Biocontrol potential of some entomopathogenic fungi against the Cotton Aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) species isolated from soil and infected aphid samples taken from different districts of Antalya between 2018-2020 was investigated against the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii. For this purpose, 19 entomopathogenic fungal isolates were tested against the nymphs and adults of A. gossypii in 9 cm diameter Petri dishes at a concentration of 1x107 spores/mL. Among the fungal species tested, Beauveria bassiana was the most pathogenic species. In pathogenicity tests, 10 days after incubation, B. bassiana caused 63.3%-100%, Cunninghamella echinulata 43.3%, Clonostachys rosea 40-70%, Isaria farinosa 43.3%-63.3%, and Purpureocillium lilacinum 73.3%-83.3% mortality of A. gossypii adults. The TaAl-1 isolate of Trichoderma atroviride used in biological control caused a mortality of 33.3%, and the ThAk-1 isolate of T. harzianum caused 50.0% mortality. Of the 3 commercial fungal preparations tested at doses of 250 mL/1lt water for comparison with indigenous fungal isolates, Nibortem (a.i.: Verticillium lecanii) caused 70% and 56.7% mortalities in nymphs and adults, respectively, 10 days after treatment, while Nostalgist (a.i.: B. bassiana) and Priority (a.i.: Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) caused 56.7% and 50% nymphal mortality, and 53.3% and 56.7% adult mortality, respectively.