Aug 2026· Journal of Experimental Agriculture International· 0 citations
TL;DR
Findings indicate that compatible combinations of M. anisopliae with selective insecticides demonstrated strong potential for the environmentally sound management of P. xylostella as part of an integrated pest management programme.
Abstract
The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a serious insect pest of cruciferous crops and has developed widespread resistance to several insecticides, necessitating the development of alternative management strategies. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the compatibility of different Metarhizium anisopliae isolates with selected insecticides and to evaluate their efficacy against P. xylostella. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions using a two-factor completely randomised design (CRD) at the Biocontrol Research and Production Centre (BRPC), Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during 2024–2025. Five isolates of M. anisopliae were tested in combination with spinosad, indoxacarb, fipronil and emamectin benzoate. Compatibility was assessed on the basis of radial mycelial growth, percentage inhibition, spore production and spore viability, while insecticidal activity was determined against third-instar larvae of P. xylostella. Significant variation was observed among the fungal isolates, insecticides and their interactions. ITCC-6895 exhibited the greatest radial growth (78.96 mm at 7 DAI), whereas NBAII Ma-6 showed the lowest. Emamectin benzoate exhibited the greatest compatibility with the fungal isolates and produced synergistic interactions with NBAIR Ma-56b and Ma LOCAL. Ma LOCAL recorded the highest spore viability (97.10%), while both Ma LOCAL and NBAII Ma-6 produced the highest mean spore count (1.54 × 10⁸ spores mL⁻¹). In the laboratory bioassays, all insecticides resulted in complete larval mortality after 120 h, whereas ITCC-6895 recorded the highest average mortality (94.83%) among the fungal isolates. NBAIR Ma-56b and Ma LOCAL showed highly compatible interactions with emamectin benzoate, as indicated by negative percentage inhibition values. These findings indicate that compatible combinations of M. anisopliae, particularly ITCC-6895 and Ma LOCAL, with emamectin benzoate can improve the management of P. xylostella as part of an integrated pest management programme. Overall, compatible combinations of M. anisopliae with selective insecticides demonstrated strong potential for the environmentally sound management of P. xylostella.
Evaluated B. bassiana–insecticide combinations showed measurable compatibility and high bioefficacy against P. xylostella larvae and significant differences were observed among fungal isolates, insecticides, and their interactions for all compatibility parameters.
Shaik Sushma Shareen, Abhishek Shukla, Vibha Pandey et al.· Journal of Experimental Agri...· 0 citations
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a destructive invasive pest that poses a serious threat to maize production, necessitating the development of sustainable management strategies. The present study evaluated the efficacy of integrating selective insecticides with Metarhizium anisopliae for the management of fall armyworm under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in South Gujarat, India, during the Rabi 2025–26 season using novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC and thiamethoxam 12.60 + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.50 SC applied alone and in combination with M. anisopliae, along with M. anisopliae alone and an untreated control. Repeated-measures mixed-effects analysis revealed significant treatment effects on plant infestation, leaf damage, cob infestation and cob yield. Among the evaluated treatments, novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC integrated with M. anisopliae recorded the lowest plant infestation (32.92%), leaf damage score (2.70) and cob infestation (11.01%), and produced the highest cob yield (13.21 t ha⁻¹), representing a 40.53% increase over the untreated control. Although statistically comparable with novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC applied alone for most parameters, the integrated treatment consistently showed numerically superior performance. In contrast, M. anisopliae applied alone provided only moderate suppression of fall armyworm and lower yield protection than insecticide-based treatments. These findings demonstrate that integrating M. anisopliae with selective insecticides improves fall armyworm management and maize productivity, highlighting its potential as an effective component of integrated pest management (IPM) for sustainable maize production.
Nisarg Panchal, M. Siddhapara, V. M. Khimani et al.· Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoo...· 0 citations
The present study highlights the potential of S. shori as a biological control agent against the larval and pupal stages of S. frugiperda and evaluates its efficacy against other economically important insect pests and under diverse environmental conditions to support its wider field application.
J. Patil, Aarthi Nekkanti, Omprakash Navik et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Abstract Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), a sap-sucking pest native to Australia, has severely impacted eucalyptus plantations in Brazil since 2008. Due to environmental concerns and resistance risks, chemical control is restricted in forest systems, prompting the search for sustainable alternatives. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) offer promising potential for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This study evaluated the virulence and thermal tolerance of EPF isolates against T. peregrinus through a multi-phase bioassay. Initially, eleven fungal isolates were screened for pathogenicity against adults. Based on mortality rates, three isolates Beauveria bassiana (IBCB227), Metarhizium anisopliae (IBCB425), and Cordyceps farinosa (IBCB220) were selected for further testing at constant temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C). Subsequently, lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal time (LT50) were determined for the two most virulent isolates (IBCB227 and IBCB425) in both nymphs and adults. IBCB425 demonstrated high efficacy across all temperatures, while IBCB227 and IBCB220 were less effective at 20 °C. LC50 values were 1.10 × 107 and 2.10 × 106 conidia/mL for IBCB227 and IBCB425, respectively, based on mortality recorded six days post-application. LT50 was calculated using the highest concentration (1.0 × 108 conidia/mL), with IBCB425 inducing faster mortality (3.75 days) than IBCB227 (4.43 days). Post-mortem sporulation confirmed fungal infection in >90% of cadavers. These findings highlight the virulence and temperature resilience of M. anisopliae IBCB425 and B. bassiana IBCB227, supporting their potential as effective biological control agents for T. peregrinus in eucalyptus plantations under variable environmental conditions.
S. M. Velozo, V. Carvalho, D. L. Teixeira et al.· Brazilian Journal of Biology· 0 citations
Brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis, is a major pest of brinjal that causes serious damage to shoots and fruits. This field study evaluated the relative efficacy of selected biopesticides and biorational insecticides against L. orbonalis during the Kharif season of 2023 at the College of Agriculture, Hassan. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised Metarhizium rileyi, Beauveria bassiana, azadirachtin 1,500 ppm, Metarhizium anisopliae, azadirachtin 10,000 ppm, spinosad 45% SC, chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC as the standard check, and an untreated control. Two sprays were applied: the first at the initiation of infestation and the second 15 days later. Shoot infestation was recorded 3, 7, and 14 days after each spray, whereas fruit infestation was recorded at harvest. Chlorantraniliprole recorded the lowest pooled shoot infestation (2.78%) and fruit infestation (17.26%). Among the tested biopesticide and biorational treatments, spinosad recorded the lowest pooled shoot infestation (3.72%) and fruit infestation (19.06%), followed by azadirachtin 10,000 ppm. Entomopathogenic fungi were less effective than spinosad and azadirachtin but performed better than the untreated control. The findings indicate that spinosad and azadirachtin may be useful components of an integrated management programme for L. orbonalis.
R. N. Sahana, T. Sunitha, G. Pramod et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and Aphis gossypii (Glover) are two notorious pests of vegetables grown in greenhouses and their outbreaks can be devastating and cause a significant loss in yield and quality. The prevail and effective control of the pests mainly relies on frequent applications of pesticides, which is likely to negatively impact environments and human health through residue, resurgence, and resistance. To avoid negative “3R” issues brought forth by chemicals, entomopathogenic fungus such as Metarhizium sp. are widely used as biocontrol agents even if they are different in their population, adaptability and pathogenicity among various species and isolates collected from different insect hosts and environments. To screen for the entomopathogenic fungi with optimal pathogenicity against the piercing-sucking pests B. tabaci and A. gossypii, we have isolated, purified four strains (SG-A, SG-B, SG-C, and SG-D) of Metarhizium sp. using yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) as the bait, and identified them as Metarhizium pinghaense morphologically and molecularly. Bioassay results have indicated that four isolates of M. pingshaense infected both B. tabaci and A. gossypii with some differences in the virulence and median lethal time. Both B. tabaci and A. gossypii nymphs showed an increase in the mortality rate as the spore concentration rose. Four M. pingshaense strains also exhibited the different pathogenicity against B. tabaci and A. gossypii at various levels: At an inoculum concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL, the cumulative corrected mortality of B. tabaci nymphs 8 days post-treatment ranked in the order: SG‑A > SG‑C > SG‑B = SG‑D. For A. gossypii, the cumulative corrected mortality followed the order: SG‑A > SG‑B > SG‑D > SG‑C.Strain SG-A demonstrated the maximized pathogenicity against nymphs of B. tabaci and A. gossypii 8 days after the treatment (LC50 = 7.00 × 104 and 4.21 × 105 conidia/mL, respectively). At the spore concentration at 1 × 108 conidia/mL, its cumulatively corrected mortality reached 94.44% and 96.67% (LT50 = 4.13 d and 2.61 d, respectively). Strain SG-C showed an optimal pathogenicity against B. tabaci nymphs only with a cumulative corrected mortality of 87.78% and an LT50 at 4.30 d 8 days after the treatment. In contrast, strain SG-B exhibited relatively high pathogenicity against A. gossypii nymphs only with a cumulative corrected mortality of 72.22% and an LT50 at 2.31 d 8 days after the treatment. Therefore, M. pinghaense SG-A should be a potential biocontrol agent to manage whiteflies and aphids at their nymph stage during the vegetable production season.
Haiyan Hu, Yali Wang, Chunyan Li et al.· PLoS ONE· 0 citations
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