Efficacies of some isolates of Lecanicillium lecanii to control Tribolium castaneum (Col., Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungi are safe and ecofriendly biocontrol agents which can be applied against stored product pests. In this study, potentials of some Iranian isolates of Lecanicillium lecanii (PAL6, PAL7 and PAL8) and Lecanicillium muscarium to control Tribolium castaneum (AGM5) were investigated under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, the LC50 and LT50 values of each isolates to adults of the beetle were estimated. Results showed that all of the isolates were virulent to the pest. The estimated LC50 values were ranged from 2.8 × 106 to 6.13 × 1022 (conidia/mL). The lowest and the highest LC50 values were estimated for L. lecanii (PAL7) and L. mucarium (isolate AGM5), respectively. The LT50 values varied from 4.99 to 13.65 days. The LT50 values were decreased by increasing conidial concentrations of each isolate. Moreover, at each conidial concentration, the LT50 values for L. lecanii isolate PAL8 were significantly lower than other isolates. Totally, among the isolates, L. lecanii isolate PAL7 (at concentration 107 conidia/mL) is the most promising isolate. The laboratory study is preliminary, and further experiments under field condition are required before any recommendations.