mycelial growth of Fusarium followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 (71.11%) strains. The cell-free culture filtrates of Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31 were more efficient than the Trichoderma strain in reducing the growth of Fusarium isolates. There was no zone of inhibition recorded between Trichoderma harzianum AAUW1, Trichoderma viridae AAUC22, Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31, and Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 strains, hence they were mutually compatible. CONCLUSIONS: The compatible Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains showed antagonistic potentiality that could be explored for faba bean protection against black root rot disease and might have a future dual application as biocontrol agents.